FORMER footballers and fans are remembering Bobby Sahadat, a former Ba footballer who passed away in Fiji, as one of the finest midfielders to have represented the Men in Black.
Sahadat played for Ba from 1974 to 1977 and was a key member of Ba’s 1976 and 1977 Inter-District Championship-winning team.
He was widely regarded by those who watched him as one of the district’s outstanding central midfielders and playmakers.
For former Ba teammate Semi Tabaiwalu, Sahadat was the heartbeat of the team’s midfield, a player whose game was built around short passing, possession, intelligence and vision.
“Very skilled and smart midfielder,” said Tabaiwalu, who played alongside Sahadat in Ba’s 1976 and 1977 IDC-winning teams.
Tabaiwalu remembers Sahadat as a player who could control the pace and rhythm of a match better than almost anyone he played with.
Ba breakthrough
Sahadat broke into the Ba senior team in 1974, making appearances in the popular Cup Challenge matches of the era.
Tabaiwalu recalled how coach Sashi Mahendra Singh recognised the youngster’s ability and brought him into the team.
“Coach Sashi Mahendra Singh included Bobby in the team, and did he ever fit into Singh’s game plan,” Tabaiwalu recalled.
Sahadat quickly established himself as an influential figure in Ba’s midfield, combining technical ability with an understanding of the game that was rare for his time.
‘Poetry in motion’
Longtime friend Sylvester Joseph believes Sahadat possessed the talent to have played at the highest level.
“Bobby was ‘poetry in motion’ very talented, a complete footballer who was nothing short of world-class,” said Joseph.
Joseph, who played for Rewa in 1976, remembers Sahadat’s dominance in midfield during the 1976 IDC in Ba.
He described him as a player with extraordinary vision, pinpoint passing and an uncanny ability to retain possession even under pressure.
In the 1976 IDC final, Ba defeated Rewa 2-0, with Sahadat producing a memorable performance and scoring from distance with a classic volley against Rewa goalkeeper Vula Wate.
A year later, Ba again lifted the IDC title, defeating Nadi 1-0 in the final, with Sahadat once again playing a prominent role.
Career cut short
Sahadat’s promising career was cruelly interrupted at what should have been the prime of his playing days.
He fractured his leg during a cultural match in 1977, an injury that ultimately brought his football career to an early end.
For those who saw him play, the injury could not erase the memories of what he had already achieved.
‘A travesty to football’
Joseph believes Sahadat deserved an opportunity to represent Fiji.
Despite his exceptional performances for Ba, he never received a call-up to the national team.
Given the talent Sahadat possessed, Joseph described his omission from Fiji selection as “a travesty to football.”
