The following pics were sent to me by a guy I know who follows Sydney FC who has subsequently moved to Fiji.

They are due to play Waitakere United from the NZFC in the O-League (OFC Champions League) final. The first leg of the home-and-away final series will be played on Saturday 21 April 2007 at Govind Park in Ba, with the return leg scheduled for Auckland's Mt. Smart Stadium on Sunday 29 April 2007.

The pics were taken on his wifes camera phone so the images are slightly hazy.


The king of football in Ba. This ball is apparently a restaurant inside.


Ba happens to be the only city in Fiji where football is more popular than rugby. Subsequently this is probably a reason why they are the dominant club side in that country.


Ba Sports Stadium or Govind Park. The ground has a capacity of around 8,000. Pretty good going when I am told the total people in Ba is 10,000. It is also the only football specific ground as all other clubs have to share with rugby or sevens.


Behind the goals. They must have been inspired by Cromer Park with those palms.


The scoreboard with some ground advertising.


The other end.


The main stand as it appears to have media facilities and better wooden benches.


Good ventilation and sturdy construction. These stands will be rocking come the Waitakere Utd game with grog-bowls (kava) in full sing.


Looking to the other stand. The light stancheon in the middle of the stand reminds me of Kenilworth Road, Luton Town.


Probably wise not to smoke considering the stand is all wood! The opposite stand looks like a bigger and better verson of 'The World's Greatest Grandstand®' Jensen Park, Sefton where Bankstown City Lions play.


Gate to the changerooms.


The hallowed turf of Fijian football.


Opening plaque. Interesting names there including Esala Masi. I wonder if that's the old man of the ex-NSL player?

That is a very good stadium considering the size of the city, I did enjoy the interesting fact that the biggest sport in Ba is soccer.

It must be pretty big if they have developed a venue the size of 8000, for a 10,000 sized town. Looking on Google Earth it is tiny.

I'd suggest that the 8k is if they squeeze them all in like hell.

Wikipedia says the capacity is 10,000.

And World Stadiums says it is 4,000.

I'm going by what the person who lives in Fiji says.

The average of all three put together is 7300, which I think is probably around the right capacity, but I am pretty impressed with the venue.

they are pretty serious about the game is that blood being spilt on the ground?

The stadium is on Sky right now


Amateur coverage, zero atmosphere despite the Govindis leading 1-0.


Pitch looks in crap shape and both hills are deserted.



Stands are packed but.

Makes Arden St look like the MCG.

Ba upsets Kiwis
ZANZEER SINGH
Sunday, April 22, 2007



Bas Shalen Lal, left, steers clear of the Waitakere United defence during their O League clash at Govind Park in Ba yesterday. The hosts beat the visitors 2-1.

PAPUA New Guinean referee Job Ponis Minan needed a police escort after Ba upset Waitakere United 2-1 in the first leg of the O League final on a soggy Govind Park yesterday.

The Waitakere United players confronted Minan when he blew the final whistle after he had denied the Kiwi's a late equaliser.

The visitors thought they had levelled in injury time only for the referee's assistant to lift his flag to award an off side.

Led by captain Danny Hay the Kiwi players protested the referees decision which fell on deaf ears.

Waitakere United coach Steve Cain disputed the call of the referee saying Ba's Shalend Lal had propelled the ball into his own net.

Despite the loss Cain praised the efforts of his players.

He said it is a must win situation for his side in the return leg. Cain said his side is likely to undergo some changes next Sunday.

The visitors scored an important away goal in the second spell through Solomon Islander Commins Menapi. Though Ba scored twice, Waitakere United's lone goal will count as two on aggregate.

National coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti described the encounter as a game of two halves.

He said Ba dominated the first spell while Waitakere United held the upper hand in the second half.

"Ba missed many chances in the first half," Buzzetti said.

"They missed the services of Peni Finau in defence. In the second half the high balls didn't help Ba as Waitakere United managed to clear. It was a good win for Ba though Waitakere United scored a goal which will mean a lot going into the second encounter."

Waitakere United dominated the opening few minutes launching repeated attacks.

Strikers Allan Pearce and Menapi failed to get their attempts on target.

On the counterattack Ba scored to the delight of the 10,000 fans.

Joasia Bukalidi broke through the right flank and provided a timely low cross for Rland Lawrence to slam the ball past Michael Utting in the 7th minute.

The goal lifted the Ba players as they managed to penetrate the Waitakere United defence.

Lawrence was a thorn for the Kiwi's as he made inroads through the right flank. Malakai Tiwa, Lawrence and Bukalidi blew away chances from in front of the goalmouth.

Ba led 1-0 at the break.

Waitakere United moved up in attack in the opening minutes of the second half pressuring the Ba defence.

Menapi intercept a pass and lobbed a classical left footer around Laisenia Tuba for the equaliser.

Kiniviliame Naika who missed Fiji's United States tour due to injury came on as a substitute to provide the through pass for Bukalidi to nail the winner in the 75th minute.

The Waitakere United defence pushed up in the dying stages. A cross from the left flank was scrambled into the Ba goalmouth however the lineman flagged a Waitakere United player to be in an off side position.

The second leg will be played in New Zealand on Sunday.

The winner of the O League will qualify to play the winner of the J League for a spot in the FIFA World Club Championship.

Ba: Laisenia Tuba, Malakai Kenahewe, Luke Vidovi, Jone Vesikula, Robert Wise, Shalen Lal, Keni Doidoi, Malakai Tiwa, Roneel Kumar, Ronald Lawrence, Josaia Bukalidi Junior.

Waitakere United: Michael Utting, George Suri, Danny Hay, Rupesh Puna, Jakub Sinkora, Hoani Edwards, Jeff Campbell, Allan Pearce, Commins Menapi, Daniel Koprivcic, Craig Wylie.

I didn't think it was that much of an upset....Waitakere lost the NZFC final to Auckland City 3-2 midweek.

Was there much interest in the Auckland derby?

Not really


If i hadn't stumbled across it on Sky i never would have known about it

The crowd was alright, for a midweek game at Albany.

Well, Waitakere won the O-League with a 1-0 win in the Mt Smart leg.


The crowd, at least on the eastern side looked great, and the atmosphere sounded brilliant.