Fijians in Auckland gear up for International Veterans Football Championship
New Zealand Fiji Football Incorporated (NZFFI), will be hosting its annual International Veterans Football Championship at Bill McKinlay Park in Auckland from Wednesday, February 5 to Sunday, February 9.
The annual event sees veterans of the football game, mostly from the Fiji Indian community to come together and show their skills on the ground in the presence of hundreds of spectators over five days.
The competition is divided into four grades based on age groups, namely:
Grade 35 - 8 Teams; 2 groups of 4 teams
Grade 40 - 17 Teams; 3 groups of 4, except one group with 5 teams
Grade 45 - 10 Teams; 2 groups of 5 teams
Grade 50 - 6 Teams; 2 groups of 3 teams
The tournament was earlier scheduled for the last week of January but has been postponed to the first week of February due to HSBC Sevens Tournament in Hamilton during the long Auckland Anniversary weekend. The matches will start from Wednesday, February 5 and will have full day fixture on Waitangi Day holiday as well.
The tournament in the past has received a great response from the veterans’ teams in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand and the hosts are anticipating a massive response in terms of audience and players in the games.
“This will be the largest Fijian Football Tournament to be held in New Zealand, and it will be a privilege for NZFFI to be their host. We have also booked Walter Messey Park in Mangere (Fencibles United AFC) in Highland Park to cater all matches,” Vikash Reddy, Vice President of NZFFI told The Indian Weekender.
“Football brings the community together, and IVFC will bring together Fijian players from all over the world to Auckland. This year it will get bigger and better with a fun-filled five days of Football to be witnessed by all, and there will be food stalls and Fijian Traditional Drink (Kava) sold at the grounds.
The entry fee for spectators at Bill McKinlay Park is $5 and no charges for children under the age of 10. There are 150 car parks available at the venue with a nominal fee for the day of $10 including the driver.
The IVFC is chaired by Vikash Reddy and Vijesh Prasad with a working committee from NZFFI.
“We have been working on this project since November last year to arrange and accommodate all the logistics and planning involved and to make sure everything runs smoothly during the tournament.
“Let’s celebrate Waitangi Day February 6 at Bill McKinlay in Panmure Auckland this year by witnessing International Veterans Football Championship with the Fijian community,” Mr Reddy said.
New Zealand Fiji Football Incorporated (NZFFI), will be hosting its annual International Veterans Football Championship at Bill McKinlay Park in Auckland from Wednesday, February 5 to Sunday, February 9.
The annual event sees veterans of the football game, mostly from the Fiji Indian community to...
New Zealand Fiji Football Incorporated (NZFFI), will be hosting its annual International Veterans Football Championship at Bill McKinlay Park in Auckland from Wednesday, February 5 to Sunday, February 9.
The annual event sees veterans of the football game, mostly from the Fiji Indian community to come together and show their skills on the ground in the presence of hundreds of spectators over five days.
The competition is divided into four grades based on age groups, namely:
Grade 35 - 8 Teams; 2 groups of 4 teams
Grade 40 - 17 Teams; 3 groups of 4, except one group with 5 teams
Grade 45 - 10 Teams; 2 groups of 5 teams
Grade 50 - 6 Teams; 2 groups of 3 teams
The tournament was earlier scheduled for the last week of January but has been postponed to the first week of February due to HSBC Sevens Tournament in Hamilton during the long Auckland Anniversary weekend. The matches will start from Wednesday, February 5 and will have full day fixture on Waitangi Day holiday as well.
The tournament in the past has received a great response from the veterans’ teams in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand and the hosts are anticipating a massive response in terms of audience and players in the games.
“This will be the largest Fijian Football Tournament to be held in New Zealand, and it will be a privilege for NZFFI to be their host. We have also booked Walter Messey Park in Mangere (Fencibles United AFC) in Highland Park to cater all matches,” Vikash Reddy, Vice President of NZFFI told The Indian Weekender.
“Football brings the community together, and IVFC will bring together Fijian players from all over the world to Auckland. This year it will get bigger and better with a fun-filled five days of Football to be witnessed by all, and there will be food stalls and Fijian Traditional Drink (Kava) sold at the grounds.
The entry fee for spectators at Bill McKinlay Park is $5 and no charges for children under the age of 10. There are 150 car parks available at the venue with a nominal fee for the day of $10 including the driver.
The IVFC is chaired by Vikash Reddy and Vijesh Prasad with a working committee from NZFFI.
“We have been working on this project since November last year to arrange and accommodate all the logistics and planning involved and to make sure everything runs smoothly during the tournament.
“Let’s celebrate Waitangi Day February 6 at Bill McKinlay in Panmure Auckland this year by witnessing International Veterans Football Championship with the Fijian community,” Mr Reddy said.
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