Fiji Premier League

The Fiji Premier League or the FPL, also called Digicel Premier League for sponsorship reasons, 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.

Fiji Premier League
Fiji Premier League
Founded1977; 47 years ago (1977)
CountryFiji Premier League Fiji
ConfederationOFC
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFiji Senior League
Domestic cup(s)FF Cup
Champion versus Champion
International cup(s)OFC Champions League
Current championsLautoka (7th title)
(2023)
Most championshipsBa (21 titles)
TV partnersFBC
Websitefijifootball.com.fj
Current: 2024 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. On March 3, 2021, Digicel Fiji signed a 3 year deal to sponsor the league, effectively renaming the competition to the Digicel Premier League.

Competition format

Competition

There are 10 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.

Format

From the inaugural 1977 season to the 2021 season, the Fiji Premier League had eight teams. However, since 2022, the league has had 10 teams.

Since 2016, the league has practiced promotion and relegation. Each season, the team that finishes last is relegated to the Senior League. The Senior League has two zones: the Vanua Levu Zone and the Viti Levu Zone. The highest-finishing clubs from each zone compete in a playoff match, the winner of which is promoted to the Premier League.

The season champion and runners-up both qualify for the OFC Champions League.

Clubs

Current clubs

Location of the 2024 Digicel Premier League 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
Labasa 2 1991, 2007

League Championship (for Districts)

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

Topscorers

Year Best scorers Team Goals
2001 Fiji Premier League  Lorima Batirerega Ba FC 7
2003 Fiji Premier League  Keni Doidoi Ba FC 8
2006 Fiji Premier League  Josaia Bukalidi Jr Ba FC 23
2007 Fiji Premier League  Maciu Dunadamu Labasa FC 17
2008 Fiji Premier League  Roy Krishna Labasa FC 31
2009 Fiji Premier League  Keni Doidoi Lautoka FC 12
2017 Fiji Premier League  Joel Shelvin Prasad Labasa FC 10
2018 Fiji Premier League  Rusiate Matarerega Nadi FC 8
2019 Fiji Premier League  Samuela Drudru Lautoka FC 12
2020 Fiji Premier League  Sairusi Nalaubu Suva 9
2021 Fiji Premier League  Sairusi Nalaubu Lautoka 9
2022 Fiji Premier League  Sairusi Nalaubu Lautoka 12
2023 Fiji Premier League  Sairusi Nalaubu Lautoka 19
    Most time goalscorers
    Most goals by a player in a single season

Multiple hat-tricks

Rank Country Player Hat-tricks
1 Fiji Premier League  Brian Charitau 1
Fiji Premier League  Atkin Kaua
Fiji Premier League  Sairusi Nalaubu
Fiji Premier League  Mohammed Shazil
Fiji Premier League  Azariah Soromon
Fiji Premier League  Avinesh Suwamy
Fiji Premier League  Saula Waqa
Fiji Premier League  Christopher Wasasala

References

Tags:

Fiji Premier League HistoryFiji Premier League Competition formatFiji Premier League FormatFiji Premier League ClubsFiji Premier League Previous winnersFiji Premier League TopscorersFiji Premier League Multiple hat-tricksFiji Premier League

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