The Fijian football community is grieving the loss of Emmanuel Manu, a celebrated figure in the history of local football. Manu had a distinguished coaching career, during which he led various clubs and national teams, most notably guiding Nadroga to numerous titles in the late 1980s.
His tenure at Nadroga FC was marked by remarkable achievements, including securing every major title in 1989, which saw the team clinch the National League, the Battle of the Giants, and the Inter District Championship in a historic sweep.
In addition to his club successes, Manu played a significant role in coaching the Fiji U23 team during Olympic Qualifiers. He also held positions as the National Team Manager and Assistant Coach, where he worked closely with the late Billy Singh and Team Director Chandar Dip Sharma, earning respect for his contributions.
Manu was instrumental in nurturing the talents of many of Fiji’s football players, including Radike Nawalu, Ramendra Datt, Anirudh Singh, Abraham Watkins, and Jack Work.