Fijian player leaves

Press, 20 March 1982, Page 64

Fijian player leaves

Tony Kabakoro, Christchurch Mogal United's new Fijian signing, may be out for the national league soccer season. The 21-year-old midfielder, who played in his country's World Cup matches, was desperately trying to catch a flight back to his home in Suva yesterday to patch up a personal rift affecting his family. The United coach, Terry Conley, said Kabakoro’s parents had split up and left the soccer player’s two young sisters “in the lurch, as it were.”

Kabakoro’s exit has Mr Conley worried, because if the Fijian does not return to New Zealand by March 26 (next Friday), his six-month visitor’s permit here may be declared null and void. “If he doesn’t get back by the 26th there is some doubt that he will be able to get back at all because he will be back where he started before he came here,” Mr Conley said. “They (the immigration authorities) only gave him his permit in the first place

because I guaranteed that he would probably leave with me if I go back for the Fijian inter-districts tournament later this year.” Mr Conley said if there were delays in getting Kabakoro back, he would have to consider whether it was worthwhile from United’s point of view. “It's a bit unfortunate really.” he said, "but I have told him that I do want him to come back and I know people are looking forward to seeing him."