Football: Scrap sours race tournament

Raj Naicker, from Rotorua team Bula Fiji, after making a winning save during a penalty shootout on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

A fight which broke out between two sides at the U&I Football Cup in Rotorua has left a sour note on the 2015 event.

While most of the seven-a-side tournament was played in good spirits on Saturday, a fight broke out in one of the pool matches at Neil Hunt Park.

The annual football tournament was established to promote Race Relations Day and is a chance for different cultures and nationalities to come together and play sport.

It is understood defending champions Ngati by Nature, which includes plenty of players from the Ngongotaha Football Club, were involved in the tussle with one of the Fijian teams during their match-up on Saturday.

An organiser said the two teams later resolved the matter and moved on with the tournament.

A total of 11 teams entered this year and enjoyed fine weather at the weekend.

The final was contested by Ngati by Nature and Bula Fiji, with Ngati by Nature defending their title in winning the final 5-0. As a result, the Ngati by Nature team (Rotorua) receive an invitation to play at a big tournament in Wellington in November.

Multicultural Rotorua co-ordinator Susana So said the event was first held in 2009 in Rotorua and was all about having fun and bringing cultures together.

She said many nationalities were represented on Saturday including Fijian teams, a Korean side and plenty of mixed teams.

"There are a lot of teams here that have mixed nationalities which I think is a good reflection of our culture in New Zealand," she said. "We hope respect and understanding will be practised in our tournament, with different cultures getting together to enjoy the game."

She added a big thank you to volunteers who helped on Saturday to make the event possible. The tournament was organised by Multicultural Rotorua and Rotorua United, with support from WaiBOP Football.

- Results and awards:

Cup final: Ngati by Nature 5 Bula Fiji 0; Plate final: Ezy Speed 3 Natives and Foreigners 0; Fair play award: NZ Made; Golden boot: Sean Kim.