The Fiji five-a-side team preparing for the OFC qualifiers next month is having problems assembling its squad for the tournament, that’s be held at the Vodafone arena in Suva.
This is because of the involvement of players in their districts’ build-ups for the upcoming Fiji Bitter FACT later this month.
This has resulted in the team management opting to get the team together just a week before the tournament to prepare for the regional tournament, the winner of which will qualify for the FUTSAL World Cup in Brazil later this year.
Fiji FA FUTSAL commission secretary Jainendra Sukhu said they were really faced with a dilemma because most of the players selected for national duties play in the super premier division and have opted for district training for the Fiji FACT, ahead of their five-a-side commitments.
“We have a 30-member squad that is scattered in the southern and western division and our coach Intiaz Khan is expected to name at least 15 players next week so that we can start preparations,” Sukhu said.
“Last week we only had seven to eight players training and the trend is likely to continue and we cannot pressure players because their district obligations are also important.
“We will meet the players next week and let them know that they would have to march in camp straight after the Fiji FACT, that is June 2 and we would prepare for about six days before the actual tournament kicks off,” said Sukhu.
Fiji will face New Zealand, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu and Tuvalu in round robin play and the team with the highest points qualifies for the world cup.
The qualifiers will be held in Fiji from June 8-14.
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