Farhan Lalji Head Coach New Westminster Varsity Football

On this episode of Interviews with Anthony Beyrouti, we sat down with TSN reporter and Head Coach of the New Westminster Hyacks Football program, Farhan Lalji.   Born in Tanzania, Lalji moved to Vancouver at the age of four. After graduating from Simon Fraser University in Liberal Arts, his career in sports began at SFU, where he served as the Sports Information Director from 1991-1994. From there, Lalji worked as a producer and reporter on the ‘Sports Machine’ at CKWX Radio in Vancouver. From 1995-1997, he was a sports and weekend news anchor for the CBC, before joining TSN.   Lalji is the Vancouver correspondent and Senior Football Reporter for SportsCentre, TSN’s flagship sports news and information program.   Lalji, who joined TSN in 1997, covers the Canucks and BC Lions, as well as other sports stories in the Vancouver area. He also covers football (NFL, CFL and NCAA) across North America and is a CFL Insider. In addition to his television work with TSN, Lalji is also a regular contributor on TSN 1040 radio and a fill-in sports anchor at CTV Vancouver.   Along with covering the Vancouver sports scene, Lalji has reported from some of the biggest sporting events in the world, including multiple Super Bowls, four Olympic Games, the Stanley Cup Final, College Football Playoff, NBA Finals, Grey Cup, MLB and NBA All-Star Games, golf’s U.S. Open and PGA Championship.   Farhan is a five-time winner of the Best Sports TV Reporter in Vancouver for 2012-15 and 2017 at the Paul Carson Broadcast & Media Awards. In 2016 he was recognized for his philanthropic work in the community.   Lalji continues to be extensively involved in developing and coaching football at the grassroots level in his home province – something he’s done for the past 30 years. He is currently the head football coach at New Westminster Secondary School, and is the past-president of the British Columbia Secondary School Football Association Board of Directors.   For his efforts and contributions to his community, Lalji was named the 2012 Citizen of the Year in New Westminster, the 2009 Scholastic Provincial Coach of the Year at the BC Lions Orange Helmet Awards and was the 2004 and 2012 runner-up for NFL Canada National Coach of the Year.   Bio: https://www.farhanlalji.com/