SUVA – Seven members of Lautoka football side have been named in the 25 member Fiji training squad to take on New Zealand in the final fixture of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa Oceanian Qualifiers later this month in Lautoka.

Blues captain Jone Vono Junior, Valerio Nawatu, Niumaia Tagi, Laitia Tuilau, Brothers Osea Vakatalesau and Peni Finau and goal scorer in the IDC final, Malakai Waqa were selected based on their outstanding performance in the IDC.

Coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti has dropped six players from the previous squad which played Vanuatu earlier in the season due to injuries and non performance.

Heading the list of dropped players is Ba midfielder Ronil Kumar who has not been in form since rejoining the Men In Black this season from New Zealand.

Other notable exclusions include Labasa duo Alvin Avinesh and Henry Dyer, Ba’s Manueli Kalou, Australian based Shivan Swamy and Fiji U-20 and Navua midfielder Monit Chand.

Auckland City FC’s Shalesh Kumar and Waitakere United’s Roy Krishna are the only overseas based players named in the squad.

Fiji team chairman Rajesh Patel said only 18 out of the 25 players will be named to take on the All Whites in the formality match.

“The squad is the best available one and we will giving in our best in terms of preparation for the match although it will be a formality for both the teams as New Zealand has already topped Oceania while we are out of contention, said Patel.

“Nevertheless, we will be out to improve our international ranking and will gun for better result against the top qualifiers from the region.

“The team will march into camp this Sunday at NZPTC in Nadi and will train there as the Fiji U-20 team is currently occupying the facilities at the Dr Sahu Khan academy in Ba.

“Most of the U-20 players are having their exams and the national team management therefore did not want to disturb them by putting the national team at the premises.

Fiji has managed only four points out of its five group matches for the 2008 OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa Oceanian Qualifiers.

Fiji beat Vanuatu 2-0, drew with New Caledonia 3-3, lost to New Zealand 0-2, Vanuatu 0-1 and New Caledonia 0-4 at the second stage of the OFC Nations Cup after winning the silver medal at last year’s South Pacific Games in Samoa.

New Zealand has already won the 2008 OFC Nations Cup with five straight wins including a 2-0 success over Fiji at Churchill Park in Lautoka late last year. The All Whites later defeated Vanuatu 2-1 and 4-1, then beat South Pacific Games gold medallists New Caledonia 3-0 and 3-1 to win the OFC title for the fourth time.

Ricki Herbert’s team will represent OFC at the FIFA Confederations Cup – South Africa 2009 and play-off against the fifth placed team in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for a berth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™in South Africa.

The Fiji-New Zealand All Whites match will be played on the 19 November 2008.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

New Zealand vs. Fiji

19 November 2008

Churchill Park

Lautoka

Fiji Squad:

Simione Moci Tamanisau (Navua), Benaminio Mojito Mateinaqara (Nadi), Filimoni Ravutovutu Boletawa (Suva), Peni Lesubulamailepanoni (Lautoka), Malakai Kainihewe (Ba), Taniel Evo Waqa (Labasa), Malakai Waqa (Lautoka), Rajnil Ritesh Chand (Navua), Ilaitia Tuilau (Lautoka), Avinesh Waran Suwamy (Ba), Samuela Vuluma Vula (Rewa), Alvin Singh (Ba), Esava Samudere Naqeleca (Suva), Shameel Rao (Ba), Salesh Kumar (Auckland City), Malakai Tiwa (Ba), Pita Baleitoga Senibiaukula (Ba), Jone Vono Junior (Lautoka), Niumaia Tagi (Lautoka), Osea Vakatalesau (Lautoka), Roy Krishna (Waitakere Utd), Tuimasi Manuca (Ba), Maciu Samaidrawa Dunadamu (Ba), Josaia Junior Sauturaga Bukalidi (Ba), Valerio Nawatu (Lautoka).

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