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Bula Boys claimed the New Zealand Ethnic Football Title for the third time in an exciting finish to the final match that they played against Serbia.
The Rams Cleaning and Future Plans Ltd sponsored side defeated their opponents 4-2 in penalty shootouts of the Shield Final.
Organised by the Hamilton Multicultural Trust at Gower Park in Hamilton on October 1 and 2, 2016, the Tournament attracted 24 teams representing various countries.
Great Names
The Bula Boys Soccer Team, laced with former Fiji District reps Aeron Singh, Ravinesh Narayan ‘Rabba,’ Josaia Bukalidi, Apisai Smith, Nicholas Lawrence, Abbu Zahid, James Hoyt, Leone Vurukania, Ratu Luke Lomasalato, Rinal Prasad, Noa Vukica, Risheel Dass, Mohd Taslim, Dinesh Lingam and Rajnesh Sharma fought gallantly throughout the tournament to be crowned overall champions.
The final proved to be a physical encounter with the Serbians using their height and physicality to great advantage to keep the game scoreless.
The match went into the dreaded penalty shootouts with Nicholas Lawrence, Shaneel Prasad, Josaia Bukalidi and Abbu Zahid scoring from the spot for the Bula Boys, while Apisai’s effort was saved by the Serbian goalkeeper.
Winning penalty
Former Labasa and Nadi goalkeeper Ravinesh Narayan ‘Rabba’ showed his experience by brilliantly saving one of the Serbian spot kicks which put pressure on the next Serbian kicker who rocketed his shot skyward.
Abbu Zahid stepped up to take the winning penalty and calmly slotted it into the back of the net to give the Auckland based Fijian side a well-deserved victory.
Bula Boys have now shifted their focus to the National Ethnic Championship to be held at Centre Park in Mangere from November 25 to 27, 2016.
They hope that the Fijian community in Auckland would support them in winning the National Ethnic Champion Title.
Photo Caption:
The Winning Team (Bula Boys) with their Coaches, Managers and friends
