It was his father’s love for football that sparked his own.
Rohit Ritesh Chand, 42, from Navua, says watching his father play for their local team made him fall in love with the game, a passion that would one day take him to the heart of tournaments like the Battle of the Giants, which kicks off this week in Labasa.
“I saw how my father played for Navua. I wanted to be just like him,” he said.
Chand started playing football at Rampur College in Year nine.
By the time he was in Year 12, he was already representing the Navua youth team.
He played as a midfielder in 1998 and 1999.
He made his senior debut for Navua in 2002, and one year later helped the team win its first Fiji FACT title in 2003.
“We won it with our home players. That was special.”
In 2004, Chand joined the Fiji Police Force and was transferred to Suva.
He took a short break from football but returned a year later and began playing for the Suva district team.
He played for Suva from 2008-2010, featuring in the Battle of the Giants (BOG) and the IDC during those seasons.
“My first BOG with Suva was in 2008. We reached the final. The crowd was electric. People came in numbers. You felt the pressure and the pride.”
Chand was a versatile player, switching between left back, left wing and midfield roles depending on the team’s needs.
He dreamed of playing for the national team, but his full-time police work made it hard to commit.
“I tried. But with work and travelling between Navua and Suva, I couldn’t make it.”
Now based in Suva, Chand still watches the game closely, especially when the BOG tournament rolls around.
“BOG hasn’t changed. The level is high. The support is strong. It’s still the tournament everyone looks forward to.”
His message to the next generation of players is clear.
“Stay away from drugs. Listen to your parents. Focus on the game. If you want to succeed, you need discipline.”
