Fiji, who finished third as hosts of this event four years ago, share the honour of opening the tournament with Solomon Islands and the two sides are set to clash on Friday from 12pm at Owen Delany Park in Taupo, New Zealand.
“It’s going to be a very difficult game for us against the Solomons but we must win that game to stay in contention for the final,” Ali says.
Fiji have been placed in the four-team Group A for Taupo and will face American Samoa and Vanuatu after meeting Solomon Islands. Group B features hosts New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals before the final decides who will represent Oceania in the Men’s Football Tournament at the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held in London from July 25 to August 11.
Team director Tarunesh Reddy says the Fiji squad’s preparations have gone well and that the players are focused on the task ahead of them.
“We are ready for the play-offs and look forward to a positive outing,” he says. “All the teams will be tough to play against and we will not be underestimating any side.”
Fiji opened their previous Olympic-qualifying campaign with a narrow 2-1 loss to New Zealand – an encounter witnessed by over 8,000 fans – and went on to beat Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and Vanuatu before being denied the runners-up placing by a thrilling 3-2 loss to Solomon Islands.
Expectations in Fiji are always high and, with a large Fijian community based in New Zealand, plenty of interest will centre on the exploits of Ali’s men. To help meet those pressures, Ali will be aided by assistant coach Kamal Swamy and Uruguayan Juan Carlos Buzzetti, the national coaching director for the Fiji Football Association.
An assistant head master by trade, Ali is no stranger to the international scene having formerly coached the Fiji U-17 side. He has worked his U-23 outfit hard in the build up to this tournament with several training camps and has plenty of talent at his disposal, including goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva, who has graduated from the national U-20 set up, utility Archie Watkins and striker Jone Salauneune, the latter of whom has gained O-League experience this season with Fijian champions Ba.
Tickets for all matches in Taupo can be purchased from the gate and are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers/over-65s, while ages 12 and under can enter for free.
Fiji squad for OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifier
Goalkeepers
Akuila MATEISUVA
Ravinesh SINGH
Defenders
Remueru TEKIATE
Peniame DROVA
Krishneel DUTT
Archie WATKINS
Luke RAWADAMU
Ilimotama JESE
Kavaia RAWAQA
Midfielders
Zibraaz SAHIB
Jone KALOUTANI
Laisenia Raura RAURA
Malakai RAKULA
Esava NAQALECA
Ilisoni LOGAIVAU
Amani MAKOE
Forwards
Jone SALAUNEUNE
Misaele DRAUNIBAKA
Abbu SHAHEED
Samuela DRUDRU
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj

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