35 Years Strong: NZGSCA Celebrates Sport & Culture In NZ

New Zealand Gujarati Sports & Cultural Association (NZGSCA) is celebrating its 35th anniversary, marking over three decades of dedication to preserving and promoting Gujarati culture and heritage in New Zealand.This year, NZGSCA is relaunching the “Grand Awards Night” as the “Grand Celebration Night” on Saturday 14 June.

"The awards night is to reflect wider goal of not just recognising achievement in sports but incorporating families and bringing the various Gujarati communities together to express their artistic and creative talents," says President Ritesh Raniga.

Various sporting tournaments have started since February.

The T20 cricket has just concluded with Team Nadi winning a thrilling final in a super over to record a fourth straight trophy.

The fifth edition of the popular netball tournament is to be held on 30th March at the Auckland Netball Center. Team Waikato will be attempting to win the A division for a record fifth consecutive year. Netball has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Meeta Patel and the Netball Sub Committee

And the Annual Easter Soccer Tournament, the pinnacle of the sporting calendar, is all set to be played out during the Easter weekend (18-20 April) at Bill McKinlay Park in Mt. Wellington. The soccer tournament attracts players and visitors from abroad, mainly from Australia and Fiji. The 2025 tournament is led by Mehul Solanki (Vice President) and Milan Kumar. The soccer tournament is broadcast live on Facebook and attracts viewers from New Zealand and beyond.

                 2024 Senior Award Recipients/ Photo: Supplied

Since 2021, NZGSCA has embarked on a challenge to introduce new sports and cultural events to promote growth and continuity.

In addition to soccer, netball and cricket, tournaments are also held for squash, table tennis, snooker, golf, badminton and volleyball.

President Ritesh Raniga emphasised “while we were founded on the basis of soccer, all other sports are enjoying outstanding community participation, with the numbers of women, along with the young and elderly increasing exponentially. We are placing particular emphasis this year on engaging and involving our youth”.

2024 Office Bearers/Photo: Supplied

NZGSCA also gives back to the wider New Zealand community by engaging in charitable activities.

For example, the annual Grand Awards Night has held a charity auction to support Hato Hone St John for the last 4 years.

Their collaboration with Hato Hone St John also includes community workshops to promote mental wellness and first aid courses.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been a chief guest on two past occasions.

Black Cap Ajaz Patel and Olympic Gold Medalist Mr Ramesh Patel, QSM have also attended motivating sports people in the community.

NZGSCA 2025 Office Bearers: Ritesh Raniga (President), Ashok Kapadia & Mehul Solanki (Vice Presidents), Jitesh Patel (Secretary), Prasil Kumar (Assistant Secretary), Gigesh Pala (Treasurer), Hamendra Lal (Assistant Treasurer).