Tuvalu is well-prepared to lock horns with one of Oceania’s big guns according to coach Toakai Puapua. But the Tuvalan team will have its work cut out against a Fiji team brimming with confidence
after a morale-boosting 1-0 win over a New Zealand XI in Lautoka last week.
Tuvalu by contrast have played just three times since their last appearance at the XII South Pacific Games – Fiji 2003 and will consider it a job well done if they can limit Juan Carlos Buzzetti’s
team to a respectable scoreline.
The fact that Tuvalu cannot progress further in Oceania’s FIFA World Cup qualifying process does not appear to faze Puapua with pride and satisfaction to be in Apia apparently enough to sate his
nation’s aspirations for now.
Buzzetti, meanwhile, is quietly confident his team can score a comfortable victory in their opening match but was humble in his approach to the Tuvalu match.
“Of course, we hope we can score some goals against Tuvalu, but sometimes in matches like these this is not always the case.
Four years ago as coach of Vanuatu we saw Tuvalu play with their team inside the 18-yard box and we could only win 1-0.
This is a long tournament and we are after a good start,” Buzzetti said.
Tuvalu’s chances of causing an upset appear limited with only midfielder Petio Semaia expected to shine during a tough assignment in Pool A. Semaia – who hails from Vaitapu – will be charged with
leading the team against a Fiji side featuring many of the Ba players that swept all before them in Fiji domestic football.
Fiji has no injury worries ahead of Saturday’s opener with Buzzetti confident that teenage striker Roy Krishna will pose Tuvalu’s defence problems.
“Roy can play against any opposition at any time, he has good quality, good pace, and I will not be resting him,” Buzzetti said.
The idea of a fit and deadly Roy Krishna being set loose amongst a fresh-faced Tuvalu team would be a shuddering thought for most observers but Puapua is confident his team can be competitive.
“We have a league championship in Tuvalu played between the eight islands that make up our country and we regularly see FA Premiership and FIFA World Cup matches on television.
Football is the number one sport in our country and everyone – especially the men – play this game.
But we also play many other sports and excel in these too,” Puapua said.
The last Tuvalu championship was won by Vaitapu with Nanumea also a significant force in football with both islands contributing eleven of their squad to the XIII South Pacific Games campaign.
Puapua’s assistant coach Launiu Pelosi said Tuvalu were realistic about their chances of winning a match but said any sort of result achieved would be received with unbridled celebration.
“We have four tournaments per year and the winners of these competitions changes regularly, so no one team, or island, dominates for a long period,” Puapua added.
The stark contrast of this seemingly democratic exchange of Tuvalu’s national title – and international aspirations – will receive a stern examination when players such as Krishna, Osea
Vakatalesau, Peni Finau and company are unleashed.
Fiji’s Ba contingent have experienced almost unrelenting success this year with an OFC O-League runners-up medal, Inter-District Cup, Fiji FACT, Fiji National League and Battle of the Giants titles
already sewn up.
The victory over New Zealand XI means expectation levels in Fiji have reached unrealistic levels according to Buzzetti.
“The win (over New Zealand XI) has had a big effect. People expect us to win the gold medal but we still have much work to do.
This tournament is really about four matches, then two matches – Pool play, then the finals – so much can happen,” Buzzetti said.
Fiji play Tuvalu at 1500hrs (GMT-13) at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Field Playing Field.