2020 Fiji Premier League
{{ infobox football league season
| image =
| caption =
| competition = 2020 Fiji Premier League
| season = 2020
| winners = Suva (4th title)
| premiers =
| promoted =
| relegated = Nasinu
| continentalcup1 = OFC Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Suva
Rewa
| matches =
| total goals =
| average goals =
| league topscorer = {{flagicon|FIJ}} Sairusi Nalaubu
(9 goals)
| biggest home win =
| biggest away win =
| highest scoring =
| attendance =
| average attendance =
| prevseason = 2019
| nextseason = 2021
}}
The 2020 Fiji Premier League was the 44th season of the Fiji Premier League (Vodafone Premier League for sponsorship reasons), the top-tier football league in Fiji organized by the Fiji Football Association since its establishment in 1977. The season began on 1 February 2020.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020-vodafone-premier-league/|title=2020 Vodafone Premier League Draw|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129180450/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020-vodafone-premier-league/|url-status=dead}}Ba are the defending champions.
Team changes
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=To Fiji Premier League=
=From Fiji Premier League=
Teams
A total of eight teams compete in the league.
=Stadiums and locations=
Transfers
The first transfer window of 2020 Fijian Football season opened on January 1 and finished on January 31.{{cite web|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/football/fiji-football-transfer-window-to-start-on-january-1st/|title=Fiji Football transfer window to open on January 1st|website=FBC News|accessdate=2020-01-29}}
Current league champions Ba FC brought some important players like former Lautoka FC players Samuela Drudru, Beniamino Mateinaqara{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/19/samuela-drudru-and-mateinaqara-already-training-with-ba/|title=Drudru and Mateinaqara already training with Ba|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129214327/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/19/samuela-drudru-and-mateinaqara-already-training-with-ba/|url-status=dead}} and Benjamin Totori. They have also signed with former Suva FC defender Laisenia Raura.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/22/laisenia-raura-good-to-be-back-home/|title=Laisenia Raura: good to be back home|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129202047/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/22/laisenia-raura-good-to-be-back-home/|url-status=dead}} Ni-Vanuatu forward Micah Tommy and Solomon Islands winger Darold Kakasi remained in the squad for 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/21/darold-kakasi-is-back-to-ba/|title=Darold Kakasi is back to Ba|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129203627/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/21/darold-kakasi-is-back-to-ba/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/20/tommy-thomas-ni-vanuatu-power-in-ba/|title=Tommy & Thomas: Ni-Vanuatu power in Ba|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129214313/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/20/tommy-thomas-ni-vanuatu-power-in-ba/|url-status=dead}} They will also count on former New Zealand national football team head coach Ricki Herbert that signed a short-term contract with Ba FC until the end of 2020 OFC Champions League.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/25/ricki-herbert-to-ba-short-term-coaching-aiming-high-in-ofc-champions-league/|title=Ricki Herbert to Ba: short term coaching aiming high in OFC Champions League|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129182341/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/25/ricki-herbert-to-ba-short-term-coaching-aiming-high-in-ofc-champions-league/|url-status=dead}}
Lautoka FC added some important players like former Ba FC winger Shazil Ali, goalkeeper Joela Biuvania and Fiji U23 international Arami Manumanubai{{Cite web |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/02/09/lautoka-smashes-nadi-as-rewa-beats-nasinu-in-a-breathtaking-match-in-vodafone-premier-league/ |title=Lautoka smashes Nadi as Rewa beats Nasinu in a breathtaking match in Vodafone Premier League – Oceania Football Center |access-date=2020-02-09 |archive-date=2020-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517094828/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/02/09/lautoka-smashes-nadi-as-rewa-beats-nasinu-in-a-breathtaking-match-in-vodafone-premier-league/ |url-status=dead }} and Ni-Vanuatu forward Alex Saniel.{{Cite web |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/02/02/alex-saniel-has-a-perfect-debut-for-lautoka/ |title=Alex Saniel has a perfect debut for Lautoka – Oceania Football Center |access-date=2020-02-09 |archive-date=2020-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422034314/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/02/02/alex-saniel-has-a-perfect-debut-for-lautoka/ |url-status=dead }} They also hired Vanuatu international Jason Thomas{{Cite web |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/02/07/jason-thomas-signs-for-lautoka/ |title=Jason Thomas signs for Lautoka – Oceania Football Center |access-date=2020-02-09 |archive-date=2020-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518012206/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/02/07/jason-thomas-signs-for-lautoka/ |url-status=dead }} but he is not going to play the Vodafone Premier League.
