Ravinesh Kumar (born 12 May 1976) is a Fijian football manager and former footballer who last managed the Samoa national football team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 May 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Ba Province, Fiji | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ba | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1999 | Vatukoula | ||
| 2001–2002 | Nasinu | ||
| 2003 | Ba | ||
| 2004 | Nasinu | ||
| 2005 | Tavua | ||
| 2006 | Lautoka | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2006 | Fiji U20 (assistant) | ||
| 2007–2009 | Ba (youth) | ||
| 2010 | Fiji U17 (assistant) | ||
| 2011–2014 | Fiji U20 | ||
| 2013 | Lautoka | ||
| 2014–2020 | Fiji (technical director) | ||
| 2016 | Fiji U23 (assistant) | ||
| 2020 | Lautoka | ||
| 2023 | Papakura City (assistant) | ||
| 2024 | Samoa | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Life and career
editKumar was born 12 May 1976 in Ba Province, Fiji. As a youth player, he joined the youth academy of Fijian side Ba. He started his senior career with Fijian side Vatukoula. In 2001, he signed for Fijian side Nasinu. In 2003, he signed for Fijian side Ba. He played for the club in the 2003 Champion versus Champion.[1] In 2004, he returned to Fijian side Nasinu. In 2005, he signed for Fijian side Tavua. In 2006, he signed for Fijian side Lautoka. He obtained an A License. He became the first Fijian football manager to obtain the license.[2] He has been regarded to prefer the 4-3-3 formation. In 2006, Kumar was appointed as an assistant manager of the Fiji national under-20 football team. In 2007, he was appointed as a youth manager of Fijian side Ba.
In 2010, he was appointed as an assistant manager of the Fiji national under-17 football team. In 2011, he was appointed manager of the Fiji national under-20 football team. He helped the team achieve qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[3] In 2013, he was appointed manager of Fijian side Lautoka. In 2014, he was appointed technical director of the Fiji national football team. In 2016, he was appointed as an assistant manager of the Fiji national under-23 football team. He worked with them for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[4] In 2020, he returned as manager of Fijian side Lautoka. In 2023, he was appointed as an assistant manager of New Zealand side Papakura City. In 2024, he was appointed as an manager of the Samoa national football team. Fiji Live wrote that a "Kumar's influence was clearly visible as the Samoans played more organized and tactical football" while managing the team.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Kumar creates history". fijitimes.com.
- ^ "Kumar coaching the coaches". Fiji Sun.
- ^ "Whites turn to Kumar for IDC". fbcnews.com.fj.
- ^ "Samoa's football mind at work". sportsone.ca.
- ^ "Kumar's Samoa has a foot in Nations Cup". fijilive.com.