CHRISTCHURCH TERROR ATTACK ‘Generous soul’ mourned
Atta Elayyan was set to coach his Christchurch Boys’ High School futsal team at the secondary school nationals next week.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who played 19 A internationals for the New Zealand Futsal Whites, was one of the 50 victims of the terrorist attack in Christchurch on Friday afternoon.
Kuwait-born Elayyan was praying at the Masjid Al Noor Mosque next to South Hagley Park, as he regularly did on a Friday, when he was shot. He is survived by wife Farah and young daughter Aya.
Elayyan, a cornerstone of the Canterbury United Futsal Dragons, caught up with good friend Ronan Naicker a day earlier on Thursday, to pick up gear for his Christchurch Boys’ futsal (indoor football) team.
An old boy of the school, Elayyan had spoken proudly of coaching the team and taking them to Wellington for the secondary school national championships which start next Monday.
Naicker, Mainland Football’s futsal development officer in Christchurch, coached Elayyan for five years with Canterbury, winning two national league titles together.
Elayyan’s gift for helping others, sharing knowledge, and growing the sport of futsal was a hallmark of his character. A highly intelligent man and successful developer of his own business, app development company LWA Solutions, he was more than happy to find time to coach at his alma mater.
Elayyan was recognised as one of New Zealand’s most transformative technology and digital leaders at industry awards in 2017 and 2018.
‘‘He tried to give back to his old school by coaching teams. Even though he didn’t have the time he still found time and he did it all for nothing,’’ Naicker told Stuff yesterday.
‘‘He never asked for anything in return. He was a truly exceptional human being.’’
New Zealand futsal,
New Zealand Football and Mainland Football representatives, as well as swarms of Canterbury men’s and women’s national league players, and futsal members, paid tribute to Elayyan yesterday, laying flowers by the Deans Avenue mosque, where he was killed.
At English Park, home of Canterbury Football, many spoke about the contribution Elayyan had made to the game.
Naicker described Elayyan as a ‘‘generous soul’’ and somebody others looked up to and admired.
‘‘He was somebody you would follow.
‘‘He wasn’t someone that was trying to be a leader, he just naturally was by his personality.’’
Elayyan, a devout Muslim, adapted smoothly into life in New Zealand.
‘‘That’s why it’s so tragic because he set an example of someone who can seamlessly integrate across a faith, a community, and religions,’’ Naicker said.
In 2014, Elayyan was named New Zealand Football futsal player of the year.
Although Elayyan’s futsal skills had been influential in gaining the award, it was just as much for his ability to promote the sport and assist other players.
Coach Naicker and goalkeeper Elayyan reflected fondly on their 7-6 win over Capital in the final.
‘‘Atta was truly one of the best people you could meet or have the pleasure to be around,’’ Naicker said.
Mainland Football chief executive Julian Bowden labelled Elayyan a winner both on and off the pitch.
New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said NZF’s thoughts were with all the people involved in the tragedy, Mainland Football and futsal community, and Elayyan’s family.