Veterans to battle in New Zealand A host of former district and national reps are expected to participate at the New Zealand Fiji Football Inc. (NZFFI) International Veterans Championship which will be played at the Bill McKinley Park in Panmure, Auckland next month. For the first time, matches will be played in three age group categories. The JD Maharaj Memorial Cup will be contested for the in the 35 age group category. For this, the players must reach their 35th birthday during the 2015 calendar year. This means that the players must be born prior to 1981 with the cut-off date being December 31, 1980. The Leone Rakoroi Memorial Cup will be contested for in the 40 age group category. For this, the players must reach their 40th birthday during the 2015 calendar year. They have to be born prior to 1976 with the cut-off date being December 31, 1975. The 50-year age group category is being introduced for the first time. This will involve players who reach their 50th birthday during the 2015 calendar year. They have to be born prior to 1966 with the cut-off date being December 31, 1965. NZFFI vice-president Gyanandra Kumar said the 50 year age group category was being introduced with the increase in the stiffness of the competition for the ageing players who have been participating for more than a decade. Whilst the team management are working hard to secure some of the prominent Fiji based players, it seems that some are still confused with the eligibility criteria for each of the three categories, Kumar said. So we have made the eligibility criteria very simple for everybodys understanding. It will help them get the right players for the respective categories and avoid protests. The championship will attract teams affiliated to NZFFI, Fiji Football Association, Australia Football Association, Queensland Football Association, United States Fiji Football Association and the Canadian Fiji Football Association. Kumar clarified that registered players participating in any unsanctioned tournament played parallel to their event would be disqualified. He said this would also disqualify them from participating at the 2015 Fiji International Veterans Football Championship in July at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. The NZFFI International Veterans Championship will be held from January 22-26. Source: fijitimes
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 09:54:57 +0000
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