Faazil Faizul Ali, popularly known as Tiger, is a talented young footballer in the Digicel Fiji U20 National team hailing from BA, Fiji. Despite only recently turning 20 years old, he has already established himself as a rising star within the footballing community and is now setting his sights on a new goal – scoring a goal in the U20 World Cup.
With his sights now firmly set on the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina, the young forward is determined to showcase his skills on the world stage and prove himself as a formidable player. His passion for the game and unwavering dedication to his craft make him a force to be reckoned with, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for this promising athlete.
Tiger’s passion for football ignited at the young age of six, when he played with his friends on the periphery of the Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) Technical Academy. As he watched senior national teams train on the grounds, he felt an intense desire to pursue football as a career. Since then, he has devoted himself to improving his skills as a striker, dedicating countless hours to training and perfecting his technique.
Standing at an impressive 183cm and weighing 75kg, Tiger has a considerable advantage over his opponents on the field. His passion for scoring goals has made him one of the most promising young strikers in Fiji today.
One of Tiger’s most memorable moments in football was when he qualified for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Tahiti last year. It was a proud moment for him, and he is determined to make his nation proud by scoring a goal in the tournament.
“We are going to give our best to make it to the final knockout stages and I want to score a goal for my nation and make the nation proud.”
However, his journey has not been without its challenges. One of the toughest moments for him was when he fractured his foot, which ruled him out of the game for a few weeks. But with hard work and dedication, Tiger bounced back stronger than ever.
When asked about his toughest opponent, Tiger named Ilimotama Jese, who plays for Lautoka FC. He describes Jese as a challenging opponent who pushes him to bring his A-game to the field. Tiger’s favorite local player is Malakai Tiwa, whom he admires for his vision with the ball and his ability to make the game enjoyable for his teammates.
Internationally, Tiger’s favourite player is his uncle, Roy Krishna, the Digicel Fiji National Team Captain who currently plays in the Indian Super League. He admires Krishna for his humble personality, 1v1 attacking skills, and sharp finishing. Krishna has played a key role in motivating Tiger to excel as a striker and become a better player both on and off the field.
Tiger’s advice to young footballers is simple: “Work hard, believe in yourself, and put God first in whatever you do”. He believes that these values have helped him reach where he is today.
In his personal life, Tiger loves drinking coconut water and eating whatever his mom cooks at home. His family inspires him to be the best version of himself, and he is also close friends with fellow striker Nabil Begg, although he admits that Begs can be annoying at times.
Tiger’s ultimate aim is to make it to the final knockout stages of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and score a goal for Fiji. With his passion, dedication, and self-belief, there’s no doubt that he’ll be able to achieve his dream. Digicel Fiji U20 Assistant coach, Ronil Lal, says that Tiger has improved a lot since he first joined the team last year and that he is a talented footballer with a bright future ahead of him.
“Tiger is a talented footballer with a bright future ahead of him. He has already made a name for himself in Fiji’s footballing community, and with his passion and dedication, he is sure to achieve great things in the future.”
Tiger is an exceptional footballer who has already achieved so much in his career at such a young age. Tiger’s unwavering commitment to his sport is a testament to his love for the game and his determination to succeed. With his eyes set on the U20 World Cup, there’s no doubt that he will continue to make his nation proud and inspire young footballers all over Fiji to follow in his footsteps.
