TBT #08 – when Fiji made history against Australia

On 1 January 2006, Football Federation Australia moved from Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and since then the Socceroos qualified for all FIFA World Cups at senior level – 2010, 2014 and 2018. New Zealand – the biggest rival of Australia in OFC – became the “Kings of Oceanian football” since their rivals moved to AFC.

Today we will go back to the Oceanian 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the same qualifiers that almost took Israel to FIFA World Cup as an OFC member. This qualifying tournament was divided in two rounds. In the first one four of the five teams were drawn into two home-and-away ties and the two winners advanced to the second round.

SEE ALSO
TBT #07 – When Vanuatu faced the world
TBT #06 – Before Krishna, there was Totori
TBT #05 – The Samoan roots of Tim Cahill

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) were the first round’s participants in 1988. Chinese Taipei was not a trouble for New Zealand as the All Whites have smashed them in both matches. The same thing was supposed to happen in the clash between Australia and Fiji, but it did not happen…

BACKGROUND

Australia was living a huge moment in football in 1988 as they have beaten 1986 FIFA World Cup champions Argentina by 4-1 a couple of months before the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers’ beginning. This unexpected result against one of the biggest football nations of the world took place in the Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup.

The Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup was an one-off association football tournament to celebrate the bincentennial of first settlement at Port Jackson by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788. It was contested by 1988 AFC Asian Cup winners, Saudi Arabia, 1986 FIFA World Cup winners, Argentina, world number one ranked side, Brazil and host nation Australia.

On the other hand, Fiji was also excited about this clash against the Socceroos as they were 1988 Melanesia Cup champions exactly one month before facing the Australian side at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.

This match would be the fourth clash between Australia and Fiji in football’s history. Their last meeting at that time was in 1981 when the Socceroos smashed the Bula Boys by 10-0 in the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

THE MATCH

More than six thousand people went to Prince Charles Park in Nadi to watch the first leg of this home-and-away tie on November 26, 1988. Fiji counted on some important players like the talented 22-year-old player Ivor Evans who spent many years playing in North America and Simons Peters – one of the biggest local football idols of Roy Krishna. The team led by head coach Billy Singh is considered by local people as one of the best teams Fiji has ever produced.

Singh fielded Nasoni Buli (Lautoka) in goal, skipper Pita Dau (Lautoka), Dan Lutumailagi (Nadi), Maretino Nemani (Suva), Lote Delai (Ba) and Abraham Watkins (Nadroga) in defence. Ivor Evans (Vancouver 86ers), Vimal Sami (Ba) and Meli Vuilabasa (Ba) were the midfielders. The strikers were Jone Watisoni (Nadroga) and Simon Peters (Labasa).

Singh also revealed before the match that it was the match of their lives – “Our preparation has been the best it has ever been and the players are believing in themselves,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald – “Normally they play for fun, but this time it is serious. They have tasted the glory of winning and they like it,” – he added. The Fijian squad was also offered a $500 bonus for each in case of winning.

The Australian side counted on Charlie Yankos (30-time Socceroos captain), the Argentine Australian Oscar Crino, current Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold and Jeff Olver – regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers Australia has ever produced.

The Australian side had a strict plan: Get in, win, and get out – “We were not necessarily at the peak of our fitness because the expectation would have been we are playing Fiji, the minnows… so it does not really matter,” said Charlie Yankos told Guardian Australia.

“The first thing I can remember about that was there was at least 200 frogs on the pitch,” remembered Socceroos winger Scott Ollerenshaw told Guardian Australia – “There were frogs everywhere […] There were also hundreds of people hanging off the trees. It was a very unusual setting with the frogs, and people hanging out of trees,” he completed.

After a 0-0 draw in the first half, Ravuama Madigi came from the bench to replace Rokova Watisoni and write his name in the history. After a cross from from the left, Madigi unleashed a left-foot volley to put the hosts ahead – “It was the best moment of my life,” revealed Abraham Watkins, who was representing Fiji that day. He was later named the Fijian Sportsman of the Year for his role in the victory – “It was a big achievement for us, and the country. The whole country was celebrating. The party was big,” he added.

It was a huge achievement for Fiji but they could not forget that they should play the second leg in the upcoming week. Despite playing with their hearts, they could not level up with the Australian side and lost by 5-1 and the Socceroos advanced to the second round of 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. You can check the highlights of this match in the video below:

In 2018 Fiji Football Association (FFA) honoured those involved in this historical win against Australia. An amazing attitude showing respect and gratitude. Time goes on but they never forgot that 26 November 1988.

Unfortunately Fiji did not qualify for the upcoming round at that time but they showed their power against their opponents that certainly learned to never underrate their opponents.