Fiji on Phoenix’s itinerary

THE Wellington Phoenix will play two games against Fiji in the next A-League pre-season after putting plans for a repeat of the Football United Tour on the backburner.

The Phoenix have partnered with Fiji Airways and the Fiji Football Association and will board the inaugural Wellington-Nadi direct flight on June 25 for exhibition matches in Suva and Lautoka.

The dates of the games are yet to be confirmed but the Phoenix will play the Fiji national team twice, with the Phoenix academy team to take on Fiji’s under-23 team in the curtain-raisers.

‘‘The most exciting part is that the whole club will go,’’ said Phoenix general manager David Dome.

‘‘We’ll all be on the same flight, with fans and staff and families. We want to do more stuff offshore with the club, both at a commercial and a playing level.

‘‘We’re convinced there is another Roy Krishna in the islands somewhere, we’ve just got to find him and we want to be a part of the development of those players.

‘‘It’s the start of something exciting and hopefully an ongoing relationship with stronger ties in the Oceania region.’’

Krishna is the first Fijian to play in the A-League and the Phoenix striker is enjoying a breakout season, with six goals in 11 games.

‘‘Being at the Phoenix has been an amazing adventure but it is always nice to go home,’’ Krishna said. ‘‘I can’t wait to show my country to all my friends at the Phoenix and to share Fijian culture with them.’’

Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick was happy to trade in the Wellington winter for the Fijian sun.

‘‘We will have had only about 10 days’ training but it will be a great workout for the players,’’ Merrick said.

‘‘It is always good to play against an international team as you have to raise your standards and it will be a challenge that early in our pre-season.

‘‘Having the academy and reserve players along on the trip is a first for the club and the young players will learn so much by being on tour with the seniors.’’

The Phoenix announcement came on the same day that Liverpool confirmed it would visit Australia in July for pre-season games against A-League clubs Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United.

The Phoenix hosted English Premier League clubs West Ham United and Newcastle United as part of a four-team pre-season tournament last year and while Dome viewed that exercise as a success, it was ‘‘highly unlikely’’ to be repeated this year.

‘‘The costs associated with two teams, flights and accommodation, it was said.

The Phoenix had been approached by ‘‘three or four’’ highlevel clubs from around the world

just

too

expensive,’’ Dome but the under-20 World Cup in New Zealand in May-June meant it didn’t make sense to accept.

‘‘Plus it’s a huge financial risk for the club and I just don’t think we’re in that space at the moment. It’s probably too taxing for us to do it every year anyway. Not just money but staffing and resources.

‘‘Doing it every other year is maybe an alternative and it’s a business model worth looking at.’’

Fiji Airways is offering fans a fare of $476 return from Wellington-Nadi to follow the tour.