Vodafone Fijian football and ATK Mohun Bagan skipper Roy Krishna says, it’s time for him to adapt to a new landscape.

Krishna, a striker, is the first player from the Fiji and Pacific region to play in the Indian Super League.

The 33- year-old said, that he remains uncertain of the return of the new norm amidst this COVID-19 pandemic which has shocked the world since the end of last year.

“For a footballer like me, this is the first time I am uncertain about when my professional life will get back to normal,” he said.

“But I have so much inspiration to draw from, which is to adapt and to keep going forward no matter how small or how slow we move.”

Roy Krishna with produce from his backyard garden in Ba. Photo: Naziah Ali

Krishna added that he will depart for India in a few weeks time, to take up his career, again.

Unlike other seasons, he says, this season will entirely be played behind closed doors in all three venues across the state of Goa due to the pandemic. The ISL period is from November 2020 to March 12, 2021.

“I’m expected to head back to India to start a new contract playing football in Goa,” he said.

“We are expected to be playing behind closed doors which means we will play without fans cheering for us at the stadium.

“This is going to be our new normal. We have to adapt to our changing landscape just like others have.”

Krishna has been working like any other Fijian around the country on his garden and land.

He has also inspired the community and the football fraternity as well.

Just a glance

Meanwhile, the 2020–2021 Indian Super League season will be the seventh season of the ISL, one of the top Indian professional football leagues.

ATK, Roy’s team, won their third Indian Super League title in the previous season by defeating Chennaiyin 3–1 in the playoffs final.

But after the club dissolved and merged with Mohun Bagan, there was officially no defending champion for the 2020-21 season.

However, FC Goa are the defending premiers and they won the first-ever ISL League Winners Shield last season.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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