And things have also changed quite a bit over the years since, so that when Mr Firisua (31) returned to Dunedin late this week, it was as head of the Oceania Football Confederation competitions department, to observe the All Whites v New Caledonia World Cup qualifying game at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night, and to monitor preparations.
These days Mr Firisua (31) lives in Auckland with his wife Ellie and 5-week-old son Mark.
Mr Firisua was only 9 when he left Dunedin in 1992, having been taught English by Mrs Probert, a teacher of English for speakers of other languages, for several years at George St Normal School.
He had always wanted to come back to Dunedin to thank everyone who had helped him, but it was not until this week that his football job finally brought him back.
Pupil and teacher had lost touch over the years.
But Mrs Probert (62), who is also keen on football, established email contact with him last year, after noticing his name on the Oceania Confederation's internet site.
They met again for the first time in 21 years in an emotional reunion on Thursday, and also had lunch yesterday.
''I recognised him immediately, as just a bigger version of this lovely person with a warm smile and we immediately gave each other a massive hug, a hug of excitement,'' Mrs Probert said.
''The instant communication was just wonderful, and after such a space of time.''
And Mr Firisua was also ''over the moon'' to be back.
''Jan went out of her way to teach us not just the English language but the Kiwi way of doing things. And, being from the Solomons, we do it with a smile. I guess we were lucky - we got the best of both worlds.''
After he and his sister Anna had learned English in Dunedin, they were ''light years ahead'' of fellow pupils when they returned to their English-taught classes back in the Solomons.
That advantage later helped him win a New Zealand government scholarship to undertake high school and later university studies in Auckland, which also helped him gain his current job. Mrs Probert, who has been teaching English for speakers of other languages since 1989, said the ''buzz'' was being part of teaching newcomers about New Zealand customs and culture, as well as the English language.
Mr Firisua has good first-hand knowledge about football, having played several games for the Solomons national team, including experiencing two heavy losses to the All Whites in Auckland more than a decade ago.
Big adjustments had been needed when he had first arrived in Dunedin after his father, David Firisua senior, then a magistrate in the Solomons, came to study law at the University of Otago.
The weather was considerably chillier than at home.
''I remember seeing snow for the first time''.
