Each of the players are currently based in New Zealand or Australia but are all eligible to represent Fiji.
Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) youth director Rajesh Patel says his aim is to assemble the strongest possible side for the OFC champs, which will be held at Trusts Stadium in Auckland from January 8 to 19. The winner of the event will go on to represent OFC at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico from June 18 to July 10.
Part of the Fiji squad came into camp at the Dr. Sahu Khan National Football Academy in Ba this week and Patel says the remainder of the squad, including the overseas-based players, will join in the next few weeks.
“The players who have completed their exams are in camp. The others will join the squad once they have completed their school commitments,” he says.
“We have identified some overseas-based talents who have been invited for trials. The U-17 coaching staff and management will trial the overseas-based with the local-based players to see if they have what it takes to don the national jumper.”
Those hoping to be involved in the OFC champs will have to impress coach Hussain Sahib and his assistants Kamal Suwamy and Ravinesh Kumar. Sahib is a former national representative and guided Fiji to a runners-up finish at the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva during August.
Patel says the trip to Auckland early next year is a key feature of Fiji FA’s upcoming schedule.
“The U-17 playoffs are very important to us as they could earn us a World Cup berth and we want to assemble the strongest possible team. Our scouts will continue to look for talent both locally and abroad.”
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