FIJI’s football body needs to cap players’ transfer to allow competition in the country.
The current system is failing to strike a balance with financially constrained districts and isn’t helping with the standard of football.
It’s the debate that has split opinion across Fiji and everyone with a link to football in some capacity has an opinion on it.
There’s an understanding that a district should only be allowed to buy, sell or trade as many as two players and tops three during the transfer window.
Financially independent districts like Rewa, Lautoka and now Ba, who as recently got their house in order have been pouching marquee players to youths to build a formidable roster.
Coined as the money teams, they have less or no respect for competition but championship.
Financially starved districts like Nadi, Suva, Tavua, and Labasa find themselves left behind on delegated negotiations to singing money players.
Nadro has secured lesser weights, including imports and is seemingly short on quality needed to pose any threat to Rewa, Lautoka and Ba.
Naveen Kumar, a former national team footballer believes FFA shouldn’t mirror Fifa’s players transfer status.
“Football isn’t a professional sport in Fiji, and yet there’s this notion that everything has to be done along Fifa lines,” he said.
“Fiji just can’t have an open window transfer, there needs to be limitation.
“A district should only be allowed two transfers by and for a team. Anything else leaves a district struggling to put together a competitive team.”
Kumar said the problem in Fiji is financial distress, or lack of funds that suffocates negotiations on new signings.
“Districts are struggling financially, and that hurts buying power, we need to remember the district still raise money through fundraisers, sponsors, handouts, beg and borrow.
“We live in the 21st century and we often hear fundraisers through Barbeque (BBQ), raffles and liquor sales to facilitate the shortfall.”
Kumar says businesses, corporations and establishments are sponsor-shy, and find football less attractive.
“Districts are at their own peril.”
Kumar said football needs an even playing field, adding it isn’t by far.
