NEW INTERVIEW: Vivekanand "Boy" Reddy interview, by Kieran James and Henry Dyer, 2015.

My interview with Vivekanand “Boy” Reddy, Dratabu Village, Nadi, 2015.

Kieran James: Please tell us about the beginning, how you began your soccer career?

Boy Reddy: I started playing when I was 16. I won the first IDC for Nadi, 1969, after 42 years. I went to Namotomoto Village. I was last-man-down for Nadi (full-back). Those who care for others will be looked after by somebody. In those days, I used to walk/run from here to the town and then to Newtown (Wailoaloa beach, Martintar, Nadi). That time my father was dead. My Mom stopped me from playing, she said “you have to run the farm”. I went to Namotomoto and stayed there for three years. I started eating Fijian food and speaking Fijian. I love that way of life - there is more Fijian in me, only a little bit Indian. When they drink, they drink a lot. When they play, they play a lot. In the village, they called me a Fijian guy [Henry Dyer laughs.]

I’m 72 now (born 1944) - you know why I didn’t migrate? Because I miss my friends here. We plant Fijian food. You can see the tapioca here. I enjoyed my life playing sports. I love to meet people who love sport and the district. I only ever played for Nadi, not for any other district such as Lautoka.

Henry Dyer: Who is still alive from your Nadi team, and who has passed away?

Boy Reddy: The goalkeeper is dead. We were twin full-backs, we are still alive. Here is the team: Anare Sabati (died), Rasul (died), Aiyub Kutti (died), Mani Naicker (died), Habib (died), Joe Lutumailagi, Krishna Reddy, Kollappa (migrated to Canada), Dawai (still alive), from Namotomoto, Yunus (migrated somewhere, I don’t know where, he was a link player).

KJ: Please tell us more about the 1969 IDC.

Boy Reddy: We won the first IDC, 1969, in Labasa. We beat Rewa 3-0, then Ba 1-0, and then Suva 1-0, all without penalty kicks. In the final we beat Suva.

Henry Dyer: Score?

Boy Reddy: 1-0. Mani Naicker was the captain, Joe and I were the vice-captains, we always had this argument [about who was vice-captain]. Joe came here and had his birthday last month, 67th. Inosi was here, Save and Taga.

Henry Dyer: Fuck this gang, they never tell me!

Boy Reddy: Ex-Tanoa, at club level.

Rajesh (nephew of Boy Reddy): I used to admire this Henry Dyer. He was a midfielder.

Sarawan (son): He has to go back at 2pm to Sydney.[Author note: Five years have passed since the interview. Sarawan was referring to another family member present, not Boy or Henry.]

Rajesh: I used to watch Henry's game.

Boy Reddy: He was a terrible player [joking]. He knew his position. No-one had to tell him.

Rajesh: We were born in Ba, but we grew up in Nadi. So, because of family heritage, I always support Nadi.

Henry Dyer: How many districts then competed in the IDC?

Boy Reddy: We used to play in one level. [Author’s note: I think this means that there was no group-stage. The second-division IDC began in 1968, so he doesn’t mean that didn’t exist.]

Henry Dyer: All the teams were in one level. We played knockout in four or five days. If you got knocked out, you go and drink in the bush. In those days, when we played IDC in Nadi, no-one stayed home. Every child and his father was at the ground that time. The 1971 IDC was in Nadi. There was a big crowd, a bumper crowd.

KJ: What years did you play?

Boy Reddy: From 1966-73 as regular Nadi rep. Henry must be 64 now?

KJ: No, he is much younger.

Rajesh: I never saw my uncle play. I was born 1968.

Boy Reddy: He must have been a baby. In those days, I was in hospital for three months with having torn muscle. One man [official] from the team visited me once in that whole time. He never even brought biscuits! I was so sad. I have no time for such officials. There should be money for injured players. This is why I stopped my son from playing. He was at USP and wanted to play for Nasinu. I told him and said “no, it is not your district”.

Boy Reddy: We used to stand in front of the pub and we would be chased away.

KJ: We are banned from Nadi Club.

Boy Reddy: Navneedna never banned me. My friend here, Henry Dyer, man, people are afraid of him, I don’t know why. He is my friend. He is regarded as a dangerous man. They are frightened of this man. James, [you] came from overseas and looked after us.

Henry Dyer: When you were playing, who were the hardest team to play against?

Boy Reddy: Lautoka - they played very organized soccer. They won by five or six goals against teams. They had a lot of nice blokes. They had a class of soccer. Lautoka had players like Augustine Thoman, Vilifafi Lee, Onnie Wong, Hakim Dean, Chandar Bahu Singh, M.S. Chetty,  Mun Reddy, and Arjun Gopal. Most of these players played for Fiji, so Lautoka was a very good team, as was Ba.

KJ: Did you play for Fiji?

Boy Reddy: I played for west part of Fiji. I played against Tottenham Hotspur. We played against a German team too, but I’m not sure who they were. In those days, when we played, we were like a family. We paid all our own expenses except food. We had no money but we were happy.

KJ: Did you get paid money at all?

Boy Reddy: No, nothing, nil. We played for the pride. My statement will be very dangerous for the old officials. It’s good to speak the truth, yes?

KJ: What do you think of Fiji soccer now?

