After toiling for five years and facing rivalry, soccer players, officials and well-wishers have finally accomplished their dream.
The new $2 million Centre Park Sports Stadium will host many soccer matches for all communities, beginning with the Veterans Championship.
Twenty Teams in the Over 35s Division and 10 teams in the Over 40’s Division have confirmed participation.
The failed ones
After last year’s successful tournament, some egocentrics and disgruntled bad losers tried to sabotage the unity achieved after four years of rivalry.
They did not succeed.
We hope soccer players and fans who want the sport to live and be a platform of unity will continue to support the ensuing Tournament.
Melbourne Masters, winners of the 2010 Tournament will strive to retain the Cup with their Fijian import of Patrick Wise, Henry Dyer and other former reps after a strong performance in the Sydney tournament.
Sydney Ba, winners in Sydney matches, will be another high profile team, with Esala Masi, Jason Lal and Shalendra Lal playing for them.
Sydney Nadi, under the guidance of Eshwa Nadan Ninja, were Runners-Up last year. According to Team Manager Shalini Nadan, they will go a step further to etch their name on the prestigious cup.
The forerunners
Sydney Navua will be a new entrant and are lying low but will be a team to watch. Sydney Suva have recruited last year’s Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner Avinash ‘Mircha,’ who will try to avenge their loss in the Sydney IDC.
Savusavu, another new entrant from Sydney, are skeptical of their chances and hence Manager Subhas Sharma is keeping a low profile.
Sydney Combine, managed by former Rewa stalwarts Abdul Mutlib and Abdul Hafiz are confident that as the only overseas team, they will win the Cup for the second time. Mohammed Yaseen has resumed training with the squad, which will carry big names like Lorima Batiregrega, Vilikesa Bola, Jope Lomu, Mohammed Janif and Usenio Lagaivou.
Unfortunately, the two teams from Brisbane would not be participating in this year’s Tournament due to unforeseen circumstances. They hope to be here during the next season.
The Locals
The local teams are equally determined and have shown strong support to quality soccer. Among them are Lautoka Masters, Lautoka Blues, Suva Masters, DAV Old Boys, Taveuni, Dreketi , Shaban Shah’s Labasa, Bobby Chand’s Ba, Nadroga, Nur Ahmad’s Nadi, Dreketi and Hamilton Nadroga.
The Lautoka Blues team, guided by Mudu Hoyt, are strong contenders, but must contain their archrivals Lautoka Masters, who under Albert Lal, have accomplished one of the best records in veteran’s tournaments.
The Local teams will be keen to be ahead of their overseas counterparts. They breed confidence over the fact that they have won six times in the last 11 years.
But the Trophy has travelled between New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.
The 2011 Tournament will be remembered for the outstanding contributions of its organisers and soccer enthusiasts.
Ayaaz Khan is Secretary of the New Zealand Fiji Veteran Soccer Association.
