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 ten teams, it shares a promotion and relegation system with the Fiji Senior League (FSL). The League is controlled by the Fiji Football Association.
| Founded | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Fiji |
| Confederation | OFC |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Fiji Senior League |
| Domestic cup(s) | FF Cup Champion versus Champion |
| International cup(s) | OFC Champions League |
| Current champions | Lautoka (7th title) (2023) |
| Most championships | Ba (21 titles) |
| Current: 2023 Fiji Premier League | |
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.[3]
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 | Longest Consecutive Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ba | 21 | 1977, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019 | 2001 - 2006 (6) |
| Nadi | 8 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1998, 2000, 2015 | 1980 - 1982 (3) |
| Lautoka | 7 | 1985, 1988, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023 | 2017 - 2018 (2) |
| Suva | 4 | 1996, 1997, 2014, 2020 | 1996 - 1997 (2) |
| Nadroga | 3 | 1989, 1990, 1993 | 1989 - 1990 (2) |
| Rewa | 1 | 2022 |
League Championship (for Districts)
- 1977: Ba FC
- 1978: Nadi FC
- 1979: Ba FC
- 1980: Nadi FC
- 1981: Nadi FC
- 1982: Nadi FC
- 1983: Ba FC
- 1984: Nadi FC
- 1985: Lautoka FC
- 1986: Ba FC
- 1987: Ba FC
- 1988: Lautoka FC
- 1989: Nadroga F.C.
- 1990: Nadroga F.C.
- 1991: Labasa FC
- 1992: Ba FC
- 1993: Nadroga F.C.
- 1994: Ba FC
- 1995: Ba FC
- 1996: Suva FC
- 1997: Suva FC
- 1998: Nadi FC
- 1999: Ba FC
- 2000: Nadi FC
- 2001: Ba FC
- 2002: Ba FC
- 2003: Ba FC
- 2004: Ba FC
- 2005: Ba FC
- 2006: Ba FC
- 2007: Labasa FC
- 2008: Ba FC
- 2009: Lautoka FC
- 2010: Ba FC[4]
- 2011: Ba FC
- 2012: Ba FC
- 2013: Ba FC
- 2014: Suva FC
- 2015: Nadi FC
- 2016: Ba FC
- 2017: Lautoka FC
- 2018: Lautoka FC
- 2019: Ba FC
- 2020: Suva FC
- 2021: Lautoka FC
- 2022: Rewa FC
- 2023: Lautoka FC
Previous winners
National Club Championship
- 1986: Tanoa SC (Nadi)
- 1987–88: Not known
- 1989: Combine Stars SC (Suva) 1–0 Vunika (Labasa)
- 1990: Not known
- 1991: Ba FSC
- 1992: Greenstars 1–0 Ba FSC
- 1993: Lautoka General
- 1994–95: Not known
- 1996: Lautoka General Strikers
- 1997: Ba FSC
- 1998: Raymonds (Rewa) 1–1 Fiji Sugar Corporation (Raymonds on pens)
- 1999: Kiwi Sports (Labasa) 2–0 KK Nadi Blues
- 2000: Foodtown Warriors (Lautoka) 1–0 Nadi Eagles
- 2001–03: Not held
- 2003–04: Not known
- 2005: General Machinery (Lautoka) 1–0 Malolo (Nadi)
- 2006: General Machinery (Lautoka) 1–1 United (Rewa) (aet, 4–1 pen)
- 2007–08: Kriz Signs Uciwai (Nadi) 2–1 United (Rewa)
Club Franchise League
- 2005: 4R Electric Ltd (Ba)
- 2006: Nokia Eagles (Nadi)
Topscorers
| Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals |
| 2001 | Lorima Batirerega | Ba FC | 7 |
| 2003 | Keni Doidoi | Ba FC | 8 |
| 2006 | Josaia Bukalidi Jr | Ba FC | 23 |
| 2007 | Maciu Dunadamu | Labasa FC | 17 |
| 2008 | Roy Krishna | Labasa FC | 31 |
| 2009 | Keni Doidoi | Lautoka FC | 12 |
| 2017 | Joel Shelvin Prasad | Labasa FC | 10 |
| 2018 | Rusiate Matarerega | Nadi FC | 8 |
| 2019 | Samuela Drudru | Lautoka FC | 12 |
| 2020 | Sairusi Nalaubu |
Suva | 9 |
| 2021 | Sairusi Nalaubu |
Lautoka | 9 |
| 2022 | Sairusi Nalaubu |
Lautoka | 12 |
| 2023 | Sairusi Nalaubu |
Lautoka | 9 |
- Most time goalscorers
- 4 times
- Sairusi Nalaubu (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Most goals by a player in a single season
- 31 goals
- Roy Krishna (2008)
Multiple hat-tricks
| Rank | Country | Player | Hat-tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Brian Charitau | 1 |
 |
Atkin Kaua | ||
|
Sairusi Nalaubu | ||
|
Mohammed Shazil | ||
 |
Azariah Soromon | ||
|
Avinesh Suwamy | ||
|
Saula Waqa | ||
|
Christopher Wasasala | ||
References
- Matairakula, Talei (3 March 2021). "Fiji Football embarks on a new journey with Digicel". FCB News. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- "Vodafone Fiji backs soccer league". Newswire. 13 February 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- "Fiji Football embarks on a new journey with Digicel – FBC News".
- Ba FC won the league and finished top of the points table, but second-placed Lautoka FC were awarded the title on Mar 11, 2011, after having a protest pertaining to their match on May 8, 2010 against Rewa (which finished 1–1) ruled in their favour. But the decision was overruled in July 2011, and Ba was declared the winner.
External links
- Fiji – List of Champions, RSSSF.com
- Vodafone Premier League - Fiji Sun