Meet Sedrick Shalvindra Dutt, an 18-year-old soccer star of the future who just hit the local football arena by storm.

What sets him apart is his prolific goalscoring ability and silky football skills that can be compared to that of any nippy African/Caribbean footballer.

Coming out of Tailevu North, notably the smallest football district in the country, the nippy FIT student had always dreamt of making it big in the sport that he has followed closely from a very young age.

The Nabilo, Tailevu, native got his biggest career break this year when he was drafted into the Suva soccer team in the National League competition after being picked by the Suva soccer scouts during the Courts/Homecentres IDC last season.

During that tournament Dutt scored some spectacular goals and raised a lot of eyebrows with his mesmerising performance.

He has scored five goals for the Capital City so far in the NEWWORLD National Soccer League and is a member of the Fiji U20 squad that is currently preparing for the OFC Qualifiers under the watchful eyes of national head coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti.

The talented striker is also a member of the Fiji FUTSAL squad preparing for the OFC qualifiers set to be played in Fiji next month.

Born to an Indo-Fijian dad and a native Fijian mother, Dutt is proud of his heritage and says he is close to both races and loves communicating and spending time both with his mother and father’s families.

He is named Anisi Dau by his mother’s family in Dawasamu and is at times fondly called by his Fijian name.

The eldest of two brothers and one sister, Dutt attended Korovou Primary School and Tailevu North College before joining FIT late last year.

“Soccer is in my blood as my grandfather, father, uncle and cousins have all played football for Tailevu North but I feel special because I have broken into the Super Premier division and have also made the national U20 squad,” he said.

“I started playing football from primary school and represented Tailevu and Fiji South team in the U11-U15 and started playing for Tailevu North district team and my club Victory Sports at the age of 14.

“I had keen interest in the sport from childhood and have always been supporting the Ba team on the local scene and Manchester United on the international.

“I have always held Ba close to my heart and even though I am playing against my team this time around, I still give them a lot of respect and my favourite player on the local scene is Josaia Bukalidi.

“My favourite international player is Ronaldinho because he has the finest football skills in the world and is undoubtedly the best footballer ever for me.”

Dutt also great interest in rugby and athletics and has been actively involved in both the sports.

He represented his school Tailevu North College at the Coke Games and bagged gold medals in the 800m and 1500m for three consecutive years in the sub junior and junior division but a groin injury took away his interest from competing further in athletics.

Dutt has been playing Indo-Fijian rugby a lot and maintains that he would continue to play rugby because he loves the sport just as much as he loves football but adds that there is very little done for the sport in the country.

“There is very little done for Indo Rugby in Fiji although there are heaps of potential in here and there is huge interest out there as well,” he said.

The nippy halfback and pivot of the Tailevu Babas and the Northland youngsters club caught the attention of former sports minister Rajesh Singh in a tournament in Lautoka two years ago.

He was approached by Singh and rugby scouts and was encouraged to concentrate on rugby but the lack of competition took his interest away.

“I felt very happy when the minister and some prominent rugby personalities approached me but then the lack of competition for Indo Fijian players took me back to football.”

Studying for a Diploma in Maritime Studies/Customs at the Fiji Institute of Technology, Dutt aims to become a Customs Officer after completing his studies and wants to continue playing besides working and looking after his family.

“My aim right now in football is to make the final Fiji U20 team and also represent the country in the U23 and main team and I also want to play overseas and if given a contract, I will definitely give in my best effort.”

National U20 coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti believes Dutt has a long way to go and if nurtured and guided well the Tailevu youngster can certainly do well and make a name for him and his country.

“I am very impressed with the young gentleman, he has been very sharp in the national camps which I conducted and he is also a very quick learner as well,” he said.

“He is full of potential and has a very long way to go as he is just 18 and if looked after well he can definitely be groomed into an excellent footballer.

“He has been doing well for the Suva side and is a good national material also and there are high chances that he will make the final U20 team because of his commitment and dedication but its still a long way from naming the final team so all players in the squad still stand a chance” said Buzzetti.

Dutt thanks his parents and his aunt for all the support and encouragement that they have given him to date and also mentions the football administrators of Tailevu North for bringing him up as a soccer player and always helping him out in the sport.

His message to the young and aspiring footballers in the country is to work hard and keep trying because there will come a day when you will be recognised and your efforts will be appreciated.


Fijilive

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