The side will compete against three U-16 male teams in a competition that coincides with the first full round of action in the Vodafone Fiji FACT senior mens’ tournament, which starts tomorrow at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Fiji Football Association (FFA) technical director Saiyad Ali says pitting the young womens’ skills against the boys is part of the association’s programme to develop the female game further.
“We are following in the footsteps of the top football countries where they have mixed competitions and girls play against boys,” he says.
The team will square off against the Southern, Western and Northern U-16 boys’ sides.
FFA chief executive Bob Kumar says the games have been pencilled in with one eye on the future.
“This is our academy side and in two years time these girls will be our next national womens’ U-20 side. This sort of competition will prepare the girls for a higher level.”
But Kumar says it is not just the players who will benefit.
“At the same time it offers something different for the fans.”
Those fans will get the chance to check on the progress of Australia-based Vanisha Kumar, who has arrived in the country and will play a key role in the team.
“She is looking forward to the tournament,” Ali says. “She will add a futher boost to the side.”
The 15-year-old is a student at Sydney’s Westfields Sports High School, which has produced the likes of rugby league star Jarryd Haynes and former English Premier League player Harry Kewell.
Vanisha is also a member of the New South Wales State Thunder futsal and regular football squads and lines up at club level for the Marconi Stallions.
Last year she was named the most valuable player in the New South Wales U-13 side during the Australian national futsal championships.
The Fiji womens’ U-17 side play their first match against Southern at 10.45am on Friday. They take on Northern at 10.15am on Saturday before their last game against Western at 1.15pm.
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