Observe a minute of silence for departed: Sada

Fiji Sports

Narayan Sami SadaA FORMER national team footballer is calling on the Fiji Football Association to observe a minute of silence for the departed national and district footballers ahead of the Fiji FACT grand finale at Lawaqa Park.

Narayan Sami Sada, the 70s star said the football fraternity has lost a number of footballers in the last 2 years, adding it would be a perfect stage to offer respect to the fallen and in the foreground of the first major tournament since 2020.

Sada, who played alongside teammates George Koi, Vilitate Lee and Jo Lutumailagi on the 1972 team was devastated to learn of their passing away.

“The sport of football has lost true legends, Koi was the history making captain of the 77' team that beat Australia 1-0, in Suva, we played together in the 1972 national team and against, he was with Suva, and I was with Lautoka,” said the Sydney, Australia resident.

“And it was just last week I heard about my Lautoka teammate Vilitate Lee’s passing and Nadi’s Jo Lutumailagi."

The 1980s stars, Kasimiro Dinono, Emosi Koroi Bacardi, Inosi Tora and Pita Dau, who was the captain of the 1988 team that beat Australia 1-0 in Nadi, and 90s, Taito Bula also passed away recently.

Sada said the departed had transcended the sport and must be remembered.

The 71-year-old says while FFA expresses its sadness and offers its condolences to the families, holding a minute of silence would be befitting tribute to the former footballers.

“What better respect than to remember them in prayers before the Fiji FACT grand finale,” he said.

“It would be a first, but let’s not make it the last.”

Sada said while FFA is recognizing former footballers by inducting them in the Legends Club, Dau, Tora, Taito and others that missed out on the opportunity deserve a special mention.

“It would be an absolute honor to remember those that missed out on being in the elite group,” he said.

“Their contributions to the sport of football can’t be forgotten.”

Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel recently said that under ‘new FFA’, it is late than never to appreciate the sacrifices made by the former footballers and their inclusion into Legends Club, is a testament of respect owed, something he admitted went unnoticed up until 2017.

“It would certainly be a noble gesture on the part of the footballing family,” said Sada, who represented Lautoka between 68-74