The Uruguayan previously held the same role with the Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) for three seasons before being relieved of his duties in 2009.
He has spent recent months coaching at club level in Vanuatu but is pleased to be back and says he will continue from where he left off.
“I’m happy to return as I now have the opportunity to finish the job I was not able to,” Buzzetti says.
“The idea is to get Fiji back to where it was because we are now down to 158 on the world rankings. The aim is to build up for the future and we will also look to have more qualified local coaches.”
The former Vanuatu national team coach has a busy schedule ahead of him as numerous international commitments are pencilled in for next year, most notably the men’s and women’s Olympic qualifiers in March and the OFC Nations Cup in June.
The Nations Cup acts as Stage 2 of the Oceania qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup while the winner will also progress to the 2013 Confederations Cup.
It is set to be hosted by Fiji and Buzzetti is aware his charges will be expected to put in a good showing on home soil.
“We have six months to prepare the side. It is important at this stage to check the players’ fitness and see if new ones are available or if there are capable ones in the Olympic team,” he says.
“Fiji is in a very tough pool with New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea but it is a must that we finish as one of the top two in this group so we can qualify for Stage 3.”
The third stage of the World Cup qualifiers will consist of a round-robin, home-and-away play-off series. The matches are foreseen to take place between 7 September 2012 and 26 March 2013 in FIFA windows.
The winner of the third stage will advance to the inter-continental play-off for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
Buzzetti has experienced success on the international stage with Fiji before, having led the senior men’s side to a memorable 2-0 victory over New Zealand in 2008.
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj

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