Family and friends of U17 soccer player still in shock

Family and friends of the Vodafone Fiji Under 17 soccer player, Muni Shalit Reddy were ready to welcome him home and cannot believe that he will never return home.

Reddy’s uncle, Deepak Somaiya said the two officials from the Fiji Football Association gave the message to Reddy’s father at his work place yesterday afternoon.

He added that the family is still in a state of shock.

According to Somaiya, Reddy was a student at the Nadi Muslim College and he would have been in Year 12 this year.

Somaiya said Reddy always wanted to be a professional soccer player.

Meanwhile, the Oceania Football Confederation has described the loss of Reddy as a tragedy that would be felt throughout Oceania.

OFC President David Chung said the Fiji Under-17 squad was on a team excursion when Reddy went missing.

His body was discovered following a search and attempts to revive him proved futile.

Chung said no words can fully express their grief and dismay at seeing this happen and they can only pass on all their thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Reddy and hope they will get some strength from the out pouring of love and support from everyone.

Chung added that the case has been referred to the Samoan Police and the OFC in co‑operation with the Fiji FA and Football Federation Samoa, will do all in its power to repatriate Muni Shalit Reddy’s body to his family in Fiji.

Reddy passed away after he had gone out swimming with some of his teammates in Apia, Samoa yesterday.

Reddy was part of the Vodafone Fiji Under 17 football team which took part in the OFC Under 17 Football Championships.