The 2025 FANCA International Club Championships concluded yesterday with a fundraising drive that is expected to raise more than $20,000 to rebuild classrooms at Sabeto Muslim Primary School.
FANCA president Mohammed Yusuf said half of the proceeds collected from the four-day tournament will go towards the construction of new classrooms for early childhood and Islamic education. These classrooms were destroyed in a fire a few years ago.
“People are even pledging money to support it.
“We had $5 gate takings where 50 percent goes directly to the school. Every afternoon we received pledges, with some individuals donating up to $2000. All this will be added up and a cheque will be presented to the school management,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf said the initiative showed the true spirit of the tournament.
“Part of FANCA is about giving back to the country. We are not just playing football but supporting the next generation of young children to have proper classrooms to learn in,” he added.
The tournament, which ran for four days in Nadi before shifting its final matches to Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday due to poor ground conditions, attracted large crowds and featured both local and overseas teams.
“We have been receiving great support from fans and we saw some exciting matches, especially with national players featuring for their districts.
“The overseas teams also performed well, showing their commitment to return to their roots,” Yusuf added.
The FANCA International Club Championships continues to be one of the biggest community football tournaments in Fiji, combining competition with a strong focus on development and charity.