Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek – Josaia Raikoso, second from right
You would not meet a prouder player to represent Fiji than 16-year-old Josaia Raikoso.
Born in Scotland to Fijian parents who joined the British Army in the early 2000s, the central midfielder has revelled in the opportunity to immerse himself in Fijian culture since being picked for the Baby Bula Boys’ OFC U-16 Men’s Championship campaign in Tahiti.
Growing up in the UK, Raikoso’s siblings, two younger sisters and a brother have all followed in their father’s footsteps, choosing rugby union. And Raikoso is always asked ‘why aren’t you playing rugby’?
“It happens all the time in England. I get questioned why I’m playing football. Because my dad’s big as well,” Raikoso said.
“My football journey started through school where I got scouted and eventually got a call from Leicester City and trained with their Elite squad for a bit. We played against Nottingham Forest when I was U-10, and I got a six-week trial with them and managed to get signed,” Raikoso said.
“I was there from 10 to U-14, but I got a knee injury and fell out of their club and went around a few clubs, Lincoln and Mansfield and now because I am in year 11, I have focused on GCSEs (Education). Football is not forever and I have to make sure I have a backup. This summer is when I will go back into football.
So how did a Fijian boy in England’s East Midlands find his way into the baby Bula Boys squad?
“We saw some social media posts (from the Fijian FA recruiting for talent) and we were interested at the time because, well, representing your country is a big thing.
“And then we managed to get in contact with Sunil” (Fiji coach Sunil Kumar).
Meeting the players in June, his first trip to Fiji since he was a baby, was a surreal experience.
“I had so many different emotions because travelling so far and then being able to actually represent your country. And then, yeah, culturally as well.
“We had some days where one day we made Lovo – a type of food. And, yeah, I did some coconut scraping and stuff like that, which you wouldn’t really see in the UK,” Raikoso said.
“The boys welcomed me with open arms. Everyone was really nice and friendly, all the stuff and everyone. they made me feel right at home.
And he has embraced the cultural elements that go with being part of the Fiji team environment.
“I think one of the things I love about being part of the team is everyone’s so close together and one thing I love too is we have this thing called devotion, so we’ll all come together and then whenever we sing songs as well.”
“Before and after games the team sings songs like ‘I know the lord will make a way’ and ‘Mo Ravi be Jisu.’
“Before we played Cook Islands we were singing in the changing room. I was on the edge of tears there because it kind of just hit as well. You’re really there to represent your country,” Raikoso said.
Qualifying for next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar is the ultimate goal. Three teams from the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship will be off to the Middle East and it’s something Raikoso knows would present a massive opportunity to impress scouts.
“Also, our main goal is to win the OFC U-16 Championship and I’m confident with the boys as well. I know that we’ve got a good bunch of boys that are able to make this dream happen,” Raikoso added.
Fiji plays Tahiti in the semi-finals on Wednesday (Tahiti time, Thursday in Fiji) and a win would secure their trip to the World Cup, while defeat would give them a second chance to qualify, via the third-place playoff.
Raikoso also dreams of turning pro one day. But he knows there is a long way to go before he can achieve that dream and acknowledges there are improvements to me made to his game.
“There’s always stuff that I can improve on, so I think that my 1v1 duelling in the air could be a lot better and then also things that are quite good, I like to think my passing is quite good and just also working back as well.”