Interview with Semi
Tabaiwalu (Ba and Fiji Legend) Part II
Saturday, 20 June 2015
@ Ba River and Ba Central Club. This is the section from Ba Central Club.
By: Henry Dyer (Nadi
Legends Club) and Kieran James (University of Fiji)
Kieran
James: It seems so fluky, the 1982 IDC penalty shootout that neither side could
win; it was like that was a destiny.
Semi
Tabaiwalu: In the 1978 IDC in Lautoka, we played the first game against Labasa,
we lost 4-0.
Henry
Dyer: And then?
Semi:
We came back towards Ba to the camp. We reached camp and Jone Nakosia (our
sweeper) said something was given to him by C.P. Patel (the owner of C.P.
Patel). Then Jone Nakosia said: “what I have done is wrong, I did not inform
the boys that something was given to me which was to do with black magic.” We
cleared that out in the Fijian traditional cultural protocol. C.P. Patel wanted
us to win and the black magic did not work. We won all the other games heading
up to the final. Then we met Labasa again in the final. There was a penalty
shootout.
Henry:
I remember that game, man. I watched that game. Everyone was cheering for
Labasa. I was schooling at Ba Provincial Secondary School. I was 16-years-old.
Semi:
I was the deciding penalty kicker. We had our referee from England, Peter
Eaton, but he was a linesman that day. Ba team always wanted him to referee
their game. He came over to me and said: “If you kick this, you will take the
trophy back to Ba.” He was from England, but his favourite team was Ba. I
kicked it and I scored it, we won that game.
Henry:
So Peter Eaton encouraged Semi to make Ba win with confidence.
Semi:
We won that tournament, 1978. That was the best team that Ba had in that era.
In 1979 in Nausori we won against Nadi 2-1 in the final. [Note: Semi said 1-0
but it was 2-1.]
Henry:
Did you know about the Veterans’ Dinner organized by Fiji Football? [Note: this
was held in October 2014 in Nadi.]
Semi:
No, I did not know about it, I was not given a ticket. After it happened,
someone mentioned that something was happening in Nadi around the veterans’
tournament.
Henry:
He found out after the tournament had happened. Joe Basudra and Lote [Delai]
(they had been at the function after match) were there, so why were you not
there? They were younger players, after your time.
Semi:
I was not informed until I learnt from somebody later on.
Henry:
Inia Bola mentioned that he got an invitation. Do you think it is fair that he
goes without your knowledge?
Semi:
For me, it’s OK. I have nothing to lose. Inia and me we are the same. But the
question is why nobody ever told me.
Semi:
My son played for Ba, Fiji, and SPG gold medal [South Pacific Games]. He says:
“Dad, I beat you.” I always say: “No, you only beat me when I tell you.” So his
mama was telling me “we beat you” and I always tell my wife “no, not yet”.
Henry:
This means that Semi is talking with experience and wisdom.
Semi:
When I was in charge of Ba team for four years, it was all about discipline. If
they don’t listen to me, I kick them out.
Henry:
Don’t say “kicked them out”, say “drop them” [laughs].
Semi:
Even the classic players I threw out such as Junior Buka Lidit, Peni Finau.
There are so many others.
Henry:
It was his strategy to keep disciplining the team.
Henry:
The Indians, they have the power, they manipulate, they have the monopoly.
Regardless of your experience or ability, when they say “time”, then your time
ends there. Because they control the game. [Note: This is a comment about Semi
Tabaiwulu being pushed out of his Ba manager job by Ba officials despite his
strong track record.]
Semi:
When we won the IDC six years in a row, we used to say to each other “do it for
the supporters”. Ten or more buses went down from Ba to Suva for the finals. We
used to always get free beers here at the Central Club and even discounts at shops
and free bus fares within Ba. So we were
all repaid in other ways. Now the players don’t mix with the public. They buy
their beers and go and hide them somewhere.
Semi:
You cannot be one leg only. Our coach, S.M. Singh, was very much against
one-leg players. If you were one leg, you were out of the squad.
Semi:
After the SPG, Mike Everett said he wanted to take [Joe] Tubuna to England and
make money. We lost 1-0 against Tahiti.
KJ:
The same score as in 1983.
Henry:
Yes. From what he saw, Mike Everett thought Joe had the skills to make it big
time in England. Mike just mentioned this, but nothing was done about it,
either by Mike or Fiji FA. It shows that the talent of the Fiji soccer boys
remained …
KJ:
Unmined. [Note: This was probably a reference to Vatukoula gold mine just being
down the road from our then location at Ba Central Club.]
Henry:
Right, … unmined.
Semi:
Fiji Soccer should have encouraged the talented players to go overseas, just as
Fiji Rugby is doing today.
Henry:
Yes, yes. James, this is the same thing as I mentioned to you earlier. It is a
pity that we have failed to give opportunity to a lot of talent, which would
have been a big advantage to Fiji FA today and to the districts. It is a pity
that soccer is not heading in the right direction.
Semi:
The game here is now characterized by individual play. If I have the ball
inside the box now, I just want to score. But, in our day, we would put the
ball out. They want their name up in lights.
Semi:
Rudi said when I retired, I could become a good coach. That is what he told me,
Rudi Gutendorf.
Henry:
Of course, because Rudi had heard of his experience. But, when you come to
think about it, Fiji Football still didn’t adhere to this.
Semi:
They will never. Two months after SPG, Fiji Football gave you a shield for Best
[note: I can’t read the next word here from my notes] Player in SPG. I got a
shock. This was before Rudi left. He told me: “you are going to become a good
coach.” Before, in the national team, we would share shoes or trousers to anyone
who had the need, even the underwear, we cared for each other.
[Note:
We stayed for a long time drinking in Ba Central Club that Saturday evening,
after the interview began in the afternoon at Ba river, but my notes end here.]
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*****
 |
| Henry Dyer back at Govind Park. |
 |
| Henry Dyer in Ba Town. |
 |
| Henry Dyer and Inia Bola. |
 |
| Henry Dyer and Ba champion Semi Tabaiwalu, 17 June 2015. |
 |
| Henry Dyer and Ba champion Meli Vuilabasa, 2 June 2015. |
 |
| Ba's hardcore travelling fans. Left to Right: James, Unknown, Skull, and Ben. |
