Nadi U20

19 Nov 2026
Thursday
Process
16 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

16 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A knee injury of the worst kind for Afraz Ali

78 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Nadi lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Christopher Kumar 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.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Leo Lesumai

“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.

In brief

Back issues
15 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

9 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A knee injury of the worst kind for Afraz Ali

85 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Nadi lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 17 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Eneriko Matau 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.

In brief

14 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

2 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A knee injury of the worst kind for Afraz Ali

92 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Nadi lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 24 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Market

Still no ink between Nadi and Leo Lesumai

“We keep meeting, and we keep leaving the room with the same numbers we walked in with.” Another round of talks at Nadi, another week without a signature from Leo Lesumai.

In brief

13 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

26 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A knee injury of the worst kind for Afraz Ali

99 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Nadi lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 31 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Loan watch

Shaheel Valentine has seen enough of Nasinu

“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Nadi, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.

In brief

  • Squad Words at Nadi training over how hard people work
  • Squad When it matters, Leo Lesumai plays
  • Market Still no signature from Leo Lesumai
12 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

19 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A knee injury of the worst kind for Afraz Ali

106 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Nadi lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 38 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

Nilkash 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 Nadi this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

In brief

11 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

12 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A knee injury of the worst kind for Afraz Ali

113 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Nadi lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 45 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Nilkash Prasad 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.

In brief

10 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

5 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 52 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Christopher Kumar 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.

Squad

Ashneel Kumar stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Ashneel Kumar and Nadi agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

In brief

9 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

28 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 59 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

Christopher Kumar 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 Nadi this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Loan watch

Shaheel Valentine has seen enough of Nasinu

“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Nadi, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.

In brief

8 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

21 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 66 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

Eneriko Matau 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 Nadi this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

When it matters, Elvis Raju plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

In brief

7 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

14 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 73 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Squad

When it matters, Vereti Dickson plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

Squad

Words at Nadi training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Aidan Malakai Singh 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.

In brief

6 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

7 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 80 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Market

Simione Seru asks to leave Nadi

“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.

Squad

Aidan Malakai Singh 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.

In brief

5 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

31 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

A fracture rules Beniamino Lebatavatava out for 87 days

Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Nadi will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.

Market

Mohammed Ayman puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Nadi, and it is not being withdrawn.

Market

Business is business: Ratu Saimoni Nabogi goes

Tailevu Naitasiri paid $800.00 and Nadi took it, which is the whole story in one sentence. The longer version involves a wage budget and will be told all season.

Market

Business is business: Tevita Ravia goes

Nasinu paid $6.0K and Nadi took it, which is the whole story in one sentence. The longer version involves a wage budget and will be told all season.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Aidan Malakai Singh 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.

Squad

When it matters, Leo Lesumai plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

In brief

4 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

24 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Match

Nadi out of the cup

Rewa ended it 1‑3. The season narrows to the league now, and everyone in the ground knew it before the final whistle.

Market

Tevita Ravia asks to leave Nadi

“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.

Player ratings

Elvis Raju goes up and wins it — 7.71

A defender on the scoresheet, which happens rarely enough that everybody in the ground remembers who took the corner. 1 for him, and a mark of 7.71 for the rest of it.

Market

Nadi turn down Labasa for Tevita Ravia

The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Jonasa Ravukitiliva

“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.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Tevita Ravia 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.

Squad

Aidan Malakai Singh 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.

Squad

When it matters, Elvis Raju plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

Player ratings

Rocky Junior runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 7. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

In brief

3 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

17 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Triumph

Match

Clivert Sam sends Nadi through

Cup ties wait for somebody to seize them, and Clivert Sam obliged against Nadroga. 1‑0 on the night, and the name in the next round’s hat is Nadi.

Player ratings

A defender's afternoon for Leo Lesumai

Defensive actions: 25. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.

Squad

Christopher Kumar 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 Nadi this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Player ratings

Nilkash Prasad shuts the door

Defensive actions: 22, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.

Market

Shaheel Valentine attracts admirers

The name of Shaheel Valentine has come up in conversations Nadi were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.

Market

Business is business: Nikesh Singh goes

Nasinu paid $5.0K and Nadi took it, which is the whole story in one sentence. The longer version involves a wage budget and will be told all season.

The terraces

The crowd has taken to Clivert Sam

At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.

Player ratings

Elvis Raju was the difference for Nadi

Marked 7.62. Ask anyone leaving the ground what settled it and you will get one name, which is the only award that has ever really counted.

Squad

When it matters, Vereti Dickson plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

In brief

2 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

10 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Christopher Kumar 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 Nadi this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Market

Talks stall between Nadi and Christopher Kumar

“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.

Market

Nobody at Nadi has picked up the phone to Rocky Junior

48 months to run and not a word offered. A club that lets the calendar negotiate for it usually ends up losing to the calendar.

Market

Nasinu are about to pick up the phone

A conversation is coming this week. Nadi will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Elvis Raju

“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.

Market

Tevita Ravia told to find a new club

“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Tevita Ravia has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Nadi.

In brief

1 Edition

The Nadi Sentinel

3 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Vereti Dickson stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Vereti Dickson and Nadi agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Squad

Tempers go at Nadi

Christopher Kumar 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.

Market

Apisai Sesewa told to find a new club

“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Apisai Sesewa has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Nadi.

Market

Talks stall between Nadi and Vereti Dickson

“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.

Market

Nobody at Nadi has picked up the phone to Tuiba Batiratu

49 months to run and not a word offered. A club that lets the calendar negotiate for it usually ends up losing to the calendar.

Squad

Mohammed Ayman 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.

In brief