FATHER DENIES SON VICTIMISED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31359, 3 May 1967, Page 19

FATHER DENIES SON VICTIMISED

Mr M. Pahi, father of the Canterbury soccer representative, K. Pahi, and a member of the Canterbury Football Association management commitee and of the Christchurch City club committee, has made the following statement to “The Press”:

“It has come to my knowledge, and to the knowledge of several of my acquaintances, that allegations of racial discrimination are being made against the Christchurch City soccer club’s playercoach, G. Evans, concerning the recent omission of my son, Kevin, from the City sen ior team and his subsequent transfer from the club. “I am disgusted that such scandalous remarks are being made against Evans. They are completely unfounded. Evans has made the boy the foot bailer he is today, giving him every encouragement. “Kevin left City in an at-

tempt to gain a permanent first team place with another club and it was not a decision he came to lightly. He had been omitted from the City first team on other occasions, but certainly none was in any way due to racial discrimination.

“The scandalous remarks being made against Evans, I know, could do him irreparable harm, both in his profession as a schoolteacher and as a soccer coach. I am happy, in the personal knowledge of Evans and ail the circumstances surrounding the transfer of my son, to scotch these rumours immediately. Like most rumours of this kind, they are baseless and malicious.

“Evans should be admired for all that he has done for the City club and for Canterbury soccer. I hope to remain a member of the Christchurch City club committee to continue helping Evans in his work in soccer.”