Playing in the Mom & Pop League for the very first time, Selestino Baleicikobia slowly winning hearts of many with his exceptional passion and love for football.
His love for football brought him from Vunidawa, to the Fiji Football Academy in Vatuwaqa Suva which is far interior in Naitasiri province to the Fiji Football Association Academy in Vatuwaqa,Suva.
He is ten-year old and is originally from Cogeloa, Labasa but moved to Vunidawa after his dad got transferred.
He has been playing football since he was a six years old and it is something he describes as a gift from God to be a football player.
Growing up in the Northern Divsion, Baleicikobia recalls going out with his friends to play football the whole day without even eating anything while he was in the small village of Labasa.
“I got my interest in football when I was six years old and started playing with my friends in the village,” He tells Fiji FA Media.
“I just love playing football and I don’t have an answer why I am so passionate about football may be that is a gift from God for me,” he said.
The Class Five student of Vunidawa Sanatan Primary School said he was happy to come and play football with other kids during the program every Saturday.
“I feel so happy to come here and play football because I don’t see little boy’s play football in Vunidawa and it is only during school days we play in the school team,”
“I am here to learn more and this program is really helping me and I thank my dad and sister for bringing me here every Saturday which I don’t want to miss,”
When asked who motivates him, Baleicikobia was not shy to mention Fijian wonder boy Roy Krishna.
“I heard a lot about Roy Krishna and I want to be like him when I grow up. My dream is to meet him because I have not met him but my hope is alive that I will see him one day, “he said.
“My friends at school always tell me about Krishna after hearing the news or watching his games and that what has motivated me,”
He said, “I look up to Roy Krishna because he has the fighting spirit to score goals and has the hunger to score more.”
Baleicikobia has set his eyes on playing for Rewa team in future and become a professional player.
“My aim is to play for Rewa and Fiji team when I grow up and I will work hard to achieve my goals, he smiled and said.
His eyes caught attention of the Mom & Pop League when he was making his way to the Fiji Museum and asked his father to join and since the last four weeks he takes one hour ride to come and play football here at Fiji Academy Ground.
