FOR almost three decades, it was nearly unthinkable for a FANCA Canada premier team to be led by a head coach from outside the Muslim community.
The debate was heated.
Within sections of the hierarchy, the response was firm, “it is not possible” under certain rules.
To this day, clarity around those rules remains elusive.
At the time, a handful of respected football minds, former players and seasoned administrators proposed the name of Ivor Evans to lead Team Canada’s FANCA premier side.
On paper, it made perfect sense.
Evans was a proven professional who played for the Vancouver 86ers for over a decade (1987–1997) before the club’s rebrand to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
His experience at a high level, combined with his understanding of the local football landscape and language, positioned him as someone capable of elevating standards and mentoring emerging talent.
Yet his name was met with resistance — and that was the end of the conversation.
Fast forward to 2026.
What once seemed “not possible” is now reality.
Nick Soolsma, a former professional footballer who had a two-year stint (2011–2012) with Toronto FC, has been appointed head coach.
The contrast is striking.
Like Evans, Soolsma brings with him a credible football résumé and professional pedigree.
Unlike Evans, he does not arrive with an inherent understanding of the Fijian football landscape, language or cultural nuances, elements that many once argued were non-negotiable.
Some may say language and culture are secondary in modern football.
What will matter more immediately is how quickly Soolsma adapts to the nuances of the community game, the expectations of the fans and the competitive demands of the tournament environment.
There is little doubt he brings an abundance of football knowledge.
With time, structure and support, he has the credentials to mould a formidable squad ahead of the FANCA tournament in Fiji this August as would have Evans had he was given a chance.
What was once dismissed outright has now been embraced.
Whether this signals a philosophical shift, an internal policy adjustment, or simply the inevitability of changing times within FANCA Canada leadership is open to interpretation.
But one thing is undeniable: the conversation around who is eligible to lead has changed after a new breed of administrators took charge.
Time, as they say, is the master.
