Taniela Rakariva: the 2019 Fijian Golden Boot

With the end of the Inter-District Championship, there’s only Champion vs. Champion remaining to finish the Fiji football season, with Labasa and Ba deciding the last title of 2019. Even with these two matches not scheduled yet, it’s not too early to talk about the season’s top scorers.

When we think about good forwards in Fijian football, we think about some players like Rusiate Matarerega (Nadi), Benjamin Totori and Samuela Drudru (both from Lautoka). But this year we had a Senior League’s player that scored more goals than these players and was the Fijian 2019 season Golden Boot: Taniela Rakariva.

It’s not the first season that Rakariva’s scored a good amount of goals: in 2018 he was the Senior League’s top scorer with 13 goals. But this year he came more hungry and lethal, scoring 18 goals in thirteen matches for Lami in the Vodafone Senior League, being named the league topscorer for the second straight season, helping Lami to end the season as runner-up right after Navua.

He has also scored three goals in four matches in 2019 Inter-District Championship. Despite not being the tournament’s top scorer, he ended the season with 21 goals in 18 matches, averaging 1.16 goals per game.

Check out the current Fiji Golden Boot race (including Leagues, BOG, IDC and Fiji FACT):
🇫🇯 Taniela Rakariva (Lami) – 21 Goals
🇫🇯 Samuela Drudru (Lautoka) – 18 Goals
🇫🇯 Rusiate Matarerega (Nadi) – 18 Goals
🇫🇯 Vineet Chand (Navua) – 14 Goals
🇫🇯 Sairusi Nalaubu (Lautoka/Suva) – 13 Goals
🇸🇧 Benjamin Totori (Lautoka) – 12 Goals
🇫🇯 Siotame Kubu (Labasa) – 12 Goals
🇸🇧 Gagame Feni (Suva) – 12 Goals
🇫🇯 Sharad Kumar (Navua) – 12 Goals

At 23 years old, it’s clear that Rakariva is ready for the next level. He’ll probably leave Lami in time for next season and many Premier League teams may show interest in signing him. A young forward ready to shine!