TIV Sangam football ready to start
Then India Valibar (TIV) Sangam football tournament will start tomorrow at the Labasa Sangam College ground in Namara. The event begins with a combined pooja ceremony at the Labasa Sangam temple and then the three days of football.
A total of eight teams will be participating whereby four teams are in each pool. The Then India Sanmarga Ikya (T.I.S.I) Sangam Labasa president Shalend Krishna Chetty said the preparations are in order and they are ready to begin the tournament tomorrow. “Preparations are all good and the people of Labasa are aware of the tournament. The tournament should be good, thought the weather is not good but we are prepared,” Chetty said.
“Seven teams are from Vanua Levu and one team from Taveuni is also coming this year. The south Indian origin population is less and that is the reason we have less teams this year”.
The chief guest for the opening ceremony will be former Labasa football midfielder Edwin Shayam.
Big names that will part of this year’s tournament are former Nadi, Labasa and Dreketi rep Krishneil Krishna and former Labasa rep Ajesh Narayan. Last year’s defending champions Naleba will not be participating
and fans will see a new champion crowned this year.
The tournament will see a high standard of football as Fiji Football has provided the referees for the tournament. Chetty has urged the fans to come and big names to support the tournament.
“Come in numbers, join hands together and support your teams and let us be united. Sangam in Labasa has contributed a lot to the economy in the northern division and there are a lot of projects lined up for the next five years and the funds raised
Photo: Shratika Naidu
from the tournament will be used in these projects.
“Let’s grow our culture and be united so we can make a better Sangam, better Labasa and a better nation.”
The tournament will conclude on Monday and the cup winners will walk away $500 richer while the cup runner-ups will receive $300. Plate winners get $150 and plate runners-up gets $100.