Labasa to miss Jovesa Uqe at Battle of the Giants

Labasa FC will enter the Battle of the Giants without one of its emerging young players, with 17-year-old winger Jovesa Uqe away in Samoa on national duty.

Uqe is part of the Junior Bula Boys squad at the OFC Under-19 Men’s Championship, where Fiji will pursue qualification for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. His absence leaves Labasa without a player who has already made an impact at senior level.

The Labasa Muslim College student progressed through Labasa’s junior and youth teams before earning a place with the Babasiga Lions senior side. He also came through Fiji’s national age-group pathway before joining the current Under-19 squad.

Uqe scored in Labasa’s 4-2 win over Rewa at Subrail Park during the 2026 BiC Fiji FACT. That result helped Labasa reach the semi-finals. He also scored three goals during the Extra Premier League season.

Labasa faces Nasinu at 3 p.m. on Friday in its first Battle of the Giants match. Suva plays Navua at 1 p.m., Rewa meets Lautoka at 5 p.m., and Nadi takes on Ba at 7 p.m. Radio Fiji 2 will provide live commentary on all matches.