THE FANCA Federation is looking forward to celebrating the silver jubilee in August of 2022 in Fiji.
And while the federation was formed in Vancouver in 1997, the leap of faith for the 5 Nations tournament stemmed during the Fiji Muslim Sports Association’s golden jubilee celebrations in 1995.
But it was in 1994, and during a family function in Nakurakura, in Nadi, aldermen, Gul Zaman, Sikandar Khan and Kalandar Khan amplified their push on having overseas teams’ to participation in the golden jubilee.
And that is what opened up discussions to convince the then FMSA, Secretary Mohammed Sattar, who at the outset took it with a grain of salt.
“The inclusion was both convincing and deserving,” he said.
“But it was against our constitution to allow overseas teams to play in all Fijian tournaments.
“With the golden jubilee, the men had made a strong submission, one that sure got our president Azam Khan’s attention.”
Leap of faith
In a series of meetings that followed and being mindful of the many contributions of former Fijians to FMSA, Sattar said Azam Khan on his advice included Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the USA, on a condition that they play a parallel tournament within a tournament, with the winners face in the one-off grand finale against, for the golden jubilee championship supremacy.
New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA featured in a round robin event at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
USA beat Rewa 2-1 to win the golden jubilee championship.
Future event
Following the closing ceremony, and during a meeting a decision was made for a new 5 Nations tournament including Fiji.
“It was a fruitful meeting. A new tournament was endorsed. Overseas and regional delegates wholeheartedly supported what was all about bringing people together through football”.
And while a venue was vetted on, British Columbia Muslim Sports Association president Chris Khan, announced that Vancouver was willing to host the 1997-5 Nations tournament.
Birth of FANCA
Sattar said it was ahead of the 5 Nations tournament, chairperson, Azad Khan moved that the acronym, FANCA, as in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and America, be-given the official name to the tournament.
The name change was adopted along with the first constitution that was ratified by the board.
“The constitution has been revamped, whereby non-Fijian Muslims are allowed to play, as have been other amendments made on memberships, permanent status, elections and portfolios”.
Teams
Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and USA fielded a team of youth and experience.
The 3-day tournament drew hundreds, with Day One of the tournament being played at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Stadium, later moving to Queens Park Stadium in New Westminster for Day 2 and reverted back to Coquitlam for the grand finale.
Inaugural champion
Canada started strong against Fiji in the opening game, beating them 1-0, the two sides locked horns again in the grand finale and this time Fiji redeemed with a 2-1 win to claim the first FANCA tournament.
2-year event
Every nation has hosted the biennial tournament and except for the USA, all the nations have won the championship.
“It was enacted that FANCA be a biennial event.”
The 2020 FANCA tournament got canceled over the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, it called for health and safety measures and imposed worldwide travel restrictions.
FANCA is traditionally one of the biggest Muslim footballing events, if not the biggest, as such, there is a tremendous party atmosphere, with the involvement of the entire football-playing community.
It is worthy mention that it took people who were ahead of their time, influential in their ideas and were visionary.
And had it not been for the pioneers, overseas teams would not have been included during the golden jubilee celebrations and the formation of the 5 Nations tournament would highly unlikely come to be FANCA that it is today.
Tribute to the pioneers
Azad, Chris and Kalandar Khan (Canada), Abdul Hamid (Fiji) and Liakat Ali Khan (USA) have passed away but without leaving a lasting FANCA Federation legacy.
