DURING those afternoon soccer matches with cousins and friends on the rice and cane fields of Siberia in Labasa, soccer star Roy Krishna did not know then how good he was.
His appearances in primary school level soccer, his numerous participations in tournaments at bazaars at 14 to 15 years, and his soccer skills will be commended by peers, spectators and even his father ? an ardent soccer player himself.
Roy didn’t take those comments seriously but his father insisted on his son’s talent.
His selection to represent All Saints Anglican Secondary School at the secondary school IDC in 2006 in the West was the opening door to his professional career, when he was identified to be part of the Fiji under-20 side.
He was selected by then-coach Carlos Buzzetti after the trial but spending time away from his family in a new setting dampened his spirit and returned to Labasa supposedly for a short while but failed to return.
He was dropped subsequently, and another recall of dropped players saw him returning to camp.
In 2008, his career took a major upward turn when, with the help of Buzzetti and his current Auckland-based manager Rex Dawkins, Roy was signed up by New Zealand-based Waitakere United from 2008 to 2013.
In 2013, he joined Auckland City before he left and signed up with Wellington Phoenix the year after, and continues to play for this club today.
But his turning point to personally accept his acclaimed football skills on the pitch was realised in 2007 when he represented Fiji in the OFC U20 Championship in New Zealand in which he was awarded the Golden Boot for scoring 8 goals.
“When I came back (from this tournament), that was when I knew that I am good in soccer and I needed to take it seriously.
“Carlos was a big role model and he helped me back. I would say he is my second father.
“So after that U20 championship, I took it really seriously and I told myself that if I try to be more serious and train hard and just focus on my soccer career path, I will reach my goal.”
Roy has stayed true to this, seeing him rise to stardom and making headlines in major newspapers and tabloids of the world.
But this 28-year-old’s story is one of humility and determination.
And growing up in a poor, but strict family with great emphasis on moral values and discipline, Roy attributes his success to this foundation of living without privileges.
In Class 5 at St Mary’s Anglican Primary School in Labasa, his dad bought him his first soccer boot, the Gold Cup brand worth $9 to $10 at that time, with a plastic sole.
Roy remembers his parents could not buy all their groceries that week so they could buy the boot, from his father’s meagre wages working from the FSC at the time.
His father stopped for work for a year or so and he would help him in the various business activities he would do to continuously provide for their family.
He reminisces selling bean atop Labasa’s Subrail Park grandstand while his dad roamed the ground, and mixing grog at the Labasa market parlour while he serves grog to customers.
“We had our ups and downs, every family in Fiji goes through that, so like everyone I was part of that. He needed help so I was there.”
Road to Rio
Roy had to forgo potential club contracts in New Zealand but it did not favour his plans of wanting to trial for Fiji’s team to Rio.
After chatting with his family and his partner, his mind was set on the lifetime opportunity to play for Fiji in Rio.
The Wellington Phoenix club is behind Roy but stressed the need for an injury-free status, and much fitter when he returns.
“So that is one of the things I am fortunate to know is that even my club is behind me and helping me out, so I’m at the right place.”
As far as his teammates are concerned, being the only professional soccer player in the team, Roy said given the lack of resources to properly prepare a soccer team to this biggest sporting carnival, it was up to the individual players to give it their best shot.
For him personally, a few changes was inevitable, particularly with keeping to the pace of the game compared to the “slow rhythm” here in Fiji.
He is now working on his finishing and sharpening his goal-scoring moves. With the team now counting down days before they run out on to the pitch, Roy has only three messages for his teammates. First, to respect each other no matter what; second is to give it all they got; and third is to be proud of this privileged representation to the Olympics.
“For me personally, I am lucky and proud to be part of this team. To be there, you have already achieved a dream. I think we just need to go there and just be yourself and just enjoy the occasion I would say.
“No one knows us there in soccer. We are playing some big teams so the boys just need to be themselves and enjoy every minute of it.”
