Krishna on becoming all time top scorer

Fiji’s Roy Krishna became the leading goal scorer for a country in Oceania. And the 36 year old is excited for the future for players from Oceania.

“It was good, just to get the legs running, and I’m happy to be here in Vanuatu”, Krishna tells Football in Oceania following the Fiji teams first practice in Port Vila on Monday afternoon.

The Bula Boys have won their first three games at home in Fiji in Group B, but Krishna and the rest of the team knows it’s a different crowd that will await them in Thursday’s semi final against fellow hosts Vanuatu.

“We know how Vanuatu are, and how passionate the people are about football. We’re just going to focus on ourselves, like we’ve been doing in the last three games, and we go from there.”

After scoring the lone goal on a penalty in the 1-0 win against Tahiti in the final group stage match, Krishna took over the mantle as the leading goal scorer from Oceania in international football, with what was his 40^th goal in only his 55^th appearance.

The veteran striker says he wasn’t aware that it was a record until after the match.

“I didn’t know that. It’s good to get those kinds of numbers. But I can’t take all the credit, it also goes to all the coaches I’ve worked under and all the players. I am happy with where I am at the moment, the body’s still feeling good, that’s what matters, and I’m just enjoying football at the moment.”

Krishna, who turns 37 in August, is still going strong both for his club side in the Indian Super League, where he finished joint topscorer in the league on 13 goals, and for the national team, but the chase for goal scoring records isn’t one he thinks about at all.

“I’m just blessed that I get to play football and I enjoy it. When I retire I will probably sit back and think about this achievement that I’ve done, but right now I’m just focusing on myself and the team and to lead them by example. I’m proud of how we’ve done in the last few difficult games, and we need to perform like that in every game, and that’s what we’re gonna do on Thursday,”

When Fiji and Vanuatu clash on Thursday it’ll be two sides that each have their big star playing professionally in Asia, with Krishan for Fiji and Brian Kaltack of Australian side Central Coast Mariners. The two will probably have a lot to do with each other during the match, as Krishna is a striker and Kaltack a centre back.

Krishna think the two professional players bring a lot to their respective sides, both on and off the pitch.

“I think I can bring the experience. I’ve been there before, and these young boys need a bit of guidance. I think it’s a bit of the same that Brian is doing for Vanuatu, we just help a young team. And the future is looking bright, not only for Fiji and Vanuatu, but for every Oceania country. The more players can play overseas, the more it will improve the national team.”

And the Fiji captain is ready to get to matchday.

“Getting out of the group stage was our first goal. It’s going to be a tough match against Vanuatu. But like I said before, we’re going to focus on ourselves, do the basics and avoid mistakes, because you can’t do that in the big games, it’s going to cost us.”

“And perhaps you hope of scoring goals 41 and 42?”

“I hope so, but if I don’t score, as far as the team wins, that’s all that matters,” says Roy Krishna.

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