IF one can dream big then destiny also helps one to see the dream coming into reality and this testimony has come true for Vodafone Fiji under-20 footballer Nickel Chand.
From milking cows in the dairy farm Chand is now at the FIFA under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Chand comes from a diary and farming community of Nabilo in Tailevu and is one of the key members of the team featuring in the World Cup.
Nickel’s mother Sharmila Chand said all his achievements in life was the reward of his struggles.
“When he was small he had a keen interest in football and he was very passionate about football,” Chand said.
“We used to accompany him wherever he used to go to play and we have always supported him.
“We have never missed him play around the country.”
Nickel is attached to his family so closely that once he had come home from camp to be with the sick mum and help dad in the farm.
“He was in the camp last year preparing for the FIFA under-20 qualifiers and he ran away from the camp to be with me because I was sick and he wanted to be with me,” she added.
“It is usually I am looking after the farm with his dad and since I was sick I could not go out to farms he came to help his father on the farm.
“He (Nickel) used to milk cows in the farm. It is a routine for him to get up at four in the morning and milk the cows until sunrise and around six in the morning.”
Nickel’s father, Satish Chand, said the home is incomplete whenever Nickel is away.
“We always miss him whenever he is away and it’s very heart-wrenching to see our son staying away from us,” Chand said.
The food which we eat and the luxury we have at home he doesn’t get that while being away.
“We always think of him whenever we are around the dinner table.”
While away from home especially on overseas trips and not having the luxury of eating home-made food always makes one homesick.
Nickel is also very fond of eating roti made by his mum.
“He always likes eating roti made by his mother and since he is away he won’t be having any roti. Whenever we hear that our son is coming back then it’s like a celebration for us and we feel a lot happier from inside,
“He can’t eat anything else apart from roti since it is his favourite and he used to eat roti with butter. He has to adjust in New Zealand and sacrifice a little for the nation.”
Sharmila said Nickel was focused on reaching the highest level of football.
“We are proud that we have a son like Nickel. He started playing football from an early age and we knew one day this passion will take him to greater heights and he has even visited so many places around the world,” she said.
Nickel started his football career when he was at Tailevu North College before joining Saraswati College.
He also plays as a midfielder for Suva in the domestic football competition.
Nickel said he had managed to achieve a name for himself through the blessing and support of his parents.
“It is a wonderful achievement for me since I never thought that I would be chosen in the Fiji team,” Nickel said.
“We have done it and looking forward for the mission at hand.”
The parents of Nickel had a hope that one day their son was going to achieve something big and it came in the form of FIFA under-20 World Cup.
The family will be arranging for a new TV screen to watch the pride of Nabilo play against Germany, Honduras and Uzbekistan in their pool.
