Fiji futsal trials begin
National Squad trails have begun in Suva
National futsal trials have begun in Fiji with around 25 players turning up at the Tattersall Leisure Center in Suva yesterday.
Top district reps including the likes of Kamal Hassan (Lautoka), Arvindra Naidu (Lautoka), Alvin Avinesh (Lautoka), Uraia Loki (Nadi), Benaminio Mateinqara (Navua), Siga Ali (Navua), Aisea Codro (Ba) and Dinesh Mudaliar (Suva) were present.
The trials are in preparation for the OFC Futsal Championship 2010 in Fiji and the FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifiers next year.
Former Australian national futsal player and coach Scott Gilligan is working closely with the Fiji Football Association technical department to select a strong side for these championships.
The Fiji FA and Fiji Futsal Commission are determined to win the OFC Futsal Championship this year and the following year to qualify for the world cup.
Gilligan, who is responsible for developing futsal across Oceania, says a lot of hard work is needed in order for Fiji to achieve their goal. He hopes Fiji will develop a more structured futsal structure to give players regular competition.
Gilligan added that around 14 players will be named in the training squad following the trials.
“I have about six players now, I will be looking at selecting 14 but will have to see if the technical department is comfortable,”
He plans to work on basic skills and to upgrade knowledge of the abbreviated code in the next few days.
The three day trials conclude on Friday.
Courtesy Fiji FA media
