Eight players from Fiji’s U23 Olympic qualifying squad have been suspended from national team action and handed heavy fines after breaking out of their Olympic buildup camp to go
out drinking over the weekend.
Apisome Turuva (Labasa), Jone Vesikula (Ba), Samuel Kautoga, Taniela Waqa, Ben Kumar (Navua), Noa Seru (Labasa), Jone Sorolo (Ba) and Seremaia Nadusitu will each receive a fine
between $10,000 and $18,000 and are also suspended from national team action for five years.
The players scaled an eight feet high barbed wire fence at the soccer academy in Namosau before heading to Lautoka where one of the squad members lives.
Fiji FA President Doctor Muhammad Shams-Ud Dean Sahu Kahn revealed at a press conference yesterday that he had also seen five of the players smoking cigarettes on the academy
premises on Saturday.
Turuva, Vesikula and Kautoga have all made senior appearances for the Fiji national team and their loss of experience has left Fiji’s dream of playing in the Olympics for the
first time ever in tatters.
“The players came back intoxicated at around 4.45 the following morning,” said Dr Sahu Khan.
“The security did not open the gate so the players went around at the back of the academy and climbed over the fence to gain entry. They packed their belongings and left the
camp.”
Dr Sahu Khan said all the players had signed an agreement with the Fiji FA for the training camp and were paid.
Two of the banned players had gone to the US with all expenses paid.
“Fiji FA has spent a lot of money in preparations for the Olympic team,” said Sahu Khan.
Last week he had told the team that overseas scouts would be coming to watch the Olympic qualifiers and select players for teams in Australia and New Zealand.
“We spend all this money to train these players, put them in the academy and pay them allowances.
“If they are going to pay us back this way then Fiji FA will not tolerate it anymore. It’s very sad.”
He admitted their suspension would have an affect on the preparations.
But put his confidence and faith in national coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti’s ability to build a formidable team for the Olympic play-offs.
Fiji meet New Zealand in the first round of the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament on March 1 2008.