Suva FC also added some international power to their squad by bringing two Nigerian players: the defender Michael Oyesanya and the striker Jibola Afonja{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/27/nigerian-duo-set-to-join-suva/|title=Nigerian duo set to join Suva|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129181640/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/27/nigerian-duo-set-to-join-suva/|url-status=dead}} that played the 2019 season for Samoan side Kiwi. However they lost Solomon Islands international Gagame Feni who moved to Vanuatu to play for Galaxy.
Current Battle of the Giants, Inter-District Championship and Champion vs Champion winners Labasa FC managed to hold some key players like Siotame Kubu and Antonio Tuivuna that attracted the interest of Suva FC and Ba FC respectively.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/15/siotame-kubu-close-to-suva-move/|title=Siotame Kubu close to Suva move|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129214204/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/15/siotame-kubu-close-to-suva-move/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/23/labasa-and-ba-to-clash-in-fijian-cvc/|title=Labasa and Ba to clash in Fijian CVC|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129214247/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/23/labasa-and-ba-to-clash-in-fijian-cvc/|url-status=dead}} They also brought Ratu Apenisa who scored two goals in the 2020 Champion vs Champion against Ba.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/26/ratu-anare-brace-gives-labasa-the-cvc-glory/|title=Ratu Anare brace gives Labasa the CVC glory|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129182256/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/26/ratu-anare-brace-gives-labasa-the-cvc-glory/|url-status=dead}} Solomon Islands international Dennis Ifunaoa left the team to come back to his homeland to play for Solomon Warriors.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2019/11/09/benjamin-totori-and-dennis-ifunaoa-debut-for-solomon-warriors/|title=Benjamin Totori and Dennis Ifunaoa debut for Solomon Warriors|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2019-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109073656/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2019/11/09/benjamin-totori-and-dennis-ifunaoa-debut-for-solomon-warriors/|url-status=dead}}
Nadi FC will count on midfielder Avinesh Suwamy that left Ba after playing for the Men in Black for more than ten years.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/28/avinesh-suwamy-to-leave-ba/|title=Avinesh Suwamy to leave Ba|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129181735/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/28/avinesh-suwamy-to-leave-ba/|url-status=dead}}
Nasinu FC lost young goalkeeper Mohammed Alzaar Alam who moved to New Zealand to play for Manukau United FC.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/20/fijian-mohammed-alam-signs-with-new-zealand-club/|title=Fijian Mohammed Alam signs with New Zealand club|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129182603/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/20/fijian-mohammed-alam-signs-with-new-zealand-club/|url-status=dead}} However they added some good firepower by signing with three players from Solomon Islands: Atkin Kaua, Jared Rongosulia and Marlon Nonone.{{cite web |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2020/02/05/kaua-and-more-two-solomon-islanders-to-sign-for-nasinu/ |title=Kaua and two more Solomon Islanders to sign for Nasinu |publisher=Oceania Football Center |date= |access-date=30 May 2023 }}
Recently promoted Navua FC added some firepower by signing with 2019 Vodafone Senior League top scorer Taniela Rakariva.{{cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/16/rakariva-strengthens-navua-attack-for-2020/|title=Rakariva strengthens Navua attack for 2020|website=Oceania Football Center|accessdate=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129203636/https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/16/rakariva-strengthens-navua-attack-for-2020/|url-status=dead}}
League table
|section=League table
|source=[https://www.fijifootball.com.fj/competition-list/vodafone-premier-league-2020-536399427/ Fiji FA]
