ACCORDING to Wikipedia, football is being played in Fiji since the arrival of the Europeans. Missionaries, who established schools in here, introduced football as part of the school program and it is being played from as early as 1889.
Since then there have been many players who have gone on to become “legends” of Fiji football.
Many of them have passed away while some are still alive. Football back in the olden days was a phenomenon with fans idolising their stars.
Spectators used go to matches just to watch a particular player in action and Lautoka’s Naga Sanjeevi is no exception.
Known as the “Black Horse” the robust former Blues and national rep celebrated his 75th birthday at his home in Rifle Range recently.
Naga is the grandfather of current Lautoka and national rep Alvin Avinesh.
At 75, Naga is still fit, doing his daily gardening.
Naga gets free haircut at the famous F Waliji Barber Shop along Namoli Street for a bet he won back in 1965.
He was born in 1940 and initially lived at the Fiji Sugar Corporation lowline at Veitari. Naga took up football in 1958 and it was an accidental introduction to the sport.
He was a bystander during the Endeavour Club’s training session at the then FSC ground at Veitari. The club was short of a player and Naga’s brother-in-law Babu Krishna invited him to join.
Playing barefoot, the lanky Naga became an instant sensation. Realising Naga’s potential Krishna bought him a pair of boots.
Upon shining for the club, Naga was selected in the Lautoka team in 1960.
His position was right wing. At that time Lautoka was at the peak having won the Inter District Championship back to back in 1958 and 1959.
However it wasn’t until 1962 that Naga tasted IDC victory. That year Lautoka thrashed Ba 7-0 in the final at Govind Park to lift the Lloyd Farebrother Trophy.
Naga was one of the stars of the victorious Blues team hence an automatic selection into the Fiji team for the inaugural South Pacific Games in Suva in 1963.
With players such as captain Chandar Bhan Singh, Satish Dutta, Zikar Ali, Ramen Narayan, John Lal, Vinod Lal and Augustine Thoman, Fiji reached the final only to be demolished by the classy New Caledonians 8-2 at Albert Park.
Yee Gock Sue and D Simmons scored the goals for Fiji. There are many highlights of Naga’s career but the one he most cherishes is the IDC in 1965 for which he still gets a free haircut until today.
“A day before the 1965 IDC final, F Waliji who was a Lautoka selector asked if I could score two goals against Suva,” Naga said.
“I told him that I would score two but if Suva scored three then that was not my concern. I was a regular customer at his barber shop so he laid a bet.
“If I did not score twice then every time he would shave my head making me look bold, and if I did, then I would get a free neat cut all time.
“I scored the two goals and we beat Suva 2-1.
“Waliji has passed away but I still get free haircut until now as his sons have kept their father’s words.
Naga moved to Rifle Range in 1966 and joined the Rangers Club.
Interestingly in the opening match of the1970 IDC against Ba at a muddy Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori, Naga kicked seven consecutive corner kicks.
It was in the dying stages and Ba was leading by a goal through Ba’s great Easla Masi.
“After six corner kicks none of our players were heading the ball,” Naga said.
“Then I piled up some mud, set the ball on it and decided to curve the shot. It was a banana kick, just like commentator Joe Singh used to class it, straight into the back of the net leaving Ba goalkeeper Semi Nagata no chance.”
Lautoka went on to lose the fixture in extra time after Masi scored Ba’s second. It was knockout stages from the start during those IDC days and Lautoka was bundled out of the tournament.
Shalendra Prasad, Lautoka Football Association’s longest serving president said many veteran players such as Naga were not recognised for their achievements.
“Naga was a dedicated Lautoka footballer and also did the country proud by representing Fiji at the first SPG,” Shalendra said.
“He may be only one a few of those who are alive today who wore the national jumper at the inaugural games that was established to create friendship among people in the region.”
Sham Lal a former Lautoka rep and coach based in Australia organised Naga’s diamond jubilee celebrations with the help of friends and close family members.
Lal was a youngster when Naga was at the top of his game.
“Naga is an icon of Fiji football, Lautoka and our Rifle Range area,” he said.
“People still know him until now because of his goal scoring prowess. He is renowned for scoring goals from headers.
“Other footballers like Ratu Kalliapan, Subarmani Chetty, Arjun Gopalan, Shorty Mani, Satish Chand, Josaia Tubuna, Alvin Avinesh and Salesh Samy Bula have represented the Fiji team from Rifle Range.
“It is also worth mentioning great boxer Bas Deo and long-distance runner Shri Chand Mushroom who have done us proud.”
Naga was renowned for his pinpoint heading accuracy when inside the opposition box.
Back in those days, many players were reluctant to nod the ball because it was tied up by lace.
“Those balls came from India and the tube had to be slotted into the canvas which was then tied up by a lace,” Naga said.
“So players did not want to head it because it would hurt them if the lace part connected.
“They had to think twice before heading because once the lace hit the head then surely it would leave a bruise.
“I did not miss any header from inside the box. I scored many goals through headers. I was not afraid of the lace. I have many scars from those headers. Once Fiji FA president Manikam Pillay told me that, you either play with your foot or use those headers.
“But I did not change my technique.
“Nowdays players miss headers from four yards. They head the ball up.
“They have no technique. Heading is a speciality, first you have to judge the flight of the ball and then nod it.”
Naga has seven children Kanta, Anita, Sunita, Michael, Francis, Vineeta and Nancy.
