Frustrated by a series of late withdrawals, Fiji women’s national team coach Farouk Janeman says his team’s medal hopes could be over before a ball is kicked.
The wily veteran says the loss of up to five players has cost his team a realistic shot at the XIII South Pacific Games women’s football gold medal – players he believes could have turned the team
from also-rans into potential champions.
But the amiable Janeman says despite the setback in squad composition, he remains happy with the team’s preparation ahead of the kick-off against Cook Islands.
“We had a four-match preparation prior to arriving in Samoa against boy’s secondary school teams and mixed-gender opposition with some good results,” Janeman said.
Fiji’s performances yielded two wins, a draw and a defeat, a reasonable return bearing in mind the country does not have a National or Regional League competition for women.
An 3-1 defeat against Dav Secondary School was followed up by a 1-1 draw with Namasaw Boys College and wins against Flying Arrows (1-0) and Yelelevu Football Club (2-1).
“The results were good, but it is difficult to know how our team will go against Papua New Guinea, a team I have heard many good things about, “Janeman said, “but I don’t think we are medal
prospects.”
Gaining meaningful competition for women is a problem in Fiji with the only competition is the Fiji Women’s Inter-District Cup – a tournament held each December.
Fiji Director of Women’s Football, Yogeshwar Singh said the long-term aim for the Fiji FA was to create a national club competition.
“We have to create a club competition for women that filters right through to secondary and primary school level. At the moment, we do not have this capability, but women’s football is making a
comeback” Singh said.
Fiji’s hopes will rest on the shoulders of 31-year-old midfielder Asena Ratu making her second appearance at a South Pacific Games tournament.
Singh said the raw talent in women’s football gave him optimism that great strides can be taken in the near future to maximise this raw potential.
“Many of our women have brothers and fathers who are multi-talented sportsmen. Many Fijian families play a lot of sport and are reared on backyard football and this extends to our women,” Singh
said.
Fiji’s South Pacific Games campaign gets underway against Cook Islands at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Playing Field on Saturday at 1230hrs ST with tournament favourites Papua New Guinea taking on American
Samoa on pitch 2.
Pool A comprises five teams with Solomon Islands receiving the bye.
Pool B – featuring four teams – kicks off on Thursday 30th August when Tonga meet New Caledonia and Tahiti play host nation Samoa.
The top two teams in each pool qualify for the semi-finals.