A few weeks ago, on August 15th, Mainland Football and Canterbury Cricket hosted a Multi-Ethnic Youth Football Festival as part of our joint Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

The day was a massive success, with 100+ kids and families coming together at the home of football in Canterbury. Plenty of brilliant skill and great sportsmanship was displayed when the boys and girls played in a 7-a-side football festival. There were also plenty of other great activities with ethnic food stalls and a Chinese Dragon dancing exhibition. The sun was shining, and all had a great day.

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, who attended the day, commented on the role sport plays in social cohesion, “Sport plays a hugely important part in harmonious communities, in connecting communities, and it’s good to see the families here.”

The festival was part of the joint Diversity and Inclusion strategy between Mainland Football and Canterbury Cricket.

Our Vision is to build social cohesion through programs and participation through Partnerships, removing barriers and relationships.

We have several projects and programmes focused on officiating and coach development, staff, clubs, and association workshops and training, school-based leadership programmes and community football and cricket hubs in the next 18 months.

We aim to continue to listen, learn, develop, implement and improve. We want to ensure that we are active partners in delivering health, wellbeing and inclusive sporting opportunities to individuals and community groups in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.

Thank you to the New Zealand Football Foundation and New Zealand Cricket for their funding. Mainland Football and Canterbury Cricket are incredibly grateful for their support.

Speaking on the D&I strategy, Michelle Cox, CEO of NZ Football Foundation, said, “The New Zealand Football Foundation is proud to be working with Mainland Football and Canterbury Cricket to engage everyone across our communities with sport, regardless of ethnic background. We are thrilled to assist with our knowledge of football and football clubs in New Zealand. The multi-ethnic football tournament was the first step in an exciting programme to bring new players into football to help build community connections, something the Foundation firmly believes in working towards across New Zealand.”

Article added: Friday 03 September 2021