Marked for Vinal Prasad
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market1 Feb 2027
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Labasa waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Navua is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
Boardroom1 Feb 2027
Deadline passes with 1 signed and 1 gone
That is the business done at Navua until the window opens again. Whether it was enough will be answered on Saturdays rather than in a column, and the first Saturday is close.
Transfer targets1 Feb 2027
A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. Navua have done the hard part with Tailevu Naitasiri, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
Squad1 Feb 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Navua this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad1 Feb 2027
Words at Navua training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Vinal Prasad is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout1 Feb 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market11 Jan 2027
$4.0K — a new record at Navua
No footballer has ever cost this club more, and the number will be read out every time he misplaces a pass for the next two years.
Market11 Jan 2027
$3.0K from Rewa for Simione Damuni. Money is money, but the dressing room has lost the man it looked to.
The terraces11 Jan 2027
Navua sell a favourite for $3.0K
The accountants will call it good business and they will be right, which is not the point anybody outside the boardroom is making. Simione Damuni was one of the reasons people came, and $3.0K does not replace that by itself.
Transfer targets11 Jan 2027
A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. Navua have done the hard part with Lautoka, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Tempers go at Navua
Jovilisi Borisi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The terraces11 Jan 2027
Boards get told what they have done wrong for years and hear nothing on the days they get it right. This is one of those days: Maleli Baledrokadroka from Labasa for $4.0K, and a ticket office having a very good morning.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad21 Dec 2026
A row about effort at Navua
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Vinal Prasad was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout21 Dec 2026
The manager makes an example of Zainal Ali
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Market21 Dec 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Ali Mekawir’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market14 Dec 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad14 Dec 2026
A falling-out at Navua
Vinal Prasad and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad14 Dec 2026
Osea Sauturaga falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad30 Nov 2026
A falling-out at Navua
Jovilisi Borisi and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad30 Nov 2026
A row about effort at Navua
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Vinal Prasad was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout30 Nov 2026
Shofwaan Ali gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Shofwaan Ali is on it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad23 Nov 2026
Words exchanged at Navua
Jovilisi Borisi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad23 Nov 2026
Vinal Prasad falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Market23 Nov 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Ali Mekawir’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad9 Nov 2026
Words exchanged at Navua
Kolinio Sivoki and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad9 Nov 2026
A row about effort at Navua
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Vinal Prasad was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Market9 Nov 2026
“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad2 Nov 2026
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 18 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Words at Navua training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Vinal Prasad is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
The manager makes an example of Zainal Ali
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad26 Oct 2026
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 25 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
Squad26 Oct 2026
Vinal Prasad in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Navua this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Market26 Oct 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Ali Mekawir’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
Rinish has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Navua will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
Zainal Ali knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Navua, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market26 Oct 2026
2 months remain and no agreement is close. Every week without a signature costs Navua money.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad19 Oct 2026
A bone, which is the one injury with a calendar attached. Navua will name a return date and, unusually for this business, will probably be right about it.
Market19 Oct 2026
Zainal Ali has one foot out of the door
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Navua they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Tempers go at Navua
Jovilisi Borisi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad28 Sep 2026
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 53 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
Squad28 Sep 2026
Words exchanged at Navua
Jovilisi Borisi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad28 Sep 2026
Words at Navua training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Vinal Prasad is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Market28 Sep 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Ali Mekawir’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
Rinish gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Rinish is on it.
Market28 Sep 2026
3 months remain and no agreement is close. Every week without a signature costs Navua money.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market7 Sep 2026
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Navua can pretend not to have heard.
Boardroom7 Sep 2026
Navua close the window on a squad of their own making
14 in and 0 out, and no more changes for months. The manager has what he has, the supporters have their opinion of it, and the table will have the last word.
Transfer targets7 Sep 2026
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Nadi have kept their man, and Navua go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Squad7 Sep 2026
A row about effort at Navua
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Vinal Prasad was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Market7 Sep 2026
“We keep meeting, and we keep leaving the room with the same numbers we walked in with.” Another round of talks at Navua, another week without a signature from Zainal Ali.
The dugout7 Sep 2026
Shofwaan Ali gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Shofwaan Ali is on it.
Squad7 Sep 2026
He used to be one of the options. He is now one of the men the options are picked around, and the change happened quietly enough that only the dressing room noticed on the day.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Navua will explain it as a decision about the team, and it may well be one. A dressing room has never once read it that way.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Filipe Baravilala joins up with his country. Navua lose him for the window and would like him back in one piece.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market31 Aug 2026
Rahul Krishna hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Navua can pretend not to have heard.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Words exchanged at Navua
Jovilisi Borisi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Transfer targets31 Aug 2026
Nadi have been asked whether they would lend him. Loans are agreed quickly or not at all, and this one will be one or the other by the weekend.
Squad31 Aug 2026
A row about effort at Navua
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Osea Sauturaga was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Market31 Aug 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Ali Mekawir’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
Rinish has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Navua will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad17 Aug 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Navua this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
The approach was made and the answer came back in a sentence. There is no number on the table because there was no number that would have been enough.
Squad17 Aug 2026
A row about effort at Navua
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Vinal Prasad was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
A loan enquiry to Suva: cover, or a look at somebody the club cannot afford to buy yet. Either way the answer will come back inside the week.
Market17 Aug 2026
Rahul Krishna is free to find somewhere else
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Navua has been clear about where Rahul Krishna stands, which is more than many ever get.
Market17 Aug 2026
Navua have made Vineet Chand available for transfer. A career at this club is over in all but paperwork.