Celebrate Our Diversity: Bala
We must continue to celebrate our diversity and the unique flavours that it brings to Fiji.
The comment was made by the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations and Youth and Sports Parveen Kumar Bala during the official opening of FANCA Nations World Cup Fiji 2022 at Prince Charles Park, Nadi, yesterday.
The biennial event, this year marks the silver Jubilee celebrations bringing together the Muslim community here in Fiji and their friends and family members who live abroad.
The FANCA Federation includes Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America – those countries to which most have migrated in the past so many decades.
“In Fiji, we have often referred to the phrase ‘Unity in Diversity’ to celebrate the different communities that make up Fiji as a multiracial and multi-faith nation,” Bala said.
“I am happy to note that the Fiji Muslim Sports Association and FANCA have continued to work closely to celebrate their unique contributions to Fiji as a nation, and to Fiji as a nation of diverse communities living in harmony.
“I know that the sporting teams have prepared hard for this event. This is a very prestigious set of sporting events, and especially so during the 25th anniversary of FANCA.
“I know that all of you will play hard and be competitive, but also play fair and in the spirit of the social coming together behind these events.”
Bala also acknowledged the pioneers of FANCA and those who have kept the organisation going since then.
“My sincere congratulations for achieving and now celebrating your Silver Jubilee or 25th anniversary in the grand style that it deserves.”
Meanwhile, for the first time, the Federation has inducted certain personal to their Hall of Fame and Legends:
FAME AWARDS
- Late Hafiz-Ud-Dean Khan (Fiji)
- Late Azad Khan (Canada)
- Peter Nizamuddin (Fiji/Nadi)
- Abdul Nasir (Canada)
LEGEND AWARDS
- Haji Sameer Ali
- Autumn Abdul
- Gulzaman Khan
- Aslam Khan
- Mohammed Koya
- Azam Khan
- Rizwan Wasim
- Haji Sikandar Khan
- Tabrez Khan
- Zamir Khan
- Mohammed Sattar
- Mohammed Yusuf
RESULTS
Day 1: Legends: Australia 2– 1 USA, Fiji 0–1 Canada; Masters Australia – USA, Fiji 0– 0 New Zealand
WHAT’S ON TODAY
12pm Legends: Fiji v Australia, Canada v USA; 1.15pm Veterans: USA v Australia, Canada v New Zealand; 2.30pm Main: Canada v USA; 3.45pm Masters: USA v New Zealand, Fiji v Australia; 5pm Legends: Fiji v New Zealand; 6.30pm Veterans: Fiji v New Zealand; 7.45pm Main: Fiji v New Zealand; 9pm Main: Canada v Australia
