The Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) is now awaiting FIFA’s approval for the start of the first phase of construction works on the new 20,000-seater stadium in Lomolomo, Lautoka. This was revealed to SUNsports yesterday by Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf “We’re hoping to start work in September,” he said. “The first phase is termed as filling where we are going to raise it up by one metre, above sea level.” The stadium project costs will be around $25million to $30 million. Yusuf confirmed that last Sunday’s Council meeting in Suva, they had appointed a five-member Fiji FA Development committee who is going to work on the project. “The five individuals are now being informed of their appointment and we will soon be releasing their names. They are independent individuals with construction expertise and also have business acumen. Yusuf said the development committee would work with the project consultants and FIFA experts on stadium construction. “They are going to ensure that the construction of the stadium is going to maximise the 18 acres of land in Lomolomo. Apart from the stadium, there is going to be a high performance unit, medical centre, media room, Futsal court and a few other technical football areas.” The CEO said there are four phases in the stadium project and they are looking to totally complete it in 2030. “However, we are looking to have games played on the stadium by 2028,” Yusuf added. OFC Pro League Meanwhile, the Oceania Football Confederations (OFC) will announce on August 29, the franchise clubs that are going to participate in next year’s OFC Pro-League competition. Yusuf said Fiji has two clubs who have submitted their interests before it was closed on July 18. “Right now we’ve got one club in the Pro- League and if it goes well we can have two clubs playing in this professional football competition,” he said. Yusuf said when the announcement of teams is made on August 29, the whole process unfolds with the franchise club starting the process of recruitment and setting up of its homebase. “This will be a professional set-up just like the Fijian Drua, now playing in the Super Rugby.” The OFC stated that from the 24 clubs who expressed interest in being part of the Pro League that starts on January 15, next year, it can confirm that 13 will continue to the Club Licensing phase. There are 11 clubs from six OFC Member Associations including four from New Zealand, two from Fiji, two from Papua New Guinea, one each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the other two clubs from Australia. The 13 clubs will be reduced to eight for the 2026 competition. There will be a maximum of two entries from a single OFC Member Association and one from Australia. The competition will feature eight teams and run from January 15 until the end of May with each club playing a minimum of 17 matches. Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj