Players await visa
The Vodafone Fijian Under-17 squad will be named tomorrow for the World Cup qualifiers in Tahiti on February 11-24. Coach Shalen Lal said they would name the team after visas are confirmed.
“We are taking a total of 20 players to New Zealand for the build-up matches and then to Tahiti for the qualifiers,” Lal said. “We applied for the visas but we need to be certain the boys get their visas before we can name the squad. “On Friday we will be having the presentation for the boys where their uniforms will be given as well as their boots by Vodafone.
“It will be an exciting week for the boys before we leave.” Lal is happy with the assistance by national coach Christophe Gamel. “Gamel has been really helpful, he has been adding on from what we already know and learnt and just finetuning the boys before we leave,” he said. “He has really fit in well, when he talks and interacts with the boys it’s like they have known each other for a long time.
“The best part is that he observes and he doesn’t try to change anything. He just gives his input on how we can improve from what we already know. “We are really blessed to have him here before we go to the qualifiers.” The team departs on Sunday Fiji will play New Zealand Maori on January 16, Auckland City U20 on January 20, Onehunga Mangere on January 21 and Papua New Guinea U17 on January 24 before flying to Tahiti on January 31.