Football Fever
Christchurch Police are supporting the third annual Christchurch Ethnic Soccer Festival 2006 which will begin this coming weekend.
"Police consider this a very worth while event to become involved in," says Constable Rakesh Naidoo, Canterbury Police Asian Liaison officer. "Many of these people have had negative experiences dealing with police in other countries and we wish to show them how NZ Police are different. It is also a really good friendly place for all racial and ethnic groups to get to know each other, we will also be targeting some of the players for recruitment into the police."
A team of local police will be playing in a `curtain raiser' before the final game against an Ethnic All Stars team. Canterbury District Police have provided a trophy and the finalist medals for the tournament and the Dog section will put on a display before the final game.
Twenty teams representing ethnic groups from Zimbabwe, Poland, Japan, Korea, China, Spain, Netherlands, Afghanistan, NZ, Fiji, Nepal, Scotland, Ireland, Somalia, Kurdistan, and South America will battle it out on the playing field. Each team is made up of new migrants, refugees and citizens in Christchurch who identify with their community.
The newest team is made up of refugees from Kurdistan, most of whom arrived in New Zealand only a few months ago as part of refugee settlement.
The opening ceremony of the games will be at the Caledonian Hall, Kilmore St, on Friday 27 January at 7:00pm.
The opening show will include music, dancing, drums and a spectacular lighting show by Illuminati NZ. After the show there will be a Blue Lights Disco (a NZ Police initiative to promote fun without alcohol) for all who wish to attend.
Dates
• Opening Ceremony and Blue Light Disco – Friday 27 January Caledonian Hall 7.pm
• Preliminary Games 28 & 29 January at Bexley Reserve, Pages Rd 9am -4pm
• Semifinals and Grand Final game 4 February 10am – 4pm
Official sponsors:
Office of Ethnic Affairs, Christchurch City Council, NZ Police, Plains FM, Mainland Soccer, Avonhead Travel, and the collaboration of many other organizations and private businesses.