Football hall of famer
Tikaram inducted for contribution to football
BOBBY Tikaram has a passion for football and other sports even at the age of 75 but not many people realise what this man has achieved for Fiji.
Tikaram’s many accomplishments include the introduction of the Fiji FA monogram in 1972 which is still used today.
He helped form the Lami football club in 1961 which later became the district team but this is only a gist of his contribution to football alone.
Tikaram had a love affair with sports which drove him to great heights.
He served as administrator for football, rugby, hockey, tennis, table tennis, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket even martial arts.
Tikaram comes from the famous Tikaram family of Lami and is the youngest of 11 children.
His elder brothers are Sir Moti Tikaram a former ombudsman and judge, former mayor of Lami and former Commissioner of Fiji Scouts Association Jerry Tikaram and the late Madho Tikaram a former politician.
Tikaram was born in Lami where the Tikaram Park is today.
Bhawar Singh Tikaram or Bobby as he was more fondly known, grew up in Lami where his family had settled after the girmit era.
In 1964 Bobby landed a job with South Pacific Air Transport Council (later Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and now Fiji Airports Ltd) this is when he came into the limelight.
This was to be the start of a new life for the Lami boy.
Bobby formed the Airport soccer club in 1965 and played for Nadi for three years.
In the following years he served as assistant secretary, secretary, manager, technical adviser and later president of Nadi Football Association. He is now the life member of the association.
His involvement with Nadi football in the late 60s saw the side win the Inter District Championship in 1969, 1971 and 1974 before he retired in 1982.
During the late 1980’s Nadi football was in the doldrums and Bobby was forced to make a comeback to revive the sport in the Jetset Town.
The association was in debt and had not won a single game at that time before he brought a lease of new life into the side.
They went on to win the Fiji FA fundraising tournament in Nausori in 1990 and the $4000 prizemoney was evenly distributed between the players.
Bobby opened the Nadi football headquarters in 1991 and was instrumental in introducing Johnny Warren (former Australia football captain) to coach Nadi.
He had an eye for talented footballers and identified many that went on to become stars of Fiji football
They included players such as Samu Vucago, Rusiate Waqan, Savenaca Waqa, Emosi ‘Barcadi’ Koroi, Marika Ravula, Stan Morrel, Amani ‘Pele’ Rokoderea, John Satish Nath, Henry Dyer, Drauna Waqa and Radha Krishna Raman. He also organised the Airport Soccer Club’s tour to Australia and New Zealand and also Nadi’s tour to Tahiti, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
Bobby became the secretary of Fiji football from 1972-75 after serving as assistant secretary for two years.
During his tenure he introduced the FFA monogram, met then FIFA president Joao Havelange and football legend Pele in Germany during the World Cup in 1974.
FIFA boss Jose Havelange became a close friend of Bobby and agreed to visit Fiji which resulted in the FIFA Coca-Cola coaching program.
Through Havelange’s visit to Fiji in 1976 Fiji FA was able to implement many FIFA-sponsored development programs.
He was the first ever FIFA president to visit our shores.
Tikaram attended the World FIFA congress where he had met Havelange while in Germany.
He was appointed to the Oceania executive committee during the Oceania Championship in Auckland that year.
Fiji FA recognises the zeal and high ideals with which Tikaram served Fiji football during his years in office.
His induction into the 2020 Fiji Soccer Hall of Fame is lasting testimony to the priceless deeds that he left behind for football in Fiji to build upon. Hence, Fiji FA does not forget the effective contribution made by such great individuals.