Auckland City FC chairman Ivan Vuksich was pleased the club was able to see another social responsibility project through to a successful end result in Oceania.
“Being a good citizen of the Oceania football community both on and off the pitch is an important objective for our club.
“We’ve been treated with dignity and respect wherever we’ve travelled in Oceania over the past 10 years and made some lasting friendships.
“It makes complete sense therefore for Auckland City FC to return that friendship whenever and however we possibly can.
“We identify ourselves very strongly as a New Zealand club with a strong Oceania identity and its important to back that sentiment up with firm action when there are people in need.
“Cylcone Pam left a devastating trail of destruction throughout Vanuatu that claimed lives, livelihoods and key infrastructure and we hope that in some small way our donation and ongoing active support alongside the Butterfly Trust makes a positive impact in the recovery,” Vuksich said.
Auckland City FC has made regular donations of cash and equipment to Oceania-focused social responsibility projects since 2009 when the team travelled to the tsunami-affected Solomon Islands for the OFC Champions League final with Koloale.
The donation to Vanuatu consisted of four hampers of Nike kit for child, youth and adults with Auckland City FC and the Butterfly Trust targeting areas most in need such as Shefa and Tafea, areas with less opportunities to attain much needed football resources.
The VFF has agreed to this and will distribute the equipment to teams who have lost resources in Cyclone Pam over a month ago.
The Butterfly Trust will monitor the distribution to measure the impact of Auckland City FC’s efforts in local communities.
“On behalf of Vanuatu Football family, may I take this golden opportunity to thank the Butterfly Trust and especially Auckland City FC for their generous donation of equipment to clubs in Vanuatu,” said VFF President Lambert Maltock.
“Auckland City FC are not just the OFC Club Champions but also Champions of giving and helping others in need,” he said, “We wish Auckland City FC all the best in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan 2015.”
“I also want to thank Butterfly Trust management, Mr. Dave and Lynn Colbert for his supports towards the people of Vanuatu,” Maltock said.
Auckland City FC defender Takuya Iwata donated 14 crates of football equipment to a school in Fiji at the recent OFC Champions League tournament, a donation that consisted of child, youth and adult football boots, shirts, balls and training equipment all sourced in Japan while Auckland City FC also donated two sets of football goal posts to the school.
Auckland City FC and the Butterfly Trust have in partnership made donations to Vanuatu education and sports projects since 2012.
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