Young Footballers Flourish

IFYA U-12 take on Vunikavikaloa Arya U-12

By Eliki Drugunalevu

Nalawa district in Ra recently played host to some of the finest footballers from Suva and beyond.

Suva Junior Football Club (SJFC), with the help of Capital Insurance, and the International Youth Football Academy (IYFA) travelled to the North of Viti Levu for a day of friendlies.

The event was a tribute to the hard work of all the coaches involved and a celebration of diversity through sport.

Nalawa’s coach Jai Khelawan has built his side from across the district including Vitiri, Dubielivu, Barotu and Madhuvi.

Khelawan describes his players as “tough farm kids who can handle the heat and physical play”.

For the last two years they have been playing at Vunikavikaloa Arya School with the help of flood lights he runs out the back of his car.

Soccer has been an important source of community in an area that was devastated by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Khelawan says “everybody’s house broke, power was gone, water was gone, people had nothing, From there soccer brought people together. Every Sunday we would practice and come together”

SJFC coach Olivier Jutel remarked that “its sobering when you realize the bald patches on the pitch we played on are from the tents that used to be their class rooms”.

The games may have been hosted in a remote rural setting but it truly was an international affair. The IYFA coach Riyaz Ali has a relationship with Khelawan that reaches back to the other side of the Pacific Ocean they played together for the San Bruno Strikers in California. Ali says of Khelawan, “to be able to take his knowledge of the game from California and share it with the kids of Ra is a great contribution”.

IYFA and SJFC both boast a great mix of International players and styles. The SJFC starting XI made of Solomon Islanders, Tuvaluans, Vanuatuans, Fijians one Dutchman and an Australian.

Ali says of IYFA “We have built an academy with 68 registered kids including 15 different countries like Uzbekistan, Japan, SK, PNG, Thailand, France, Spain. We want these kids to build their knowledge, enjoy the game and play at national level.”

Jutel is also quietly confident of his players future abilities, “We’ve got some really talented players at SJFC and I’m pretty confident we will see some Pacific national reps. I tell my players when you get picked you call your mother first and then call me”.

On the day IYFA U-12 were held to a 0-0 draw against Vunikavikaloa Arya U-12 and SJFC U-16 lost the Nalawa mixed-age Development team on penalties (3-2) after a full-time score of 1-1.