Fiji Football Association president, Rajesh Patel, has announced the retirement of long serving member and chief executive officer, Bob Kumar.

The announcement was made during the Fiji FA annual general meeting at the Fiji FA headquarters in Vatuwaqa, Suva yesterday.

Retiring at the age of 72, Kumar says, he had enjoyed his time at Fiji FA and plans to spend more time with his family.

Kumar said: “When we first started out it was a struggle because we did not have the resources that we have now. But Fiji FA is looking really good now and taking football to another level. I’m happy to have been part of the build-up of the association.

“I do plan to spend time at home with the family but I have a few other things planned out because I cannot sit idle at home.”

However, Patel said, while Kumar may be retired he would still be associated with Fiji FA and this time as a consultant.

“Bob Kumar will retire from his post and we will soon be advertising for the post of chief executive officer,” Patel said.

“He has served diligently and he will still be associated with Fiji Football on a consultant role.

“He still has got some more years in him, at 72-years-old, people would like to relax and kick back and spend time with their family and that is something we would love to see him do.”

Patel said Kumar would be sorely missed at Fiji FA.

“It’s a big loss especially for a person of such calibre. It’s a loss for Oceania Football and also to the football fraternity but that doesn’t mean he will leave Fiji FA or that he won’t be associated with us,” he said.

“Kumar will always be available to us, he has always said that and we will take him on. There are a lot of things that FIFA will be imposing on us and we would like to use him to strengthen the districts and that will be part of his future role as a consultant.”

Kumar started at Fiji FA in 1987 as a volunteer where he worked his way up the ranks to become general secretary in 1966 before taking over the CEO role in 2003.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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