The Fiji Sports Council (FSC) kicked-off its inaugural business house five-a-side (FUTSAL) competition last night following the official opening by Minister for Youth and Sports Viliame Naupoto.

A total of 30 teams have been registered for the event which will run for the next six weeks at the National Gymnasium in Laucala.

FSC events and public relations manager Eroni Tawayaga is impressed with the interest shown by the organisations to participate in the sport.

He said the event was organised in FSC’s effort to combat Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs).

“Every organisation has its own health policy and we are just trying to help them keep in line with these policies,” Tawayaga said.

Tawayaga said through the use of their facilities, they found five-a-side soccer was popular amongst the business house teams in the Central Division.

He said the large number of teams registered for the competition also spoke the volume of interest amongst the business communities.

“We have cash prizes and also sporting equipment on stake at this competition. We wanted to encourage sports development and that’s why we have equipment as prizes,” Tawayaga said.

“We haven’t finalised the cash prize yet because we got interested sponsors on board.”

The Fiji Times has also fielded a team — The Fiji Times Tigers — in the bid to revive the (sporting) interest amongst the employees.

The Robert Khan-managed side was named the best-dressed team at the opening rounds of the competition last night.