Districts urged to release players

FIJI Football president Rajesh Patel is urging districts to collaborate with the parent body in releasing players for national duties.

Speaking during the launch of the Pillay Garments Champion versus Champion series in Ba last week, Patel emphasized that 2024 is a demanding year for them.

“Requesting all districts to please corporate and please give the players that are necessary for the national teams to come for camp,” Patel said.

“Do not hesitate, it is the career for players; when they go for international games there are scouts out there looking out for the players.”

The national team is currently in camp in Ba for the Olympic qualifiers.

Meanwhile, the draw has been finalised for the OFC Men’s Champions League 2024 and OFC Women’s Champions League 2024 – Qualifying

The qualifying tournament will take place next month in Tonga on February 17-23 with the winner advancing to the OFC Men’s Champions League 2024 in Tahiti.

That tournament, featuring eight of the best club sides in Oceania, will have two groups of four teams representing Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Vanuatu, and the qualifying tournament winner respectively.

The qualifying tournament features American Samoan side Vaiala Tonga FC, Tupapa Maraerenga FC from Cook Islands, Samoa’s Vaivase-Tai FC, and host representative Veitongo FC, with a single roundrobin format deciding who will join the other seven sides in Tahiti in May.

Those other seven representatives will be determined by home and away national playoffs in February and March.

... when they go for international games there are scouts out there looking out for the players ...

– Rajesh Patel