|update=8 November 2020
|win_BA =7 |draw_BA =2 |loss_BA =5 |gf_BA =22|ga_BA =19|status_BA =
|win_LAB=7 |draw_LAB=1 |loss_LAB=6 |gf_LAB=17|ga_LAB=15|status_LAB=
|win_LAU=4 |draw_LAU=4 |loss_LAU=6 |gf_LAU=25|ga_LAU=18|status_LAU=
|win_NAD=7 |draw_NAD=1 |loss_NAD=6 |gf_NAD=25|ga_NAD=17|status_NAD=
|win_NAS=2 |draw_NAS=2 |loss_NAS=10|gf_NAS=14|ga_NAS=42|status_NAS=R
|win_NAV=4 |draw_NAV=1 |loss_NAV=9 |gf_NAV=23|ga_NAV=33|status_NAV=
|win_REW=8 |draw_REW=3 |loss_REW=3 |gf_REW=21|ga_REW=15|status_REW=Q
|win_SUV=7 |draw_SUV=6 |loss_SUV=1 |gf_SUV=24|ga_SUV=12|status_SUV=CQ
|team_order=SUV, REW, BA, NAD, LAB, LAU, NAV, NAS
|name_BA =Ba
|name_LAB=Labasa
|name_LAU=Lautoka
|name_NAD=Nadi
|name_NAS=Nasinu
|name_NAV=Navua
|name_REW=Rewa
|name_SUV=Suva
|res_col_header=QR
|result1=OCL |result2=OCL |result8=REL
|col_OCL=green1 |text_OCL=Qualification to OFC Champions League group stage
|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to Fiji Senior League
}}
Results
{{#invoke:sports results|main
| source = https://www.fijifootball.com.fj/competition-list/vodafone-premier-league-2020-536399427/
| update = 8 November 2020
| a_note = yes
| matches_style = FBR
| team1 = BA | team2 = LAB | team3 = LAU | team4 = NAD | team5 = NAV | team6 = NAS | team7 = REW | team8 = SUV
| name_BA = Ba
| name_LAB = Labasa
| name_LAU = Lautoka
| name_NAD = Nadi
| name_NAV = Navua
| name_NAS = Nasinu
| name_REW = Rewa
| name_SUV = Suva
| match_BA_LAB = 2–1
| match_BA_LAU = 0-0
| match_BA_NAD = 0-1
| match_BA_NAS = 0–2
| match_BA_REW = 1-1
| match_BA_SUV = 3–1
| match_BA_NAV = 0–4
| match_LAB_BA = 2-1
| match_LAB_LAU = 2-0
| match_LAB_NAD = 1–0
| match_LAB_NAS = 2-0
| match_LAB_REW = 1-3
| match_LAB_SUV = 1-2
| match_LAB_NAV = 0-2
| match_LAU_BA = 1–2
| match_LAU_LAB = 0-0
| match_LAU_NAD = 6-0
| match_LAU_NAS = 6-0
| match_LAU_REW = 3-5
| match_LAU_SUV = 0-1
| match_LAU_NAV = 2-2
| match_NAD_BA = 5–1
| match_NAD_LAB = 0-1
| match_NAD_LAU = 3-2
| match_NAD_NAS = 5-0
| match_NAD_REW = 0-1
| match_NAD_SUV = 0–1
| match_NAD_NAV = 2-3
| match_NAS_BA = 0-2
| match_NAS_LAB = 1-0
| match_NAS_LAU = 1-1
| match_NAS_NAD = 1-3
| match_NAS_REW = 3-4
| match_NAS_SUV = 3-3
| match_NAS_NAV = 2–4
| match_REW_BA = 0-1
| match_REW_LAB = 1-2
| match_REW_LAU = 1–0
| match_REW_NAD = 2-1
| match_REW_NAS = 1-0
| match_REW_SUV = 0-0
| match_REW_NAV = 3-3
| match_SUV_BA = 2-1
| match_SUV_LAB = 3-1
| match_SUV_LAU = 1-1
| match_SUV_NAD = 0-0
| match_SUV_NAS = 5-0
| match_SUV_REW = 0–0
| match_SUV_NAV = 0-2
| match_NAV_BA = 0-3
| match_NAV_LAB = 2-1
| match_NAV_LAU = 1–2
| match_NAV_NAD = 1-2
| match_NAV_NAS = 7-1
| match_NAV_REW = 2-0
| match_NAV_SUV = 2-2
}}
Top scorers
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |
| Rank
!Player !Club !Goals | |
|---|---|
| rowspan="1"|1
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Sairusi Nalaubu | align="left"|Suva
|rowspan="1"|9 |
| 2
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Rusiate Matarerega | align="left"|Nadi
|8 |
| rowspan="2"|3
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Ilisoni Logaivau | align="left"|Labasa
|rowspan="2"|7 |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Christopher Wasasala | align="left"|Suva |
| 5
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Rusiate Matarerega | align="left"|Nadi
|6 |
| rowspan=2|6
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Samuela Gavo | align="left"|Lautoka
|rowspan=2|5 |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Dave Radrigai | align="left"|Lautoka |
| rowspan=6|8
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Samuela Drudru | align="left"|Ba
|rowspan=6|4 |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Siotame Kubu
|align=left|Labasa | |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Sakaraia Naisua
|align=left|Nadi | |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Ali Shazil
|align=left|Lautoka | |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Apisai Smith
|align=left|Navua | |
| align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Tevita Waranaivalu
|align=left|Rewa |
See also
References
{{reflist|1}}
External links
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fiji2020.html RSSSF]
{{Fiji Premier League}}
{{2020 in Oceanian football (OFC)}}
{{2020 in Fijian football}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020 Fiji Premier League}}