$4m boost for football

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THE Fiji Football Association has set big plans on using the FIFA Forward 3.0 development program funds to implement solid operational and administration facilities to grow the sport in a bid to take it to the next level in the country.

The Fiji FA will receive $US2 million (approximately $F4.4m) per year for the next four-year cycle from 2023-2026.

This is part of the FIFA Forward development program to provide a 360-degree, tailor-made support for football development in each member association and the six confederations based on three principles which is more investment, more impact, more oversight.

Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel, who attended the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar earlier this month, said there was an increase of 25 per cent in the grant.

Patel, who is one of the 37 members of the prestigious FIFA Council, said they approved the FIFA Forward 3.0 development program which is for all the 211 member associations. He said this was positive news. “The FIFA Forward 3.0 development program includes funds for development, technical department, operational matters, tournaments and matches for men’s and women’s football,” Patel said.

“But there are certain regulations in place that the funding is required for.

“There are regulations in place for different categories of men’s and women’s competitions like how many matches are needed to be played and how much you can spend on that.

“We already have operational costs as we are hiring development officers and coaches as well.”

The Digicel Fiji under-19 team qualified for the 2023 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Indonesia after beating New Caledonia 1-0 in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U19 Championship semifinal in Tahiti in September. OFC has two slots at the event. Nabil Begg scored the winning goal in the 75th minute.

Patel said they were looking at getting an expatriate coach for the U19 side.

“We have done the final interviews for the women’s coach as well,” he said.

“We will reveal their names when they are in the country and have signed on the dotted line.

“They have been given the offer which they need to sign. The offer letter is there for them.

“There are two coaches. We have excellent coaches in the country now.

“But we are looking forward to having a coach for the U19 team.”