Mohammed Nabeel, a football player based in New Zealand, is on the verge of achieving his long-held ambition of representing the national football team. He showcased an outstanding performance for the Auckland All-Stars as they secured victory in the Flick Hygiene Pacific Community Cup held at Churchill Park, Lautoka, where they triumphed over the Manukau All Stars with a score of 2-0 in the final match.
Nabeel, who hails from Ba, played a crucial role in the win, with goals scored by teammates Eber Ramirez and Nicolas Bodadilla. His contributions were recognized as he was awarded the title of Best Player of the tournament.
With a great sense of achievement, Nabeel announced that he has received a call-up to compete for Fiji in the upcoming President’s Cup, scheduled to take place in the Solomon Islands later this month. “I did not expect the award but I’m thankful to the team,” he expressed. “I’m looking forward to the competition in the Solomon Islands, especially in donning the white jumper. It has been my dream since 2022 when I left for New Zealand.”
The Auckland All-Stars squad included notable veterans, such as goalkeeper Beniamino Mateinaqara, and other skilled players including Andrew Naicker, Abbu Zahid, Munit Krishna, and James Hoyt, among others. Meanwhile, Manukau featured talented players like Coleb Prasad and Mosese Nabose.
The victorious Auckland All-Stars team walked away with a prize of $10,000, while Manukau received $3,000. In the semi-finals leading up to the final, the All-Stars defeated the local team, Lautoka, 2-0, while Manukau edged out USA All-Stars 2-0.
Other accolades from the tournament included the Fair Play Award earned by AUFFI All-Stars, the Golden Boot Award awarded to Garbhan Coughlan for scoring six goals, the Golden Gloves presented to Beniamino Mateinaqara of Auckland All-Stars, the Best Manager title to Shaneel Prasad of Auckland All-Stars, and the Golden Ball Award to Mohammed Nabeel.
Nabeel’s journey from playing locally to potentially representing Fiji internationally is inspiring, showcasing his dedication and talent in football. With his upcoming participation in the President’s Cup, there’s much anticipation for what he will achieve on the national stage, reflecting the promising future of talent in Fijian football.
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