Stuart Ayres med rel: Western Sydney to host Pacific Football Cup

Minister for Sport and Recreation Stuart Ayres today announced that Western Sydney will host the annual Pacific Football Cup from 19th to 23rd November 2014.

“Organised by the Australia Fiji Football Association, the football governing body for the Australian Fijian and Fijian-Indian communities, the Pacific Cup 2014 will bring some of our closest Pacific neighbours together for a week-long international tournament in celebration of football and culture,” Mr Ayres said.

“This feast of Pacific football entertainment in Sydney’s West is not only great for local fans but also nearby businesses which should see an influx of hungry spectators throughout the tournament.

“The Pacific Cup joins an exciting football line up in Sydney over the next 12 months, including Juventus versus the A-League All Stars on Sunday and the AFC Asian Cup 2015,” he said.

First held in 2012, the Pacific Cup is attended by teams from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. It is estimated that this year’s Cup will attract around 30,000 spectators to Western Sydney over five days.

“The Pacific Cup is also a chance for recreational and professional footballers to play alongside each other and share their love of the beautiful game with their compatriots and communities,” Mr Ayres said.

“Western Sydney, home of the Wanderers FC, is the perfect setting for this gathering of passionate footballers and come November the Sydney Untied Sports Centre at Edensor Park will play host to a number of exciting Pacific football derbies.

“The Pacific Cup 2014 in Western Sydney was secured through the great work of Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Andrew Stoner and Destination NSW,” Mr Ayres concluded.

Pacific Cup 2014 organiser, the Australia Fiji Football Association, was founded almost 20 years ago. It promotes a positive and friendly, social approach to participation at all levels of the game.