A National Hire and Pacifica Tents sponsored International Futsal Tournament will be staged next week at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
Suva’s oldest football club Combine Bothers Sports will be hosting the championship to raise funds for the welfare and reunion of its club members.
Club president Intiaz Khan said the tournament would start on September 25 to October 2.
“The tournament will start on Monday (September 25) and will go on till Wednesday (September 26) and there will be a break for three days and will restart on Sunday (October 1) and Monday (October 2) where we will have third and fourth place play off and the finals,” Khan said.
The former national midfielder said eight top teams would compete for the top prize money.
“Majority of the teams will be competing are from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu which consists of the national players. League teams which won in their respective zone are coming for the competition,” he said.
“Three teams from Solomon Islands, one from Vanuatu with two from University of the South Pacific teams Solomon Islands and USP Vanuatu will compete alongside Southern Forest Futsal Club and two of Fiji’s national selection teams.”
Khan said the tournament would be played at international level.
“This will be an international level tournament where we will be using FIFA standard rules and Fiji FA futsal referees.”
He said there were two objectives of this tournament.
“When I was eight years old I started wearing boots for our Combine Brothers team and I have been the president of the club for a few years and in return I want to give something back to the club and it is a fundraising activity for the club,” he said.
“We are doing fundraising for our club and same time developing futsal in the country,” the Fiji futsal coach said.
“I am also trying to promote futsal in the country so we could generate interest for the development of the sport and we are having futsal league in Suva and Lami, Nasinu and it could help in the preparation for the national team in the future.”
Khan said they aim was also to re unite with former players and qualify for the NCC.
“We also raising funds to see our team play in the NCC in future and have a reunion with former Combine players.”
“I am thankful to National Hire, Pasifika Tents, Vodafone and Fiji Football Association for being part of the tournament.
He urged fans to come out in numbers and enjoy the thrilling matches on stake and enjoy the atmosphere.
“There will be very competitive and thrilling matches just like the OFC Futsal competition and I am sure the fans will get their money worth watching.”
The ticket price for adults will be $3 and child under will be $1.
The winner will receive the prizemoney of $3000 while the runner-up gets $1000. The third place winner receives $600 while the fourth place gets $400.