Former Fiji and Suva official Shalen Lal fisted the air in jubilation after guiding his Sydney Ba side to a 2-0 win over New Zealand Ba in a tough final of the 12th Sashi Mahendra Singh Memorial Cup.
The Over 35’s Soccer Tournament final was held at the Mangere Centre Park Sports Stadium on January 31.
Laced with former Fiji District officials Luke Tavuyara and Arif Azam Khan, the Sydney Ba side scored first as Sachindra Kamal [Pule] carved his way through a lazy NZ Ba side for an early lead with the game barely five minutes into the first half.
About 2500 fans attended the five-day Tournament to witness quality soccer.
Shalen Lal was the kingpin for the Sydney Ba side and worked tirelessly with midfield maestro Arif and proved to be an able leader.
Lal played a commanding role in the midfield, combining well with Arif and threaded quality through passes for his strike force, which proved to be a thorn in the opposition danger zone.
Pauliasi Singh and Dheeraj Singh played well in defence and were quick to defuse attacks that came at random from former Fiji reps and now Wellington based Poasa Tubuna and Sakeo Volavou.
The Sydney Ba side kept the pressure on and after a good move from the flanks, Lal followed through and scored the second midway in the first half.
NZ Ba had a chance to get back into the game after the referee awarded a penalty but the most valuable player of the tournament Shalen Nair’s shot sailed over the cross bar.
Both teams went to the breather with Sydney Ba leading 2-0.
The tempo of the final picked up in the second half and some good interchange of play in the midfield by Ashraf Bhamji and Atish Swamy from the NZ Ba side had the opposition working overtime in defense.
First Choice Sydney Ba keeper Luke Tavuyara sustained an injury while saving a half volley from Sakeo Volavou and had to be replaced by Sachindra Kamal midway in the second half.
Lal said they faced tough opposition and it was never going to be an easy match.
“It was indeed good feeling to be playing against former Fiji and district reps and NZ Ba was a very good side,” he said.
Sydney Ba took the Cup as well as $4000 Cash and Gold Medals, while NZ Ba received with the S M Singh Runner Up Trophy, $1500 cash and silver medals.
This was a quality tournament and suited the title of being the first to be held at the New Centre Park Mangere Stadium.
The SM Singh Cup has now travelled evenly overseas, going across the Tasman five times, once to Fiji and has remained in New Zealand for six tournaments..
The New Zealand teams must now work hard to go one up next year.
Ayaaz Khan is the Secretary of the NZ Fiji Veteran Soccer Association.
