Ronald Chaudhary, 56, had a decorated football career.
Since starting his football journey in 1982, the Nadi-born has gone on to represent Fiji from 1988 to 1998.
Chaudhary grew up in Tavua and it was there where he started his football career at the age of 19.
A boy from a small town was called into the national team all while his team, Tavua, was still in the senior division.
He was part of the 1992 national football team that won Fiji’s first Melanesian Cup, and this stood as one of the highlights of his career.
This moment stood out for the soccer legend as he recalled that only nine members of the team turned up to the final as the rest feared being attacked and targeted by spears as the host nation, Solomon Islands, crowd was raucous.
“The plan was to settle for second best and walk away with silver medal, but God had other plans stored for us.
“I scored the first goal and later two more goals were scored in the first half.
“The crowd was thrilled and cheered for Fiji as who had ever thought that by fielding only 9 players, we could win the final.
“While leading 3-0, coach called in players who were at the hotel to have full 11 players on the field. We won 3-1 and Fiji’s first Melanesian Cup and the gold medal.
Chaudhary was also a member of the Fiji squad that beat Australia 1-0 during the World Cup qualifying round in Nadi.
In 1988, he featured for the national team that lost unfortunately we lost in Newcastle Australia 5-1. This match also saw two players red carded.
In the same year at the local scene, Chaudhary helped Nasinu reached its first Inter-District Championship final against Nadroga. The side unfortunately went down nil-1 at extra time.
1990 was a busy year for Chaudhary as he was involved in local and national call ups.
Still with Nasinu, Chaudhary and his then teammates enjoyed their first premier IDC cup against Suva where they won 1-0.
In the same year, he was part of the first Fiji team that embarked on a three-match tour to the United States of America.
He also featured for the national team that went to New Caledonia for the Melanesian Cup where Fiji had to settle for bronze.
Just two years later, Chaudhary and the national side lifted the Cup in Vanuatu.
Chaudhary’s football career was on a high as he made history by being part of Fiji’s first national indoor team that competed in a state tournament in Canberra, Australia in 1994.
One year later, he was on his way to Tahiti for a three-match series.
Just when things were going well, Chaudhary suffered an injury that saw him sidelined for nine months.
However, as the saying goes, ‘every setback is a setup for a comeback’, Chaudhary came back stronger in 1996 where he was the Player of the Year Raymond Sports Club.
Also in 1996, Chaudhary returned for national duties, he was part of the Fiji Indoor team for World Cup qualification in Vanuatu.
After playing for Nasinu, Chaudhary joined Rewa football where in 1994 they lifted the Battle of the Giants trophy.
Chaudhary also put Rewa in the final of the BOG after nine long years as he scored the lone goal in the semi-finals.
After an impressive playing career in Fiji and internationally, Chaudhary migrated to the US in 2000.
Even then, he did not stop playing the sport he was most passionte about.
In 2002 he played for a club named South Bay FC then in 2004 he featured for for Tepatilian FC which competed in the San Francisco Premier League.
He captained the USA All Star against the visiting Fiji national team at Cal State University in 2007.
He was inducted as one of Fiji Soccer Legends in 2023.
Beyond the field, Chaudhary opened in 2019 a Vancouver Fiji FC Academy Foundation- an academy where free soccer coaching and a women’s team was formed to tour Fiji for five matches in 2023.
He is also the vice-president of the Fijian Soccer League of Greater Vancouver since 2024.
