Ifira Black Bird FC will now focus on the Top Four competition after winning the Port Vila Football Digicel Premier League competition over the weekend.
lfira held Mauwia to a one-all draw in the last match of the competition last Saturday.
The team only needed a draw to win.
“Our next focus is the Top Four Competition to find the winner to represent Port Vila in the OFC Champions League in 2018,” said the club’s Vice President Kalpovi Mangawai.
“We know teams like Amicale, Tupuji Imere and the defending champion, Erakor Golden Star will be tough in the Top Four next Saturday and we must now think about next (this) week’s competition which will be tougher than the Digicel Premier League.”
”But at the end of the day, we will celebrate our win today as Champions of Port Vila Football Association,” he said.
The last time Ifira Black Bird FC won the title was in 1986, 6 six years after the independence of Vanuatu in 1980.
Solomon Islands international Charles Otainao scored Ifira’s only goal in 2 minutes just after the kick off in the first half.
Solomon Islands and Ifira Black Bird head coach, Batram Suri was a happy man after the match.
” To be honest, this year’s competition is very tough and I must thank all my players for playing good football in the league,” Suri said.
“To play against team like Erakor, Digicel Amicale, Tafea, Tupuji Imere is not easy and I would like to thank Ifira Black Bird Fc President and his executive for all their support.”
“Thank you to all the faithful supporters too.”
In the last round of the competition, Digicel Amicale defeated Siaraga 6-1 and Erakor Golden Star beat Tupuji Imere 4-2.
The final Digicel Premier League 2016/2017 Standing;
1. Ifira Black Bird 31
2. Erakor Golden Star 30
3. Tupuji Imere 25
4. Digicel Amicale 23
5. Tafea 14
6. Mauwia 14
7. Siaraga 9
8. Mauriki 6
Photo by Vanuafoot