A total of 10 matches will be played during the opening round. Coordinator Vikash Reddy says the new association was affiliated to Suva Football last month.
He adds that the following were the elected officials: President: Mr. Mahen Prasad (also the Suva Football Association President), Secretary: Shalend Chandra, Youth Manager: Faizal Sharif and Coordinator: Vikash Nair.
President Mahen Prasad says Suva Football has now taken the initiative to develop youth football in their district.
“Suva FA is going to now be involved in all age group categories. This is something which was not done in the past. If this had been done then we would not have to rely on players from outside for the Suva team.
“We have appointed a manager Mr. Umesh Chand who will be working closely with us. The whole idea is to develop players who in future will come up to represent Suva,” Prasad said.
Coordinator Nair says 11 primary schools based around Suva have so far been affiliated to the new association.
“SYFA is a newly formed organisation being affiliated to Suva FA on 10th February 2011. SYFA will provide a platform for students in Suva district to develop their football skills, actively participate in district and national games, leagues and tournaments,” Nair said.
“One of the immediate goals is to organise leagues from under 8 to18 grades and then select a team in each grades thus train and mould these selected players in an 8-10 year plan.
“The first major step taken by SYFA is organising an under 12 league. The official opening takes place this Saturday at Samabula Primary School. A Total of 11 schools will be participating in this under 12 league.
“A under 12 Suva Youth Team will be selected from these league which will qualify to play in the Suva under 14 league which will commence straight after we round off the under 12 league. After under 12 and 14 leagues we will then start the 8-10 leagues,” he said.
The coordinator said the support from Suva FA president Mahen Prasad has been a major boost for their campaign.
“SYFA works closely with the school, teachers, parents and guardians of the players and have received great support in our unwavering pursuit for football at grass root level.
“It is a great step taken by the President of Suva Football Association for the development of grass root football at primary level. All expenses such as team registration, license cards and referee payments are being taken care by Suva FA. SYFA is strongly committed to its goals and we are also determined to work closely with the parent body, the Fiji Football Association,” he said.
Programme for Saturday March 5 2011
8am: Official Parade; 8.30am Official Opening and Launching; 9am Address by the Invited guests;
Fixtures; 9.30am International Socceroos-Blue Terminators; 10.05am Samabula Juniors-Junior Spartans; 10.40 Nabua Sanatan Tigers-International Socceroos; 11.15am Saints Football-Uprising Raiwaqa Blues; 11.50am Deens United-United Blues; 12.25pm Junior Spartans-Nabua Warriors; 1-1.30pm LUNCH; 1.35pm Samabula Juniors-United Blues; 2.10am Saints Football-Gunners; 2.45pm Nabua Sanatan Tigers-Nabua Warriors; 3.20pm Deens United-Uprising Raiwaqa Blues
The following schools which will be represented by their club names that will be participating in the leagues are as follows:
1. MGM Primary – Blue Terminators
2. IGM Primary – United Blues
3. Samabula Primary – Samabula Juniors
4. SSM Primary – Gunners
5. LDS Primary – Saints Football United
6. Arya Samaj Primary – Juniors Spartans
7. John Wesley Primary – Uprising Raiwaqa Boys
8. International Primary – International Socceroos
9. Nabua Primary – Nabua Warriors
10. Nabua Sanatan Primary – Nabua Sanatan Tigers
11. Deenbandhoo Primary -Deens United
Suva U-12 League starts Saturday
