The Soccer match between Ex Combine Brothers and Ex Civic ended with the former scoring three goals to nil.
Rishi Awadh, Shailendra Lal and Nehal Murti scored a goal each.
As reported in our September 15 issue, the match was the inaugural Meli Delai Memorial Cup in honour of the former Combined Brothers and Suva Rep, the late Meli Delai.
The event, held at the Rongomai Sports Complex (Dannemora) in East Auckland, had several nail-biting moments.
Former Suva Soccer Manager and former Combine Brothers President Nitya Nand Shankar was the Chief Guest, and former Suva and Fiji Rep Dharmesh Prasad was a special guest.
Former FIFA Referee Ayaaz Khan was the Referee while Former Nadi, Nasinu and Police (Suva) Rep Gyanandra Kumar and Rahil Murti were his assistants.
The game was played under the auspices of the New Zealand Fiji Veterans Soccer Association (NZ Fiji VSA).
The players
Among the players in the Ex Combine Team were Irshad Dean (Former Suva Youth Rep), Reyakat Khan (Former Suva and Fiji Rep, Harold Chand (Former Suva Youth Rep), Ravinesh Sharma (Former Suva Youth Rep), Rohit Sharma (Former Suva Youth Rep), Riaz Ali (Former Suva Youth rep), Riyaz Khan, Mohammed Azeem (Former Rakiraki Rep), Nehal Murti, Shailendra Lal (Former Suva and Fiji Rep), Faizal Khan (Former Suva Rep), Feroz Khan Former Suva Youth Rep), Rishi Awadh (Former Taveuni Rep).
The Ex Civic Team comprised Mohammed Imtiaz Ishak, Vikash Anand Parsad (Former Suva Rep), Azam Khan (Former Nasinu Youth Rep), Richard Hussein (Former Suva Youth Rep), Vinal Murti, Nasif Ali, Justin Murti, Alfaz Ali(Former Suva Youth Rep), Vishal Lal (Former Suva and Fiji U-20 Rep), Mohammed Shameem (Former Nasinu Rep), Rakesh Dube (Former Suva Youth Rep).
Biannual event
Game Coordinator and former Civic and Suva Youth Rep and current Suva Masters Football Club (NZ) Official Mack Khan said that the next match would be played after about six months, making the match a biannual event.
“We plan to honour the late Umesh Murti, another Suva Rep and a great friend, who passed away in 1999 after sustaining a bad injury while playing for the National League against Tavua in 1989. He was paralysed for ten years,” he said.
“Murti and Delai were soccer mates and most of us, including Reyakat Khan, Shailendra Lal and Dharmesh Prasad have played with them,” he added.
Mr Khan said that players and officials were preparing for the NZ Fiji Veterans Soccer Association Tournament scheduled to be held from 15 to 17 November at Centre Park in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere.
The photograph appearing here shows Young Ziyaad Khan receiving a Certificate on behalf of his father Mack Khan from Chief Guest Nitya Nand Shankar.
