Former Fiji Football and FIFA referee Gopalan Kanna says his passion, commitment and dedication was the key behind his success as a FIFA referee.
Kanna said his refereeing career started from nowhere but the passion for football made him to become a referee.
“It all started in 1972 when we were sitting down at Albert Park and there was a match in which no one was there to officiate the match so me and Mahen Singh were asked to officiate the match and we agreed, “said Kanna
“I was playing goalkeeper for a club named Western Stars and I had passion for football that made me to take the whistle and referee the match and that was where my interest grew,”
Kanna said during his days they had to fund from their own pocket to become a referee.
“Our days we had to pick from own pockets, we had to buy our own uniforms, we had to go on own fares to football matches and we were only paid 50cents to do a game, “said Kanna
Kanna said he enjoyed refereeing from there and his interest grew more despite been paid a little.
“Our interest grew when people started looking at us as the main player in the game and then I decided to achieve more than what we started doing in refereeing.
“So that made us train hard and those days older referees used to stand in the middle and control the game. They never used to run in the field but we changed it with our own style with our fitness, “said former Bank officer.
He added that from there he didn’t looked back in achieving greater recognition.
“After doing some games I became Suva referees president and we started doing our own fundraising and used to go other districts and do games and stay in hotels.”
Kanna say in 1977 they boycotted after Fiji Football failed to fulfill their demand.
“In 1977 we boycotted the IDC in Ba after Fiji FA failed to hear our grievances for more payment so we went on strike but some western referees betrayed us like Nardeo Mishra and Sammi Chandra and went to do the games and broke our strike,”
Kanna said that really disappointed them.
“I went with my fellow referees Mahen Singh, Jope Baleirotu and John Thorman we went back to our hotel and we all were crying because we trained hard for the 1977 IDC but those referees by passed us,”
The former Bank Officer said he was happy to contribute in the development of refereeing in Fiji.
“It good to see that over the years that we developed the refereeing standard, we increased the referees in Fiji during 1980s and today I am proud to say my passion and handwork paid me.
“I have worked in all the districts as Bank Manager and I helped the districts in recruiting and training the referees, “said Kanna
Kanna said he learnt a lot from football.
“It’s just not on the field but refereeing also taught me how to make decisions in life as well,’
Kanna happily revealed that he was 74 years old but still fit and working in USA.
“I am 74years old and still working as a chef in America because football taught me to train and be fit and that is why I am still going strong,” said Kanna.
His advice to young people was never to retire.
“I will say keep working hard and never retire and I hope to see Fiji football goes to the FIFA World Cup and grows with more FIFA referees.
Kanna who left Fiji in 2000 was in the country for the Annual Fire Walking Pooja at Howell Road Temple and was recognized with the legends medal for his contribution to football in Fiji last week.
Kanna after receiving the legends medal said he was proud to be recognised by Fiji FA for his contribution to the sport.
“I am really happy today (Tuesday) that my contribution to Fiji Football has been recognized which I will always cherish, “said Kanna.
“I always read in news and Fiji FA website about former players and officials been honoured with legends medal and I am happy that I have been treated the same and I think the onus should go to the executives of Fiji FA for doing such a great job,”
He advised the Fijian fooball referees to take the role seriously and move forward,
“My advice to the referees are to train hard and be fit to make correct decision, “said Kanna
Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf acknowledged the contribution from Kanna to football in Fiji.
“As announced during the INKK Mobile BOG we will be honoring some legends and we have been doing this from 2017 where we have formed a legends club. In 2017 we honored the 1977 team that played Australia and won at Buckhurst Park.
“In 2018 we honored 1988 team that beat Australia at Prince Charles Park in Nadi in the World Cup Qualifier and lately we honored Narayan Sami Sada in Sydney and some players during Battle of the Giants and I am proud to say they all are the legends club,”
“As we have intend to grow this
legends group we have now opened it up to former referees and former
administrators.
Yusuf said the members of the legend group was not necessary to be players who
played for Fiji.
“This club is for those who went to the international level and created impact on Fiji,”said Yusuf.
“We honored former referee Mahen Singh during BOG and we are proud to honour one of the greatest referee Gopalan Kanna who came out in Fiji,
Yusuf said Kanna was a great referee and wanted by all the districts.
