WHEN THE KICKER KRISHNA SCORES FIJI GIRMIT GOAL - AND NETS A BEATY-QUEEN WIFE

When The Kicker Krishna Scores Fiji Girmit Goal - and Nets a Beauty Queen Wife

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Roy Krishna, Professional footballer and A League Phoenix striker from Wellington was honoured with 140th Anniversary Girmit Legacy Award in Sports- Khelkood Ratan by Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand on 10 May, 2019 in Auckland.

The award was presented by the Chief Guest, former Governor General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand.

Star soccer Girmitiya descendant A-League player, Roy Krishna (right), with his beauty-queen wife, Naziah Ali Krishna, who especially flew to Auckland from Fiji to be with Roy when he received Girmit Legacy Award in Sports-Khelkood Ratan

Professor Brij Lal, the recipient of the Literary Award –Sahitya Ratan (see article elsewhere) had rightly spoken about Fiji Girmitiyas: Ordinary people who achieved extraordinary feats in face of extraordinary adversities and difficulties. Their resolve and determination to succeed carried them on to deliver Fiji Indians where they are today.

This applies aptly to Roy Krishna, an ordinary person from a dusty sleepy village in Vanua Levu, Fiji. He has made his Girmitiya great grandparents proud. If his forebears are watching him from up there, they would be immensely proud to be bequeathed with such an honour for their sacrifices, suffering and - vision.

Today, their great grandchild, Roy Krishna, who started playing soccer by kicking balls made of plastic bags, as we do in village life, has reached the pinnacle of soccer in Australasia-and even Asia. Today the same humble person from this rustic village is worth millions in the fields of soccer in international scene - best amongst the best.

It appears the souls of Girmitiyas are blessing their descendants, as they have handed over their resolve, resilience and traits to the new generation.

This indeed was the case with this Girmitiya-descended professional footballer.  Krishna has received many awards and recognition for his excellent skills. But this is the sweetest of all - one presented by his own people not only in recognition of his soccer skills alone, but the character, personality and traits that have been passed on by Girmitiya forebears to the new generation of Fiji Indians. And a humble great grandson of Girmit, Roy Krishna is a scoring example of that.

Roy Krishna has string of Awards to his name: After playing 122 games with Phoenix:  51 Goals Record, Johnny Warren Medal, A-League Golden Boot, Phoenix Player of the Season 2017-2019, and Phoenix Golden Boot,2016-17, 2018-19. A remarkable achievement for a simple boy from a sleepy village in Vanua Levu Fiji. He makes the memory of Girmitiyas that much sweeter. 

It was decided to include soccer in Girmit Legacy Award because British introduced soccer to Fiji. Therefore it was appropriate to reward the star soccer star in New Zealand and a proud Girmitiya son, who is a household name amongst soccer loving fans. 

However, you need to appreciate that in our mythology in Krishna Lila, Lord Krishn played ball some 5,000 years ago. The only difference was that while Lord Krishn kicked the ball in Yamuna River to rid it of a demon, Roy Krishna kicked it in goal to prove that Girmitiyas can also leave rich legacies behind -a bagful of goals.

Parts of citation for Girmit Khelkood (sports) Ratan (jewel) award read:

During his first month in New Zealand just over 11 years ago, he spent most of his time crying alone in his room. At the tender age of 20, these suffering of pangs of homesickness in the first few months almost ended his career. Like our Girmitiyas, he was lonely, away from the loved ones, but unlike Girmitiyas, he could communicate to his parents. 

In tears, he'd plead with his mother to let him come home. Instead, Krishna's father would gently take the phone and tell his son his destiny lay elsewhere, and one day he would create history.

And how prophetic was his father, Bal Krishna’s words. Roy Krishna is Fiji’s first professional footballer who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix where he is on a history-making spree this year, winning the coveted golden boot, playing over 100 games and being the highest goal scorer in the current season. 

Despite his applauding achievements, Roy is humble and focused, set to scale greater heights of success and fame, which came with hard work, discipline and desire for excellence. 

He is a perfect role model for the younger people through display of his character, both on and off the fields with great dignity, demeanor, and decorum, well aware of his social responsibilities –and his roots.

The picture says it all  - ALL TIME LEADING GOAL-SCORER-51

In July 2018, Krishna married a Fijian model and pageant (beauty queen) contestant, Lisi Naziah Tora Ali Krishna. And that beauty queen honoured the occasion with her presence. She specially flew in from Fiji to be with her husband when he received that historical award given in memory of his Girmitiya great grandparents who passed him the traits that saw him succeed.

What is a matter of greater significance is that the pretty wife, Naziah Krishna is an epitome of Fijian legacy, representing the best of both worlds. This is because Naziah Ali Krishna is of both Indian and Fijian origin. Her father is a third generation Fiji Indian Girmitiya descendant, while her mother is an ITaukei (native Fijian) from the province of Ba. That is a perfect picture of Fiji we all wish to see.

Best of both worlds and a dream of Fiji we want to see: Naziah Ali Krishna (left) is of both Indian and ITaukei (Fijian) origin. Her father is a third generation Fiji Indian Girmitiya descendant, while her mother is an ITaukei (native Fijian) from the province of Ba. Wish them a happy-wedded life.

And Roy Krishna’s success story is a legacy that has been passed on to successive generations. Yes, Girmitiyas wished that, consciously and appreciatively the new generation will inherit their legacy - a legacy of struggle, endurance, resolve, resilience and achievement.

And the Khelkood Ratan, the jewel Roy Krishna, is a present day example of that Girmit goal – realized on soccer fields with hundreds of scoring thunderous goals.

And as we say in Fiji-Hindi – Roy Krishna net phaar diss re....(he has split the net)

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a founding Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation, is a journalist, a media commentator and blogger at FIJI PUNDIT]