We Indo-Fijians must eat, breathe, sleep and dream Soccer.
It is in the air, on the lips of Fijian and in the pages of every Fijian newspaper.
Every child in Fiji is soccer mad.
While Fiji soccer is largely amateur, the respect and admiration the players command are incredible. You would receive the treatment given to a rock star if you play for your district, with guaranteed gift of a job and a carton of beer.
As the reggae boys would say, “We don’t like it man, we love it.”
As far back as I can remember, I have lived and died on every big game day.
I was there at Ratu Cakobau Park in Rewa in 1992 when Labasa beat Nadroga to win its first IDC championship.
Nights on, I could not sleep. It was an experience better seen than heard.
I do not think I can ever recall a time when soccer, in one form or another, did not have a major influence on everything I thought, said and did.
Soccer has been a part of my life and the same can be said of many, if not all Indo-Fijians. Soccer was the only interest I evinced, other than going to the movies and cruising Labasa town on foot with my friends Guru and Ranjit Singh.
It was compulsory to know all the players on the team and come Saturday, we would queue up at Subrail Park from midday for kick off at 130 pm.
The hype was and is still unbelievable.
I love the competition of the game, the players, strategy and the variables.
I love the smell of the grass, the sound of the spectators and skill of the players.
I love the thrill of victory. I like to see how we respond to the sudden changes that we have to deal with, whether it is an interception, a fumble, free kick, penalty or worse, a player suffering a broken ankle.
Soccer is the ultimate team game. It is a global game after all.
If you want to know how it afflicts the youth, come and see the Viti Crusaders play every Saturday at Riversdale Park in Auckland’s Northshore.
The passion and love of the game will automatically reignite.
As the legendry Joe Singh would say, ‘back to the studios for a short break.’
Editor’s Note: Thousands of Indo-Fijians, who migrated to New Zealand in the late 1980s brought with them Soccer, which today attracts international players to its tournaments held most of the year in Auckland.
Former player and Representative John Nath says Soccer brings people and their families together at weekends and holidays.
Kamlesh Mudaliar is a lawyer by profession and when not at work, you guessed it, he would be at the soccer field. The above is a slightly modified version of an earlier article published in Indian Newslink.
Soccer has been a part of my life and the same can be said of many, if not all Indo-Fijians. Soccer was the only interest I evinced, other than going to the movies and cruising Labasa town on foot with my friends Guru and Ranjit Singh.
It was compulsory to know all the players on the team and come Saturday, we would queue up at Subrail Park from midday for kick off at 130 pm.
The hype was and is still unbelievable.
I love the competition of the game, the players, strategy and the variables.
I love the smell of the grass, the sound of the spectators and skill of the players.
I love the thrill of victory. I like to see how we respond to the sudden changes that we have to deal with, whether it is an interception, a fumble, free kick, penalty or worse, a player suffering a broken ankle.
Soccer is the ultimate team game. It is a global game after all.
If you want to know how it afflicts the youth, come and see the Viti Crusaders play every Saturday at Riversdale Park in Auckland’s Northshore.
The passion and love of the game will automatically reignite.
As the legendry Joe Singh would say, ‘back to the studios for a short break.’
Editor’s Note: Thousands of Indo-Fijians, who migrated to New Zealand in the late 1980s brought with them Soccer, which today attracts international players to its tournaments held most of the year in Auckland.
Former player and Representative John Nath says Soccer brings people and their families together at weekends and holidays.
Kamlesh Mudaliar is a lawyer by profession and when not at work, you guessed it, he would be at the soccer field. The above is a slightly modified version of an earlier article published in Indian Newslink.
