THE footballer who scored the first goal in the FANCA tournament history in 1997 says he remembers the game well after 25 years.
Abdul Aziz Rahiman (Daddu), the Canadian defender’s strike was not against any lesser weight, but Fiji Muslim team.
Former Fijian footballing great Abdul Mannan led the star laden team.
“25 years on 8th of August, it’s been a long while,” Rahiman said.
Rahiman vividly remembers the play before his lone goal from top of the 18-yards that shocked Fiji and the fans.
“I will never forget this moment and the joy of the whole team, everything happened so fast.
“I moved instinctively to score.”
Rahiman held Canada teammates as a talented group of players, who were all up to the task but a little lapse in concentration had his team lose in the grand finale 2-1 against Fiji, the team he had scored the opening goal.
“It was an absolute honor to have played for Canada, and with the best players of the time, we should’ve won it but, it’s again a football game.”
The history-making goal scorer has waged a challenge to footballers to script into the silver jubilee books for being the first to score during the 2022 FANCA silver jubilee tournament.
“Be that first footballer to put your name on the first goal,” said Rahiman.
Australia and USA Legends will kick start the event on Wednesday and the record could well be set during the game.
The FANCA legend has not yet called it a sport, he is part of the Canada legends team for the silver jubilee event, and says he maybe a bit slow but got legs to carry him through 60 minutes.
“It’s about honest contribution to the beautiful game of football.”
