Players from Battle of the Giants finalists Ba and Labasa dominate the line-up, which will take on the Brazilian outfit on August 23 and 25 at Churchill Park and Govind Park respectively.
Notable exceptions from the squad are experienced campaigners Simione Tamanisau, Alvin Avinesh and Avinesh Suwamy, who were all part of the squad for last month’s OFC Nations Cup.
Former national team players Valerio Nawatu and Tuimasi Manuca have earned recalls while Ba’s Malakai Tiwa, who had to sit out the Nations Cup due to injury, also returns to the fold.
They will take on a side whose ranks have been known to include Giovanni and Zé Carlos – both members of the Brazil squad that finished runners-up at the 1998 FIFA World Cup – as well as 1994 World Cup winner Paulo Sérgio.
Play Fair Brazil is a team that travels the world to promote goodwill through football and help raise the level of the game in the respective countries it visits.
In addition to playing the two matches, it is hoped that some of the team’s stars will conduct coaching clinics during their stay and Fiji Football Association chief executive Bob Kumar is excited at the prospect of the tour.
“This is a huge opportunity for the local fans and in terms of promoting the sport,” Kumar says.
“Opportunities like these do not come along every day and we will need to make the most of this.”
Fiji squad for Play Fair Brazil friendlies
Goalkeepers
Akuila Mateisuva (Labasa)
Beniaminio Mateinaqara (Nadi)
Vereti Dixon (Nadi)
Ratu Gasaubalavu (Ba)
Defenders
Remueru Tekiata (Ba)
Peniame Drova (Rewa)
Archie Watkins (Nadroga)
Manueli Kalou (Ba)
Ilisoni Tuinawaivuvu (Labasa)
Krisneel Dutt (Nadroga)
Laisenia Raura (Ba)
Noa Vukica (Lautoka)
Taniela Waqa (Labasa)
Samuela Kautoga (Suva)
Samuela Vula (Suva)
Midfielders
Malakai Tiwa (Ba)
Zibraaz Sahib (Lautoka)
Taione Kerevanua (Labasa)
Misaele Draunibaka (Rewa)
Epeli Saukuru (Rewa)
Pita Bolatoga (Labasa)
Forwards
Roy Krishna (Waitakere United, New Zealand)
Osea Vakatalesau (Ba)
Maciu Dunadamu (Labasa)
Valerio Nawatu (Lautoka)
Tuimasi Manuca (Ba)
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj

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