Ray United Football Club

To our friends at Galaxy FC, as you return home following your OFC Champions League campaign, we wish you a safe and pleasant journey back to Vanuatu.

It has been a privilege having you here in Fiji and sharing in the friendship, passion and spirit that football brings between our Pacific nations.

We hope you take home not only memories from the competition, but also the warmth and hospitality of Fiji and the friendships made along the way.

Safe travels, Galaxy FC!

💙⚽ **BLUES FANS, IT’S TIME TO STAND TOGETHER!** ⚽💙

The **Extra Supermarket BOG Tournament** is coming to **4R Stadium, Ba**, and our **LAUTOKA FC BLUES** need the famous Blue Army behind them! 🔵🔥

Lautoka FC has been drawn in **POOL B** alongside **Ba FC, Rewa FC and Nadi FC** — some massive battles are coming! 💪⚽

📣 **Calling all Lautoka fans!**
Bring your family, bring your friends, wear your **BLUE**, raise your voices and come out in numbers to support our boys! 💙💙💙

🏟️ **4R Stadium, Ba**
🔵 **LAUTOKA FC – THE BLUES**

Let’s turn Ba **BLUE!** 💙🔥
**ONE TEAM • ONE DREAM • ONE LAUTOKA!**

💙 **GO BLUES GO!** 💙

📷 Lautoka Football Association - LFA Bluez hosts Galaxy FC at GalitosFiji, Nadi! 🤝

🎉 Happy Birthday, Mr. President! 🎂💙

Wishing you a wonderful birthday filled with happiness, good health and countless blessings. May the year ahead bring continued success, prosperity and many more achievements.

Have a fantastic birthday and a blessed year ahead! 🥳🎉

𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐄𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

Fiji football has recorded a series of historic milestones during Rajesh Patel's tenure as President of the Fiji Football Association, including multiple FIFA World Cup qualifications for its age-group national teams, quite possibly making him the most successful president in the association's history.

Patel, who was first elected Fiji FA President in 2011, has now spent more than a decade at the helm of the country's governing body for football.

His tenure has not been without criticism and controversy, with decisions by the Fiji FA administration and Patel's leadership attracting debate over the years.

However, the period has also coincided with some of the most significant international achievements in Fiji football history.

Among the biggest achievements has been Fiji's growing presence at FIFA youth tournaments.

The Fiji Under-20 men's side qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2015, marking the country's first appearance at the tournament.

Fiji returned to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2023.

The country's youth programme has continued to produce international qualifications, with the Fiji Under-17 side qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Women's football also reached a major milestone when Fiji qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2024.

The string of qualifications has provided a generation of young Fijian footballers with opportunities to compete against some of the world's leading football nations.

Another major development under Patel’s leadership has been the establishment of Bula FC, Fiji’s first professional football club, creating a new professional pathway for local players.

Patel had already been involved in football administration before taking over the national body, including through the Ba Football Association during a successful period for the district in the early 2000s.

After being elected Fiji FA President in 2011, one of the changes pursued under his administration was a move towards 90-minute football.

The proposal attracted debate at the time but was ultimately implemented as Fiji football continued efforts to align its domestic structures with the international game.

Fiji has also maintained a presence within regional and international football structures through the Oceania Football Confederation and FIFA during Patel's presidency.

For Fiji, increased engagement at regional and international level has accompanied the country's efforts to develop its players, competitions and football infrastructure.

The results achieved by national teams have meanwhile provided some of the clearest measures of Fiji's progress internationally.

Two FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup qualifications, a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualification and successive FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifications have all come during Patel's time at the helm.

With Fiji's young footballers increasingly appearing on the world stage and professional football beginning to establish itself locally, the Patel era has coincided with a period of significant change for the sport in .

Lautoka Football Association - LFA Bluez 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 💪

Lautoka Football Association has nominated former Nadi and Nadroga Football Association president Mun Sami Chetty "Max Chetty" for the position of Vice-President West in the upcoming Fiji Football Association elections.

The election is scheduled to take place during the 88th Ordinary Congress of the Fiji Football Association on September 4, 2026, where delegates will vote for the association’s executive positions.

Lautoka Football President Shalendra Prasad confirmed the association’s decision to nominate Chetty, saying the organisation has confidence in his leadership, experience and contribution to football in Fiji.

Prasad said Chetty has a strong connection with Lautoka Football and will continue to be regarded as part of the association.

“We believe in Max Chetty’s leadership. Max is, was and will be part of Lautoka Football,” Prasad said.

Chetty brings extensive experience in law, policing, football administration and community leadership. He currently serves as the Principal of Chetty Law & Associates and is a current Board Member of the Fiji Football Association.

He previously spent 23 years with the Fiji Police Force, including 17 years as a Police Prosecutor, giving him substantial experience in criminal investigations, court proceedings, evidence analysis, prosecution, administration and leadership.

His service was recognised with several commendations. He was named Prosecutor of the Year in Fiji in 2011, receiving a Service Excellence Award. He was also commended for achieving the highest detection rate at Nadi Police Station in 2001 and received a further commendation in 2017 for outstanding surveillance, intelligence gathering and commitment to duty.

In football administration, Chetty has previously served as President of Nadi Football Association and President of Nadroga Football Association, giving him experience at the leadership level of two of the Western Division’s established football associations.

His wider community leadership experience includes serving as General Secretary of the Nadi TISI District, President and Manager of Nalovo Sangam School, and President of Nalovo Kaliamman Temple.

Chetty holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, alongside qualifications in basic computing and the Fiji School Leaving Certificate.

His combination of legal expertise, law-enforcement experience, football governance, organisational management and community leadership provides him with a broad background as he seeks the Vice-President West position.

His experience leading Nadi and Nadroga Football associations has also given him considerable exposure to football administration, competitions, development and the challenges facing clubs and associations across the Western Division.

Lautoka Football’s decision to nominate Chetty places his name among those seeking a key leadership role within the Fiji Football Association, with the Vice-President West position representing the interests of football stakeholders across the Western Division.

The September 4 Congress is expected to be closely watched by the football fraternity as associations decide on the leadership that will guide Fiji football in the coming years.