Fiji soccer coach Carlos Buzzetti is a worried man because he does not have the proper ammunition to shot down neighbours New Zealand in Samoa at the end of next month.

Fiji and New Zealand will cross path in Apia for the World Cup qualifier that was postponed after New Zealand refused Fiji’s entry into Auckland because of its sporting sanctions against the Fiji Interim Government.

“We are going to Samoa but I am afraid that June is off-season for Europe soccer. New Zealand will have all its overseas-based players and they will be very, very strong.”

“We will be fortunate to have all our players from abroad but most of them had been held back because of their contracts. They are still playing in their clubs and that seemed to be a problem for us,” he added.

Buzzetti said he would opt for local based players to expose talents.

Meanwhile, the former Vanuatu soccer coach heaped accolades on the visiting Brigham Young University soccer team that’s currently on Fiji tour.

The BYU team conducted a one-day soccer clinic to soccer students from nine primary schools in Suva at Albert Park yesterday.

The students were presented new soccer boots and soccer uniforms donated by the people of Utah in the United States after the BYU match against First Division Salt Lake City soccer team last week.

Buzzetti said more efforts should be made to enhance and develop grass roots soccer in Fiji.

“It gets emotional when you see people from afar helping soccer in the country, especially young people. That is what we should do, every other country have a system for their children ands that’s why they are winning. New Zealand and Australia are doing that and they are winners in our region. We have plans but money is our problem. Unless we develop our children we cannot play with other top teams in the world,” he added.

“Districts need to have group leagues from the age of 11 to 16 year-olds. This will supplement district teams and the national team. Fiji has good players, world champion materials with skills, but they cannot understand the movement of the game. Grooming a player takes years. In Fiji we concentrate on district level so the attention for youth leagues and women soccer should start from the bottom,” he added.

Fijilive

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