Caption: Janeman in his heydays. Photo: FACEBOOK.
The Fiji Football Association is mourning the sudden passing away of its technical director Farouk “Janeman” Bamji.
Janeman passed away on Friday September 27, 2013 and will be buried at the Yalalevu cemetery in Ba at 5pm this afternoon.
Rajesh Patel, the Fiji Football Association President says the football family had lost a great son.
Farouk Janeman in a recent picture. Photo: Fiji FA.
The legendry Janeman was re-appointed by the Fiji FA board of control in 2011 to take charge of the football development in the country.
“Janeman is irreplaceable,” Patel said.
“He was a legend by all means. As a player and later as a coach he has contributed a lot to football. He had a wealth of knowledge which Fiji FA wanted to utilise for the further development of football in the country but it is sad to learn that he is no longer with us,” he said.
Janeman featured for the Ba side in 1970’s as a young 17-year old and went on to represent the Fiji senior national side for 11 years.
Some of the achievements in his colourful career included winning the IDC title on nine occasions.
He spearheaded Ba’s successful campaign at the 1976 Inter District Championship. Scoring the lone goal for Ba against Suva to win the 1977 IDC.
A year later scored the decisive goal as Ba defeated Labasa in the 1978 IDC.
Following his retirement he took up coaching and also coached his home district Ba in 2010.
He was appointed as a development officer by Fiji Football Association and worked with various age group and grassroots programmes during his 14 year service to the national football body.
The 60-year old created history with the Fiji Women’s football side which won their first ever Pacific Games medal in 2007.
In 2008 he guided the Fiji Under 12 side to a 24th place finish in Danone Cup played in France.
Earlier this year he worked on the inaugural Girls Secondary schools Under 16 league.
“Janeman was a champion and a legend by all means. Our prayers are with his family and we would look to assist them in any way possible. Janeman had a vision to see Fiji play at a FIFA World Cup event. He will be forever in our hearts and we will try our best to work towards his vision, “Patel said.
ENDS