As a football official, Amina Bibi, has faced a lot of challenges over the years but never lost hope.

Last year, she became the first woman to be the vice-president of the Nadi Football Association.

Amina, 50, a mother of three was born and raised in Labasa.

She attended Nabekavu Primary School before moving to Labasa Muslim College.

After finishing Year 12, she came to Suva to further her education at the Fiji National University (then known as the Fiji Institute of Technology).

“I had an interest in sports during my school days,” she said.

“I enjoyed watching football especially when the Labasa team is playing.”

She is the niece of former national football star midfielder Anand Sami, who is her mother’s brother.

Amina’s brother Zahid Hussein played goalkeeper for the Labasa football team in the late 1990s.

She was a staunch Labasa football fan but as years went by and because of her marriage commitments, her interest in the sport faded away.

Passion

“Later my son started school and when he was 10 he was interested in football and that reignited my passion for the sport.

“This time I took a step further and joined the referee’s panel.”

Amina’s son and two daughters played football for their respective schools.

This saw her involvement with the Nadi women’s football team where she became the team’s manageress.

“That year the women’s team had no officials and players were running the team.

“With whatever knowledge I had in organising the team I started coaching them and later took up a coaching course with FFA (Fiji Football Association,” she said.

“I faced a lot of challenges in holding the team together especially when it comes to handling our expenses.

“Apart from that I had to encourage the girls to stay on and worked hard in building a pathway for them to reach the national team.

“A lot of times most districts support their men’s team while the women are left aside.

“For the past seven years I have been running the Nadi team alone.”

Amina said she was fortunate that the new Nadi FA president Ashwan Singh has been very supportive towards them.

“I will continue working with the Nadi women’s team and to be more involved in our coaching clinics.”

Profession

Amina works as a research officer for the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC Fiji).

“I have a wide network in working with NGOs. Fiji Red Cross Society, Bula Festival Committee, Pan Pacific South East Asia Women’s Association.

“I also represented Fijian women delegates to Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan.”

Amina is also the director of Fast Aid and Safety, which has been operating since 2018.

Amina’s husband passed away in 2010.

Now her youngest daughter is a registered nurse while her eldest is studying Early Childhood at the University of the South Pacific. Her son works at the Tappoos in Lautoka.

Achievements

• Year 2015– Women’s Coaching Course
•  Year 2016– Grassroots Coaching Course
• Year 2017 D license Coaching Course
• Year 2019 M. A Youth Coaching Course certificate
• Year 2019 OFC Youth C. License Certificate
• Year 2019 SNC with OSEP – Certificate.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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