OFC B Licence coach Marika Rodu has taken on the dual roles with the Fiji Football Association as national women’s team coach and women’s football development officer.
Rodu, who led the women’s side to a silver medal at the Pacific Mini Games last year, took up the full-time position at the Fiji FA headquarters in Vatuwaqa last week.
Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf said Rodu had a proven record and no doubt would do his best for the development of women’s football in the country.
“Rodu has a proven record as a national player and coach. He guided the national women’s team to its first silver medal victory at last year’s Mini Pacific Games,” Yusuf said.
“Not only has he played for national team, he also guided Rewa to many victories as coach and also as a player.”
Among his tasks, Rodu will be looking into the development of women’s football in every district across Fiji.
“He will map out plans to develop women’s football in all districts and will organise women’s football,” said Yusuf.
He added that one of the association’s objectives is to see the Fijian women’s national team in the FIFA Rankings.
“Currently we are not ranked but we are trying our best to promote women’s football,” said Yusuf.
For Rodu, his passion for football is what encouraged him to take up the challenge set by Fiji FA.
“I know it’s going to be a huge challenge but I will do my best to develop women’s football,” he said.
Rodu intends to work closely with national men’s team coach Christophe Gamel to map out plans.
“I will wait for Gamel to come back from Malaysia and we will map out plans to move women’s football forward together,” Rodu said.
“I have some plans like starting from primary school level and monitoring the women’s coaches, but I will take things slowly.”
Rodu is coaching the national side at the upcoming OFC Women’s Nation Cup Qualifier which is being hosted by Fiji at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
The qualifier will be played from August 24-30 with host Fiji, American Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu playing for a berth in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup final tournament, to be held in November in New Caledonia.
The overall winner of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament in Tokyo 2020.
Meanwhile Rodu has stepped down as Rewa coach with Lorima Dau, who is also a Fiji FA development officer, stepping into the role.