This is the target set by the Fiji Futsal Commission which is working overtime with assistance from Oceania futsal development manager Scott Gilligan in order to select a strong squad.
Commission secretary Jainendra Sukhu told Fiji Football Associaition that local players will need to prove themselves in order to book a spot in the national side for this year’s OFC championship which will be hosted by Fiji in August.
Gilligan, a former Australian national coach and player, is in the country conducting a level one and two futsal coaching course. Sukhu says Gilligan will be of great assistance.
Players have been invited to a three day trial starting next Tuesday at the Tattersall Leisure Centre in Suva.
“The Fiji FA Futsal Commission, with the assistance of our technical director Saiyad Ali and Scott Gilligan, are trying to select a strong squad to tackle the OFC futsal champions, the Solomons.
“All players, including the national futsal reps, will have to come and fight for their position in the Fiji national futsal team. I’m requesting those who have been named and other interested players to attend the trial as no one’s position is guaranteed, irrespective of whether they were a national futsal rep earlier.
“The OFC qualifiers for the futsal world cup will be held in 2011 and the OFC Futsal Championship this year in August will be a good test for our national team to prove where we stand on,” Sukhu said.
Fiji lost to Solomon Islands 8-1 in the OFC Futsal Championship final last year. Sukhu said they were determined to go a step further this year. He added that support from the various districts was vital in their campaign.
“We need the support of the districts to see that their players are released for this important trial. There are more players playing futsal now, especially in Western and Northern Divisions but not from here in the South. We will have good quality players invited to attend the three day trials at in Suva,” he said.
Story courtesy Fiji FA Media