Merrill Abel Nand’s return to Rewa FC has brought the Fiji international back to the club where his footballing journey began, and the move is already producing results. After spending several seasons with Suva, the 26-year-old forward has established himself as an important attacking figure for the Delta Tigers, scoring four goals in the opening two matches of the 2026 Inter-District Championship (IDC) as Rewa advanced to the semi-finals in their pursuit of another title.
The defending champions opened their campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Nasinu, with Nand scoring twice, before he added another brace in a 3-0 win against Labasa. A 1-1 draw with Suva completed an unbeaten group stage, leaving Rewa with seven points and nine goals scored. For Nand, the performances have reinforced the importance of returning to a familiar environment at a decisive stage of the domestic season.
Speaking exclusively to Oceania Football Center, Nand revealed that his decision to join Rewa midway through the campaign was motivated by more than simply changing clubs. His connection to the Delta Tigers stretches back to childhood, having started playing football in the club’s youth system.
“I spent a few good seasons at Suva before Rewa FC approached me to join them. What really motivated me was that Rewa is where I was born, and it’s where I started my career with the Rewa under-10 team,” Nand told OFCe.
His transition into the squad has also benefited from an existing relationship with several Rewa players through their involvement with the Fiji national team. According to Nand, those connections allowed him to settle quickly and develop an understanding with his teammates without facing significant difficulties.
“The adaptation wasn’t hard at all. I’ve played with a number of the players in the national team, and we already had a good relationship before I joined Rewa,” he explained.
Nand’s recent performances have highlighted an improvement in his goalscoring productivity. The forward has registered nine confirmed competitive goals in 2026 across different competitions, including one in the Fiji Premier League, one in the OFC Champions League, three during the Battle of the Giants and four in the ongoing IDC.
His contribution in continental football was particularly significant. While still representing Suva, Nand scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory over Papua New Guinea’s Lae City during the OFC Champions League, helping the Fijian side qualify for the semi-finals. He later continued finding the net during September’s Battle of the Giants, including Rewa’s goal in the 2-1 final defeat against Ba.
Although he acknowledges that the previous season was not particularly productive in front of goal, Nand believes the improvement in his performances is closely connected to the quality of the players surrounding him. Rather than presenting his recent goalscoring record as an individual achievement, he emphasised the collective contribution of Rewa’s attacking unit.
“Scoring goals isn’t something new to me, but last season wasn’t a very good scoring year for me. What I believe has helped me recently is the players I’m surrounded by. It’s all a team effort, and they have made it easier for me to score goals and help the team in whichever way I can,” he said.
His return to form could also strengthen his ambitions beyond domestic football. Nand has previously represented Fiji at international level, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. In November 2024, he scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, securing a 3-3 draw for the Bula Boys in an important regional qualifying encounter.
Despite already having international experience, Nand remains determined to earn another opportunity with the national team. He believes his ability to operate across different attacking positions, combined with his goalscoring qualities, could provide valuable options for Fiji’s forward line.
“Representing the country has always been an honour for me. I’ll be doing my best on the field for my club, and hopefully I can get a call-up. I think I can provide versatility in the forward positions and also offer a goalscoring threat up front. In God’s timing, it will happen!” Nand told OFCe.
For now, however, his immediate attention remains on the concluding stages of the Inter-District Championship. Rewa will face Navua in Saturday’s semi-final at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, with the opportunity to reach another major domestic final. The Delta Tigers entered the competition as defending champions and have demonstrated their attacking potential during the group stage, although the knockout rounds will present a different challenge.
Rewa’s ambition to retain the IDC trophy carries additional significance following their disappointment in the Battle of the Giants final last month. Having come close to another title, the club now has an opportunity to finish the IDC campaign successfully, with Nand among the players expected to make a difference in the decisive matches.
“The team has a lot of expectations, especially being the defending champions. We’ll do our best to defend the IDC trophy,” he said.
For Nand, the final weekend of the IDC represents another opportunity to contribute to Rewa’s success while continuing to build his case for a return to international football. His decision to return to the club where he first played as a child has coincided with one of his most productive goalscoring periods in recent seasons, and another strong performance could bring the Delta Tigers closer to retaining their title.
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