Labasa turn to Jerry Sam as Alvin Chand steps down after BOG elimination

Labasa FC have made a major change to their technical leadership only days after the Babasiga Lions were eliminated from the 2026 Battle of the Giants, with Alvin Chand stepping down as head coach and experienced Solomon Islands coach Jerry Sam taking over the position.

The Labasa Football Association officially announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that Chand had left the role due to personal reasons and ongoing work commitments. The association thanked the coach for his dedication and service before confirming Sam as his replacement.

The change comes at the end of a significant period for Chand, who was appointed to the senior position in March 2025 after spending several years working within the Labasa football system, including at youth level. His impact was immediate, as the Babasiga Lions enjoyed an impressive 2025 campaign under his command.

Chand guided Labasa to the 2025 Fiji FACT title after a dramatic final against Rewa, with the Northern side prevailing on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Only two months later, Labasa again defeated Rewa, this time 2-1 at Subrail Park, to lift the Battle of the Giants trophy in front of their home supporters.

The attempt to defend the BOG crown in 2026, however, ended in the group stage. Labasa collected six points from three matches, defeating Nasinu 1-0 and Navua 2-1 but suffering a costly 3-0 defeat against Suva. Suva, Nasinu and Labasa all finished on six points, with the Babasiga Lions eventually missing the semi-finals on the tiebreaking criteria.

Sam’s promotion is particularly notable because he had only recently joined Labasa’s technical staff. The Solomon Islander was brought in ahead of the BOG as a technical advisor, working alongside Chand during the team’s preparations for the tournament. Less than two weeks later, he has now been handed responsibility for the senior side.

The new Labasa coach brings considerable experience from different parts of Oceania. Sam has previously worked with Fiji’s national futsal and beach soccer programmes and has been involved with the Solomon Islands’ highly regarded futsal setup. His club experience also includes work with Marist FC and Papua New Guinea powerhouse Hekari United, including exposure to OFC Champions League football.

His familiarity with Fiji football should also make the transition considerably smoother. Sam previously served as Fiji’s national futsal coach and had already been directly involved in Labasa’s training sessions before the BOG, meaning he takes charge of a squad and environment he has recently been working with.

For Labasa, the appointment brings an immediate new direction following a disappointing end to their BOG title defence, while Chand departs after a short but highly productive spell in charge. The Babasiga Lions now move from a coach who rose through their own system to one of the more experienced Solomon Islands coaches working around the Pacific.

Jerry Sam’s brief assignment as technical advisor has therefore quickly developed into something much bigger: responsibility for leading one of Fiji’s most prominent football districts into its next chapter.