AT Ba’s home ground, on their 90th anniversary, Rewa rose higher proving that football’s true triumph lies in focus, not fanfare.
In football, celebration is inevitable but after triumphs, everything else becomes mere desire.
The recent Inter District Championship proved more of a lesson for Ba than for Rewa, who maintained their composure and consistency throughout the tournament.
Ba tried to live the cliché of the phoenix rising from the ashes celebrating the game itself as though finals were won by popularity, the roar of the crowd, and confidence rather than execution.
President Praneel Dayal reportedly spared no expense in commemorating Ba’s 90 years of football.
Player welfare was prioritized a commendable step but dressing the town with portraits and buying game-day tickets for over 3,000 fans didn’t yield the result he desired.
It’s worth recalling that during interim president Amjad Khan’s 2023 tenure, Ba won the IDC with a 2-1 victory over Lautoka in Suva on a thin budget, where heart mattered more than emotion.
The lesser-known Mohammed Ashif Khan was the coach then, but the following year he was let go as Ba FA descended into another leadership circus.
For the first time in the district’s history, Ba had three coaches — Rodick Singh, Josua Wilson, and Yogendra Dutt while Iosefo Vasaboto and Malakai Kanehewe provided invaluable experience and insight.
And sure enough, they were all Ba diehards, but when was the last time the district had football knowledge spread to help win the coveted championship?
For Ba, confidence flowed top-down through the team from administrators to fans but football isn’t won on emotions alone.
Clear difference
In contrast, Rewa took a measured approach.
They played smart football, celebrated only when they scored, stayed grounded, and made little noise about being “the most consistent football team.”
Even their president, Nazil Buksh, kept a low profile and that was by deliberate design.
With player-coach Tevita Waranaivalu leading on the field and Priyant Manu managing the technical area, Rewa struck the perfect balance of game plan and leadership.
Only after silencing their opponents with a 1-0 win did Buksh reveal his intentions, laughing as he said, “We wanted to spoil their party” the party Ba had hoped would crown their 90th anniversary with a title.
Rewa simply played with greater determination.
Thriller finale
I must admit, the final was a cracker of a match.
The game see-sawed from end to end, with quality football on full display and it’s not often I praise Fijian football.
But the 2025 IDC final was by far the most intense, committed, and passionately fought in many years.
And with a player each sent off after copping double yellow cards for dangerous plays, it was truly game on.
In the 76th minute, Peceli Sukabula clipped Asivorosi Rabo inside the penalty area a costly mistake.
Patrick Joseph stepped up and became the hero, calmly slotting a low shot past former teammate Alzar Alam to seal a famous Rewa victory.
Rewa, simply the best
Rewa’s 15- year drought came to an end at the new 4R Stadium at Govind Park, the home of Fiji’s football championships, the home where Ba had hoped to add a 26th title to their storied collection.
The radiance that awaited its christening moment in time belonged to Rewa.
