Sami turned to football for survival
He was one of Lautoka Football’s favourite sons and had been classed among the Blues legends.
He is nippy striker Salesh ‘Bula’ Sami renowned for his dribbling skills, ability to read the game, speed and goal scoring prowess. For many coaches, it was Sami’s discipline that they had been impressed with since he does not drink and smoke.
New lease of life
But what many people do not know that it was football that gave Sami a new lease of life. He never completed his primary school education while at Lautoka Andhra Sangam Primary School. He vividly remembered the day he begged his mother to buy his first boots. Financial constraints was the major reason why he had to quit school. That was where his passion for football came into the picture.
After dropping out from school he used to play every afternoon with his friends at Field 40 in Lautoka where his sporting talent was discovered and marked the start of his football journey.
“I decided to quit school because I knew that I was not among the smart lot,” Sami recalled.
“I would deliberately miss exams and so I thought I could make a name by doing something positive and it was football.”
When he first started playing in 1990 Sami opted to play either at right or left link with the bigger boys.
That same year he featured for the United Sangam FC youth team and immediately he was drafted to the Lautoka Youth side.
Sami played for the Lautoka Youths from 1993 to 1995 under the watchful eyes of coach, Prathik Nair
“My coach suggested I was moved to up to striker and I fitted in well so I never looked back,” Sami said. In 1996 he made his debut for the Lautoka football team.
Sami also represented Nadroga in 2005 before returning to Lautoka. After he left Lautoka in 2014, he went on to play for Rakiraki from 2015 to 2018.
Internationally, Sami played for the Fijian football team from 2001 to 2002.
‘Bula’
Sami said as a kid he would accompany his dad every afternoon to play with their friends.
“I always play at goalkeeper and they called me Vula (after Vula Wate, a former national football goalkeeper) and over the years, they kept pronouncing my name and it changed to Bula.”
Achievements
One of his best memories include their first ever Fiji FACT title victory in 2000 where they beat Nadroga 2-0 at Prince Charles Park, Nadi. Some of his achievements, when they won the 2008 Interdistrict Championship after beating Ba 1-0 at Govind Park, Ba.
He has also hoisted the Senior Division IDC title with Nadroga and Rakiraki. Sami also helped Lautoka Sangam win 11 TIV Annual Sangam titles.
In 2002, Sami was named the Fiji Football Player of the Year.
Just a glance
Sami’s is married to Ashika Devi Naicker and they have three boys including a set of twins.
Ever since, he left school he had worked with various companies like Forum Shoes and DG Garments.
Samis great football skills provided him various jobs.
These jobs have helped him over the years.
He was well supported by Islands Electric owner Raymond Singh and became their top salesman as he worked there for 10 years. A familiar face when football fans visit the shop in Lautoka.