Fiji has achieved a major milestone in football development with the opening of the FIFA Arena Mini Football Pitch at AD Patel College in Ba, making the country one of the first recipients of the initiative in the Oceania region.a
Speaking during the opening, Fiji Football Association Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Yusuf expressed gratitude to the school for supporting the project and acknowledged FIFA’s leadership in bringing the initiative to life.
“Fiji FA is grateful that AD Patel College provided the foundation for this FIFA Arena project. On behalf of our President Rajesh Patel, the board and the entire Fijian football fraternity, I would like to thank FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his leadership and for introducing the FIFA Arena initiative,” Yusuf said.
He explained that the FIFA Arena project is part of FIFA President Infantino’s vision to build 1,000 mini football pitches annually across FIFA’s 211 member associations, ensuring children and communities have safe and accessible spaces to play football.
“His vision is that every year FIFA will build 1,000 mini football pitches around the world so that children, school students and communities can enjoy quality facilities in a safe environment while learning and playing the game,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf said Fiji was honoured to be selected as the first recipient of the FIFA Arena project in Oceania, acknowledging the support of FIFA Regional Director for Asia & Oceania Sanjeevan Balasingam and the FIFA development team based in Auckland.
“We are very privileged that FIFA chose Fiji to be the first recipient of this project in the Oceania region. It is a great milestone achievement for football in our country,” he said.
He revealed that the Fiji FA had initially identified eight potential locations across the country before narrowing the selection to three shortlisted schools: AD Patel College in Ba, Suva Muslim College in Suva, and Saraswati College in Nausori.
According to Yusuf, AD Patel College was selected after the school management worked diligently to prepare the required foundation for the installation of the FIFA Arena mini-pitch.
“The school management, led by Principal Mr.
Ravin, worked very hard to ensure the base was prepared so the project could proceed, and we sincerely acknowledge their commitment and support,” he said.
Yusuf also confirmed that Suva Muslim College is the second recipient of the FIFA Arena project in Oceania, with its official opening expected to take place at a later date.
He also acknowledged the support of the Ba Football Association and the wider community, noting Ba’s long-standing reputation as one of Fiji’s strongest football regions.
“Ba is known as a football town in Fiji. From young players to legendary footballers, many household names in Fijian football have come from this area, and the way Ba Football Association continues to structure and develop the sport bodes well for the future of football in this region,” Yusuf said.
The FIFA Arena initiative aims to strengthen grassroots football worldwide by providing safe and modern mini football pitches that encourage participation among children, schools and local communities.
