Fiji win FANCA opener
Team Fiji got off to a great start with a 1-0 win over United States of America (USA) at the 2018 Fiji Australia New Zealand Canada America (FANCA) Muslim Football tournament at Churchill Park, Lautoka, on Wednesday night.
Dreketi district rep Sahil Yaseen opened the account for the national side in the 12th minute of the second half.
It was a heart throbbing moment for the fans as Yaseen scored a brilliant goal directly through a corner kick.
Team Fiji manager, Jainut Dean said it had been a tough first half for them however they managed to capitalised well in the second half.
“It was a high intense first half and USA is a really good team,” he said.
Dean also acknowledged that they had some problems in the first half. “However we made changes and we got what we wanted.”
He said their focus was on maintaining ball possession and creating space for the strikers.
“That is to create space with the aim to score.”
Dean added that their players had been briefed about it during the first-half break.
“Our players followed the instructions given in the second half and we managed to score.”
Ba striker Abbu Zahid and stylish Lautoka midfielder Zibraaz Sahib played a commanding role in the team.
In other matches, New Zealand thrashed Australia 3-0.
MINISTER HAILS FORMER RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTION
Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, Inia Seruiratu acknowledged the continued involvement of former Fiji residents in the country’s progress. He made the comment while officiating at the 2018 Fiji Australia New Zealand Canada America (FANCA) Muslim Soccer tournament at Churchill Park, Lautoka yesterday Seruiratu said Fiji had come a long way, from a period of racial and religious division to an era where the country was now ‘One Nation, One Fiji’.
“A lot of you had left Fiji many years back, but you keep coming back– sports being one of the vehicles bringing you back,” he said. “You know why? Because Fiji is your home; we share common characteristics and values.” Seruiratu added that these former citizens may consider returning to Fiji.
“You might even want to come back home; you can do that without relinquishing your current citizenship. You can become a dual citizen of Fiji. Together we can make Fiji an even greater nation.” Speaking on the importance of sports, he said sports developed val ues of camaraderie, mutual trust and friendship.
“Sports teach us to live for each other, to be unselfish, it builds teamwork and heightens the leve of respect and fair play.”
Seruiratu also paid tribute, on be half of Government and the people of Fiji, to the FANCA community for the assistance it has given to the Fiji Muslim League relief in Fij earlier this year and in previous years in response to natural disas ters.