Fiji Premier League

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Fiji Premier League
Founded1977
CountryFiji
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFiji Senior League
International cup(s)OFC Champions League
Current championsSuva (2020)
Most championshipsBa FC (21)
Current: 2020 Fiji Premier League

The Fiji Premier League or the FPL, also called Digicel Premier League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the top division men's professional football league in Fiji. Contested by eight teams, it shares a promotion and relegation system with the Fiji Senior League (FSL). The League is controlled by the Fiji Football Association.

The league was founded as the Fiji National League in 1977 by the Fiji Football Association which was won by Ba. The club that has the most championships is also Ba with 21 titles.

History[]

Foundation (1977)[]

In 1977, the Fiji National League (FNL) was founded. The first ever season was won by Ba.

Sponsorship deals[]

Since 2016, the league has been called the Vodafone Premier League after a sponsorship deal with Vodafone Fiji.[2] On March 3, 2021, Digicel Fiji signed a 3 year deal to sponsor the league, effectively renaming the competition to the Digicel Premier League.[1]

Competition format[]

Competition[]

There are 8 clubs in the Fiji Premier League. During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponent's home. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.

Promotion and relegation[]

A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Fiji Premier League and the Senior League. The last placed team in the Fiji Premier League are relegated to the Senior League, and the first placed team from the North and South zones of Senior League are promoted to the Fiji Premier League.

Clubs[]

8 clubs have played in the Fiji Premier League from its inception in 1977, up to and including the 2020 season.

Champions[]

Club Wins Winning years
Ba 21 1977, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019
Nadi 9 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2015
Lautoka 5 1984, 1988, 2009, 2017, 2018
Suva 4 1996, 1997, 2014, 2020
Nadroga 3 1989, 1990, 1993
Labasa 2 1991, 2007

Previous winners[]

National Club Championship[]

  • 1986: (Nadi)
  • 1987–88: Not known
  • 1989: (Suva) 1–0 (Labasa)
  • 1990: Not known
  • 1991:
  • 1992: 1–0
  • 1993:
  • 1994–95: Not known
  • 1996: Lautoka General Strikers
  • 1997:
  • 1998: (Rewa) 1–1 ( on pens)
  • 1999: (Labasa) 2–0
  • 2000: (Lautoka) 1–0
  • 2001–03: Not held
  • 2003–04: Not known
  • 2005: (Lautoka) 1–0 (Nadi)
  • 2006: (Lautoka) 1–1 United (Rewa) (aet, 4–1 pen)
  • 2007–08: (Nadi) 2–1 United (Rewa)

Club Franchise League[]

  • 2005: (Ba)
  • 2006: Nokia Eagles (Nadi)

Topscorers[]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
2001 Fiji Ba FC 57
2003 Fiji Keni Doidoi Ba FC 38
2006 Fiji Ba FC 43
2007 Fiji Maciu Dunadamu Labasa FC 17
2008 Fiji Roy Krishna Labasa FC 31
2009 Fiji Keni Doidoi Lautoka FC 12
2017 Fiji Labasa FC 10
2018 Fiji Rusiate Matarerega Nadi FC 8
2019 Fiji Samuela Drudru Lautoka FC 12

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/football/fiji-football-embarks-on-a-new-journey-with-digicel/
  2. ^ "Vodafone Fiji backs soccer league". Newswire. 13 February 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.

External links[]

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