Boy Reddy: It needs coaching from the primary-schools, from the ages of four or five. There is no good in spending money on the older players like we do now. I saw the games on TV [Oceania Champions’ League]. We didn’t have the technical skill nor the accuracy in finishing. They lack a lot of skills and understanding. They do not make game plans. Our country needs a few good coaches to train the young kids. That is my final comment. I still love soccer, but when I see our standard of soccer, it makes me feel very embarrassed. We need some new coaches, not just one or two. Every district needs a new professional coach.

KJ: I saw the teams from Vanuatu and New Caledonia play.

Boy Reddy: They are better than us. How can we develop soccer in Fiji? That is the big question mark.

Henry Dyer: Augustine Thoman, your comment?

Boy Reddy: He never loses possession, he had the accuracy. If he heads or kicks it, it goes into the net. He could kick six or seven goals a game. Lautoka players had the ball control.

KJ: Why has Lautoka gone down recently, compared to those times?

Boy Reddy: Players started roaming here and there and going for money. No-one is playing for district pride now. No-one gives one hundred percent now. All of a sudden something happened [to Lautoka] and it is a mystery to me.

KJ: One thing that happened is that Ba went up.

Boy Reddy: Sashi Mahendra Singh lived for some time in Germany.

Henry Dyer: When he came back he brought German passing to the game. And they had the money.

Boy Reddy: Ba is not a rich town, but Ba is very dedicated and gives one hundred percent and they listen to the coach. Ba is one of the best teams now in Fiji. When I talk I finish my story. If you come back again, I might tell lies [smiles]. Today, I’m very sincere. I’m happy you come and meet me in my compound. It’s a blessing to you, mate, that you come and lift sports up.

Henry Dyer: How many acres you got here?

Boy Reddy: I clear the land. I don’t want to plant too much now. I can talk. There are plenty of acres, but I can only find two or three. [Author’s note: The meaning is unclear here. It could relate to issues about who can plant what where  in the village.]

Henry Dyer: He can do whatever he wants.

Boy Reddy: No, don’t write that. I get on well with the people from my village.

KJ: Tell us about your life in Namotomoto.

Boy Reddy: I still miss that old place. There was an old lady, Tai Eva, Joe Lutumailagi’s mother. I called her my Aunty, she was very caring towards me. May her soul rest in peace. She was a nice lady, just like my mother. I lived in Namotomoto for three years. I ate everything.

Henry Dyer: He ate beef, he ate anything and everything.

Boy Reddy: But not shit and all. We dived for river mussels. When I played, I used to play and mostly live with the Fijian boys. Some people did not used to like me because I stayed with them. Please don’t write too much or these people will not come to my funeral. These boys did it to me, but I forgive them. Don’t say something to hurt people in my dying day.

Boy Reddy: I was a dirty fellow too like him [Henry Dyer]. But write something clean for me; you are a good writer. You can say these two guys [Boy and Henry] played rugged soccer, never say die. Whether 6-0 or 7-0, we will keep on playing until the last minute. We have been through very difficult times, me and this guy Henry. After games, I walked back here in the dark. Kini Tubi, Save [Savenaca Waqa] and Marika would all come here at night to drink. After we finished, these boys picked up very well and played great soccer for Nadi for 9-10 years at the top level. Rusiate, Pacandi, Kaitani - it was a very good team, I was so proud of them. After that, I did not really keep an active interest. People should be spending money in the primary schools [to coach youngsters in soccer]. You can’t teach an old man how to play.

Boy Reddy: I used to get on well with rugby greats from Nadi and Fiji - Voe Savau and Nasivi Ravouvou, these guys were big boys. We used to celebrate together. Both have died. When my former mates come and visit me, I feel young again. When they are gone, I feel old. Joe Lutumailagi, Save [Savenaca Waqa], [Sosi] Kaitani, Savenaca Taga and Inosi Tora came to my birthday a few weeks ago.

Henry Dyer: That’s the history here.

Henry Dyer’s comments about Boy Reddy (after the interview): He said he doesn’t have any acres, but he can plant wherever he wants to plant, it is lying idle. But it is all village-reserved. He does this because he counts himself as one of the villagers from Dratabu Village even though he is an Indo-Fijian. He says: “No, I’m not an Indo-Fijian. I am an iTaukei.” We from our villages in Nakavu and Dratabu we call ourselves the koicalevu, meaning that we have something very close in common in tradition and culture and through blood-ties. This goes back to the tribal war times. I would treat Boy Reddy like a koicalevu. The people in the village would laugh at this. We have people like this in Ba too who live their lives with the Fijian boys, such as the Sami brothers. One thing I know for a fact is that Boy Reddy is a full Fijian, although he has an Indian name. He is a Fijian at heart. He has a strong heart, which keeps him alive until today.

He mixed around with the Fijian boys and was so close to the Fijians in the village. The old ladies then, if they saw an Indian boy, they would treat him as their grandchild. They would tell the village not to mistreat the boy and that he is part of our family. You can see all the village boys from the early days went to his birthday. He said: “I’m Indian, but Fijian at heart, not like the other guys.” He was hanging around with the Fijians because he was into soccer. But even before soccer he was hanging around with the Fijian boys. Soccer cemented the relationships.

*****THE END*****