FIJI football competitions this year has started on a high note.
This year’s Pillay Garments- sponsored 2018 Champion Versus Champion (CVC) series has an increased sponsorship of $25,000 from $22,000.
The series will be played between Labasa and Lautoka with the first match at Subrail Park on Saturday.
Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf said the two districts were given $4000 each as preparation grants for the series.
“It is a pleasure to launch the Champion Versus Champion series for 2018 though Fiji FA’s calendar began last October with the Inter-District Championship and we had the intentions for the CVC to be played in late October and early November,” he said.
“But because of national commitments, we had to shift to early January. The next CVC will be held in October between Lautoka which have qualified for the CVC against the winner of the Vodafone Premier League.
“Pillay Garment Ltd has signed for another five years until 2022 and we want to see the partnership grow further.
“It will be an interesting series with Lautoka being the defending champion of the CVC.”
Labasa qualified after winning the 2016 Courts IDC while Lautoka is the National Football League (NFL) champion.
“I thank Fiji FA officials for giving me another chance to sponsor the CVC and my company is so fortunate to be part of the CVC,” he said.
The winner will get $5000 while the runner-up gets $2500.
