Fiji Under-23 soccer coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti is in a dilemma as he awaits the outcome of an assessment on injuries suffered by three key players during his side’s recent tour
of Australia.
Lautoka duo Seremaia Nadusitu and Manueli Kalou and Navua’s Rajneel Chand have all sustained injuries which could see them ruled out of action if they fail to recover in
time.
With only three weeks remaining until the Oceania Olympic play-offs, Buzzetti is keeping his fingers crossed in hoping that the trio will recover soon. Nadusitu and Chand have
groin problems while Kalou has a knee injury.
“The big question will be who we will bring in as we are very short on central defence,” said Buzzetti.
The Fijian side is now left with a vacuum in the defense and will be searching the resources for players to fill the gaps if needed.
After the suspension of Samuela Kautoga and Jone Vesikula for breaking camp, the side might be forced to play make shift players in positions they’re not accustomed to.
The team which arrives into Fiji tomorrow morning will undergo another three weeks of training before the playoffs from March 1-9 in Ba and Lautoka.
The side was to have played one more match against a club from Queensland on Tuesday but this didn’t eventuate as the wet weather closed all grounds.
Fiji had earlier beaten Brisbane Olympic 3-2, Brisbane Strikers 4-1 Palm Beach Selection 5-1 and thumped a weak Runaway Bay Selection side 7-0.
“We have managed to identify our weakness and strengths and this is what we will work on in the next few weeks,” said Buzzetti.
Buzzetti said remaining unbeaten on tour was a big achievement. He said the local Fijian community had been impressed with the standard of football displayed by the side.
“Everyone is speaking very highly of the players,” he said.
“They are impressed with the standard. The boys have displayed quality football. They are also well behaved.”