RAFIQ HONOURED WITH TOP ROLE
BUSINESS tycoon Abdul Kaiyum Rafiq was elected as the new president and chairman for the Board of Control of Lautoka Football Association on Monday.
The Design Engineering (Fiji) Ltd director’s appointment was endorsed by the Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel and Fiji FA Board of Control members.
Rafiq said it was exciting times ahead for LFA.
“I am excited to be leading the LFA and it’s a great honour,” he said.
“I was quite concerned with the Lautoka football team’s performance and it pained me immensely.
“There was no proper guidance for the last couple of years and I have always been supportive of LFA.
“I have been a vice-president before but I have always been supportive of LFA because I bleed blue!
“We wrote to the Fiji FA requesting to be offered an opportunity to take charge at LFA and the main aim now is to steer the association towards a successful football season.
“I have confidence with the rest of the elected executive members chosen to run the affairs of LFA and we will be running the association in a transparent and accountable manner.”
Former interim president Narayan Reddy, who replaced incumbent Shalendra Prasad in late October, last year is one of the committee members on the current BOC for LFA.
Prasad had requested to step down from his position last year to sort some pending issues which arose regarding Lautoka football team’s participation at the Champions League during the same year.
Rafiq would be in his new position on an interim basis for the duration of the year until December 31.
Some notable names on the board include national squash player Romit Meghji and former president of LFA Abdul Kadar.
I am excited to be leading the LFA and it’s a great honour ... I have confidence with the rest of the elected executive members – Abdul Kaiyum Rafiq