Roy Krishna, The Golden Boy Of Oceania
Reading the title of this piece you may think that this is another story of a young talent ready to take the world by storm, but this is not the case with Roy Krishna. This is a story looking at the only ever Fijian native to become a professional footballer. Fiji, an Oceanic native to the east of Australia is an archipelago consisting of 330 islands in the Melanesia part of Oceania. The nation, surprisingly, has a population coming up towards a million people. How can a nation, in such a remote location, and a nation with a passion for Rugby (currently ranked 9th in the world) have just one enigmatic footballer carrying the flag for his nation?
Krishna was born in the town of Labasa in Siberian Fiji with a population around 30,000. Krishna famously, in Oceania at least, was gifted his first pair of football boots by his father at the age of five, bought with the family’s weekly budget for rice. He represented his school, St Mary’s, and this was the start of a long and fruitful footballing career which he, at aged 37 now, demands has more to come. An unlikely career with a slow start, it wasn’t until Krishna went to the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu, and participated in a school tournament for St Mary’s that he was noticed. It’s always important to look back at where Krishna came from, and he himself is always happy to talk about his early footballing life once commenting “During my time (as a child), there were hardly any grassroots programmes (in Fiji). I played in the mud, grass and rice fields. You put out two posts and play”. Something to keep in mind as we look further into Krishna’s career.
Little did Krishna know but watching this tournament were scouts from Fijian National Football League side Labasa FC. The club were so impressed with the talents of Krishna they quickly swooped and offered him a contract. A step in the right direction but no-where near where he wanted to be. The Fijian league is not professional, and it wouldn’t be until much later that Krishna could call himself a professional footballer. All Krishna could do for now is get his head down and focus on his performances on the pitch and hope he drew enough attention to himself to get picked up by a bigger club.
In 2008 that moment came when Waitakere United took the gamble on the 20-year-old man from Fiji. Waitakere is a club based in New Zealand and play in the top division of the nation. A huge step up from the boy from Siberian Fiji. Interest in Krishna did not stop though, many clubs were keen to have a look at this Fijian starlet, famous clubs such as PSV Eindhoven were interested, even English side Derby County offered Krishna a trial, but he had his heart set on a move to the Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand. Unfortunately, after a trial period at the Phoenix Krishna was not offered a contract by the club. Instead, he spent the next six years at Waitakere showing what he could do with an impressive goal return of 55 goals in 75 appearances for the club.
After a successful period at Waitakere, Krishna Signed for local rivals Auckland City, where he only made a mere four appearances. The highlight of this move was the participation in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup. A historic moment for Krishna and Fiji as a nation, Krishna became the first Fijian to score in the finals of the tournament albeit in a 2-1 loss to Moroccan outfit Raja Casablanca.
Following this competition, the Wellington Phoenix came back knocking on Krishna’s door and signing him in January 2014 for the remainder of the season. This is where Krishna made his name. Finally, a move to the big leagues. The Phoenix, although based in New Zealand, ply their trade in the Australian A-League. After a goal on debut, he was then offered a two-year deal with the club and ultimately ended up staying until 2019. An impressive 51 goals in 122 games for the club is a remarkable achievement and one not to be overlooked. A successful period of his career and one that saw Krishna named the Wellington Phoenix Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season. Unfortunately, in 2019 a deal could not be agreed between player and club and Krishna was once again on the move.
Somewhat surprisingly, Krishna joined Indian side ATK, later merging with Mohun Bagan to create ATK Mohun Bagan. As ATK Krishna helped the club lift a third successive league title with fifteen goals and six assists in just 21 games, that’s a goal involvement in every game. The personal accolades did not desert him in India either, collecting ‘Best Footballer of the Year’ for Mohun Bagan. Krishna also represented the club at the 2021 AFC cup, scoring twice in the group stages. A short one-year stint at fellow Indian Super League side Bengaluru followed, before moving to his current club Odisha. Having just played one season for the club and now turning 37 the longevity of Krishna continues to amaze with him winning the clubs ‘Player of the Season’ at the first time of asking.
Let’s take a look at Krishna on the international stage. He made his debut in 2007 at the South Pacific Games and has played ever since. Although he has only made 59 appearances to date, he has scored an almighty 42 goals, incredible numbers for any team. This goal tally is the greatest of any footballer in the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation), beating Premier League and New Zealand striker Chris Wood. Krishna has represented his county in many competitions, World Cup qualifiers, Futsal Championships and the OFC Nations Cups, the latter of which he has just finished as the 2024 top scorer with five goals.
Since becoming an Oceanic household name and the face of Fijian Football Krishna has not let himself forget his roots. Since his move to New Zealand, he has been charting a course for Fijian footballers, commenting “I needed to create this path for the young Fijian footballers who want to play professional overseas” in an interview with ‘Fiji Village’. Is his career coming to an end though? At 37 you may think so, but Krishna disagrees, recently saying his body is feeling great and his mindset is still as determined as ever with no indication of retirement approaching him. Krishna has openly expressed his desire to reach the 50-goal landmark for his nation and to even surpass it as much as he can.
The desire to play is as strong as ever and Krishna is devoted to seeing an improvement in Fijian football. As an OFC Ambassador he has been given the opportunity to help guide young players along their journey’s and hopes to assist in developing the next generation of footballers from the region. Recent decisions regarding the FIFA World Cup have really seen Krishna believe in one final achievement for his career, to represent Fiji at a World Cup. With the competition expanding to 48 teams, Oceania are allocated one guaranteed spot at the tournament, most likely New Zealand, as well as a second which would be competed for in an inter-confederation playoff (a more likely path for Fiji).
It’s every players dream to play at the World Cup and even now in his twilight years this is the same for Krishna. Speaking with the OFC Krishna has said it would not only be good for him personally but even more beneficial for the country and the development of players from his homeland. His loyalty to his nation has always shone through his career and still he says “Anytime my country needs me, I’m always available, and it’s always and honour and privilege to do well for my country. Anytime my country needs me, I’m always there.”
A footballing unicorn from the depths and obscurity of Oceania. A journey from Siberian Fiji, to New Zealand and India. An international career to be remembered for all of time, the embodiment of determination and the man to lead his nation for the last 15 years. Could we see Roy Krishna have his last dance at a World Cup?
Researched and Written by BSc Cavan Campbell
