Impressive is how Alvin Chand, the winning coach of Extra Supermarket Labasa FC, described the one-week turnaround his squad had, which proved instrumental as they lifted the 2025 BiC Fiji FACT title at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last night.
Labasa had beaten Ajay Trading Rewa FC 4-2 by way of a penalty shootout, as the match went into it following a stalemate extra time duel and an one-all draw at full-time.
“The changes we made, the training we had, it was successful, and it shows that the boys commitment is really impressive,” Singh said.
“Whatever changes I did, they followed it, the positional changes, the way we play, in just one week, they adapted.”
He added while the occurrence of such a resilient comeback is something that hardly happens, he thanked the players for stepping up when they needed to do so.
“It only happens if the boys are listening and dedicated, committed towards the team’s wins and it’s just their dedication and determination that is making us win this week,” he added.
In describing how it felt for the Babasiga Lions to win the coveted Fiji FACT title after a lapse of 10 years, he was elated.
“It’s joyous, excitement and relief I would say, after what happened in the second half, who knew that we’ll get a red card, we’ll go 10 men down, we’ll get a goal conceded against us,” he said.
The red card in question was handed to Taniela Waqa.
“But that’s what football is all about, and yes, we all are relieved to win this game because the situation in the second half was really different for us.”
The last time Labasa won the Fiji FACT was in 2015, when they also played against Rewa and won 2-0 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
