Roy wins best player award
FIJI football golden boy Roy Krishna said he was honoured and proud to win the Golden Ball award for the 2020-21 edition of the Indian Super League last month.
The Golden Ball award is presented to the best player of the season.
Krishna ended the season with 14 goals and eight assists from 23 matches helping his team ATK reach the ISL 2020-21 final.
Krishna said winning the best player of the Indian Super League for the 2020/2021 season was a huge achievement especially since the league had some big signing this year.
“I actually wasn’t expecting the award. However, I did give my all to ensure I delivered on the field every week,” he said.
“I always work hard to be the best version of myself regardless of where I’m playing.
“Everyone had to work and train under a more challenging environment due to the pandemic.
“We had to live a bubble so for seven months we just trained and played with no interaction with the public at all. It was hard for all of us because we also had to play behind closed doors.
“It’s not the same when we have to be playing with no fans cheering for you. It’s quiet and you are constantly looking at an empty stadium.
“You really miss the excitement of a roaring stadiumandinaway,itplayswithyourmindafterawhile.”
Krishna says that being a professional footballer is very demanding both on and off the field.
“Obviously professional level football is very different to the football I was used to when I was playing in Fiji.
“I first played semi-pro when I went to New Zealand then I became a professional football player about seven years ago. It got tougher for me because professional football is very demanding both on and off the field.
“We train every day almost six days a week and it’s very intensive.” Apart from the intensive training, he said he always ensured that he had balanced meals and rest to help his body recover.
“I have daily physio sessions to work on any kind of pain and injury I have. I also have to go to the gym every day, do yoga and meditation.
“Our regular season excluding preseason runs for about six months where we play about 23 matches.
“In a normal season we would travel between cities to play home and away but this season every team was based in Goa due to the pandemic and the restricted bubble that the league created to ensure no player contracted COVID-19 and everyone was safe.” Krishna thanked his family, friends, fans and supporters for their support.
“The support has been incredible especially back home here in Fiji. I have so many people messaging me telling me that they watch my games and they stay up late so they can catch the live coverage.
“My friends and family, especially my brothers in-law and nephews are my biggest supporters at home.
“They encourage me before every match and always lift me up whenever I’m down. I have a very good support system even though most of them are in Fiji and abroad, I know they follow every match. It means a lot to me.
“Most of the times I play for my family because they are my biggest strength.” He dedicated his award to his fans, friends, family and supporters saying that the award was special.
“I think it’s special because I feel that even though I’m the only Fijian playing football in a country with a population of 1.3 billion people, they acknowledge where I’m from so when I win something my win is just not mine but the country’s.
“I am flying the Fijian flag there and I’m proud of that.”Krishna will head back to India in two weeks time and prepare for the Asia Cup competition in the Maldives in May.
“I will return to Fiji on a holiday to explore my next move.
“As of now I still haven’t decided if I will extend my stay with ATKMB or move to another club,” he said.