Fiji has successfully hosted the OFC championships of the indoor version of the game for the last three years, including when the tournament doubled as a qualifier for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2008.
This year’s edition also serves as a qualifier and the winner will take part in the World Cup next year in Thailand.
Fiji FA chief executive Bob Kumar is pleased to be hosting the event again and says much of the tournament’s success has been down to the fans.
“I believe the credit must go to the futsal fans here in Fiji who have always come out in numbers to make this event a successful one,” he says.
“We hope for similar support this time around.”
The participating teams and the format of the tournament have not yet been decided by OFC but those details are currently being worked out and will be released in due course.
Fiji will be looking to make the most of home advantage and stake their claim for a place at the World Cup but, despite hosting the event on several occasions, they are yet to win the title.
The Kurukuru, the Solomon Islands national side, have had the edge on their Pacific rivals in recent years and have won the last three titles in a row. The only other team to get their name on the trophy is former OFC member Australia, who left to join the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
Fiji finished as runners-up last year and have taken silver on two other occasions, in 1996 and 1999.
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