The 24-year-old striker announced his return to the domestic top flight with the greatest of aplomb during last week’s Inter-District Championship.
The author of both goals in Ba’s 2-1 victory over Nadi in the final, Zahid says he’s feeling better than ever.
“It feels really good because I have proven my love for Ba, and I have also proven my critics wrong,” he says.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride to the top for the Lautoka lad says it feels like a lifetime ago that he began kicking a ball around.
“My soccer life began in Yaladi Street, Lautoka where as a small boy I always went to the ground and played with all the big people and without boots,” he remembers.
“From there I learnt all my basics and then in Form Three I played for Drasa Secondary School where I was at first neglected by the masters.
“But Mr Nadeem Mohammed had faith in me, saw the hidden talent in me, and made me part of the team. I am very thankful to him as he gave me my first break to higher level soccer.”
Zahid says his small stature often led to him being overlooked by coaches but it only gave him a greater desire to succeed.
“Mr Dharmen, the owner of Tigers club believed in me and took me into his team where I again did well and from there I ended up in the Lautoka main team where I was mostly left on the bench as a reserve.
“When I started playing in their first line up then problems started caming in and I thought that my football career was over.”
It was here that Zahid was taken under the wing of Ba president Rishi Kumar, a man he credits with reigniting his passion for football.
“Rishi took me to Ba and I am still there; faithful to my team and thankful to Rishi for taking me there.”
As well as being loyal to Ba, Zahid is a proud representative of his country having appeared at U-20, U-23 and senior level.
While it hasn’t always been easy for him to reach the upper echelons of Fiji football, Zahid is hopeful that his journey will be an inspiration to others.
“When people give up on you remember ‘the greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do’,” he says.
“And always thank those who have told you that you can’t because they are the reason you will.”
For more on Fiji football visit fijifootball.com.fj

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