Nadi Football Association has undergone a change in leadership, with vice-president Pravin Singh taking over as interim president following Mohammed Mohin Rafiq’s decision to step aside. The development comes after a disappointing season for the Jetsetters, with elections expected next month to determine the association’s future leadership.
The change was initially reported by Fiji Football News, which stated that Rafiq had resigned during a board meeting in Nadi. However, a subsequent report published by local news outlet O Nadi Ko on October 28 indicated that the president had taken one month’s leave from office, leaving uncertainty over whether his departure will become permanent.
Singh is no stranger to Nadi football. A former player who represented the district in 1993 and also played for Nadroga, he has served as Nadi FA vice-president for the past six years. Now entrusted with the association’s leadership, he has called for greater cooperation between supporters, businesses and football officials to help restore Nadi’s competitiveness.
Speaking to O Nadi Ko, Singh made clear that his immediate priority is to bring the district’s football community together rather than focus on previous disagreements. He wants an inclusive administration, encouraging anyone willing to contribute to the team’s improvement to become involved.
“We do not want to play any blame games, and look forward to the future on a positive note,” Singh said.
The leadership transition comes at a difficult time for one of Fiji’s traditional football powers. Nadi endured a particularly disappointing campaign at the 2026 FMF Inter-District Championship in Suva, losing all three group matches. The Jetsetters suffered a 3-0 defeat against Navua, followed by a 5-2 loss to neighbouring rivals Lautoka and another 3-0 defeat against Ba. They finished bottom of Group B without a point, having conceded 11 goals.
Nadi’s struggles have increased calls for changes within the association. The district has not won the prestigious IDC title since 2002, a lengthy drought for a club with a distinguished history in Fijian football.
The appointment of Singh has also received support from the local business community. Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Lawrence Kumar, who had previously advocated significant changes to the association’s management structure, welcomed the latest developments during a meeting with Singh and Nadi FA vice-president Kritesh Sharma.
According to O Nadi Ko, Kumar expressed satisfaction with the administrative changes and indicated that the chamber and its members would support the incoming management following the elections expected in approximately one month’s time. The intention is to strengthen cooperation between the football association and local businesses as Nadi attempts to regain its former standing.
Meanwhile, former Nadi FA president Ashwant Singh has been mentioned by Fiji Football News as a possible candidate for the presidency, although his participation in the upcoming election has not been confirmed.
With elections approaching and the district looking to recover from another unsuccessful season, the coming weeks could prove important for Nadi’s direction. For Pravin Singh, the immediate challenge is to rebuild unity within the association while laying the foundations for a stronger team ahead of the 2027 domestic football season.
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