SON OF BA
Late SHASHI MAHENDRA SINGH...pillar of soccer
Late Mr Shashi Mahendra Singh is revered and respected in the realms of Soccer in the country. He served Ba and Fiji as a representative player during the period 1939-1954. He was elected a Vice President of the Fiji Football Association (FFA) in 1955 where he voluntarily relinquished the position in 1969. He also served as the National Coachfrom 1960-1976 with a break of two years only. This included Coach of the Fiji Team to the inaugural South Pacific Games held in Fiji in 1963 where Fiji won Silver.
Shashi was a pillar of strength for both the Ba Soccer Association and the FFA. His success as an Administrator and a Coach is reflected by the fact that he was appointed Treasurer of the Oceania Football Confederation where he served for 20 years, retiring in 1988. He had the unique distinction of being appointed Coach and Manager of a Taiwan Team and arranged for a World Cup Game to be played in Fiji between Australia and Taiwan. He was responsible for gaining recognition in FIFA for Taiwan and was awarded a gold medal by the Taiwanese Government for his support.
Shashi introduced the National League competition and created the 1st and 2nd Divisions in the Inter District Soccer Tournament. He was also instrumental in introducing the round-robin format in lieu of the knockout system. He left behind a rich legacy in Fiji Soccer with two of his sons as players and Coach for Ba and one as the National Fiji Coach for many years.
Apart from his love of Soccer, Shashi had a very colorful sporting career that included the following:
Hockey - Foundation Member (1940) and President, Ba Hockey Association; Foundation Member and Selector of Fiji Hockey Association.
Cricket - Player (1938) and Captain for Ba scoring over a century on two occasions; Player for North-Western District against MCC Team; Secretary Ba Cricket Assn, Vice President Fiji Cricket Assn; President Ba Cricket (1970) and Patron up until his death in 1990.
Tennis - Keen player having won Junior Championship of Fiji Indian LTA of which he became a Vice President.
Athletics - keen athlete who was a Foundation Member of the Ba Athletic Association and became Secretary of the Association.
Boxing & Wrestling - 8 years assistance as Ring Side referee of both Associations
Rugby - Patron of Ba Rugby Association.
In recognition of his contribution to sport in Fiji and in particular to the sport of Football both nationally and regionally FASANOC was proud to confer posthumously the FIJI OLYMPIC ORDER to the late Mr Shashi Mahendra Singh.
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