Praise for our young women footballers
Team Fiji women’s football side defied all odds to win the silver medal at the Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The Marika Rodu- coached side went down 2-1 to Vanuatu in the gold medal playoffs at the Port Vila Stadium on Thursday night.
Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf yesterday praised the team for their efforts.
“Rodu has done a marvellous job,” Yusuf said.
“We had a young side with most of the girls between the ages of 16 and 19 with a couple of players over 20. “It was unfortunate that we had lost due to a goalkeeping mistake but it’s something we will work on when they get back.
“We’re happy with the outcome considering the fact that this Vanuatu side had spent five months training in China, in a fully paid trip by the People’s Republic of China.”
Yusuf indicated that the Fijian women’s team are going to be assembled and prepared for the Oceania Women’s qualifier to the 2019 Senior Women’s World Cup.
“The qualifier is going to be staged in Fiji in August next year where we will play Vanuatu again, Solomon Islands and American Samoa. That is going to be another opportunity for the girls to take their revenge.”
After a scoreless first half, the hosts drew first blood in the 62nd minute when Leisale Solomon scored. Playing against a vocal crowd, the Fijians managed to equalise in the 85th minute through Cama Naisau but a goalkeeping error in the 86th minute saw Vanuatu slam in the winner through Junane Ishmael.