SEIMATA Chillia was one of the feared names in local football competition in Fiji from 2002 to 2008.
This newspaper caught up with Chillia, a former Suva central midfielder, in Port Vila in Vanuatu during the 2017 Pacific Mini Games football match between Fiji and Tonga.
Chillia had captained the Suva football team for a few seasons and under his captaincy, the Capital City side reached the semi-finals in a few tournaments, but they were not able to win any title.
Chillia still regrets that he could not fulfil his dream of lifting a major trophy for Suva back then.
“It was a wonderful journey playing for Suva for a number of years,” the Vanuatu international said.
The former Suva central midfielder believes football in Fiji has progressed over the decade.
“Football has changed a lot from the time I used to play for Suva and now and we have a number of young players who are joining the sport and coming up with new ideas and techniques.
“The level and pattern of football keeps changing.”
Chillia and another Ni Vanuatu Joseph Namariau started with Suva and then later Namariau featured for Labasa and then spent a short stint with Navua before returning to Suva in the 2011 Battle of the Giants tournament.
“During my time we had a very good team with players such as Apisalome Turuva, Esava Naqeleca, Krishna Sami, Filimoni Boletawa and others. I remember Maritino Nemani was the president of the Suva Football Association,” he said.
“I am always grateful to Suva Football Association for allowing me to play and serve the district well.”
The 39-year-old was in very high demand during his peak time with Suva where he was wanted by Lautoka and Rewa teams, but he gave his loyalty to the Suva football team.
The former University of the South Pacific student was a down to earth person and always mingled with the Suva fans and made Fiji his home during the duration of his studies at the USP Laucala Bay campus.
Chillia was even spotted wearing a Fiji T-shirt supporting the Fiji football team in Port Vila.
“I have been watching the Fiji men’s and women’s teams in the Pacific Mini Games and I can see how much they have improved over the years and it is a good sign as football in the Pacific region is improving,” he added.
He captained the Suva team at the 2008 Battle of the Giants tournament where Suva lost to Labasa in the semi-final.
Labasa was the favourite to win the match and they had players such as Namariau, Roy Krishna, Sandeep Nair and Shamal Kumar.
Suva had scored first through Chillia when he curled the ball inside the net from a free kick just outside of the left hand side of the penalty box. Chillia gave no time to Labasa goalkeeper Shamal Kumar to stop the ball from going into the net.
Suva after the half time break extended their lead through Roderick Kumar before Labasa equalised and then Krishna was fouled by a Suva player and Labasa scored through the penalty from Krishna.
“It was a good match and I managed to score from a free kick but they came from behind to beat us 3-2.
“I have been following them in the media and have been following the team whenever they play,” he said.
“I was very happy to see Suva winning the trophies in 2012 where they won Fiji FACT and Inter-District Championship and as an ex-Suva player it was a proud moment for me to see them victorious.
“I still regret I could not win any title for Suva during my playing days, but I am glad they have started winning.
“I still have a same passion for football, but I cannot play at the competitive level since my fitness has gone down and age has caught up. Football is fast nowadays.”
He wished Suva the best for the 2018 season.
