The Fiji Junior Bula Boys are preparing to kick off their journey in the OFC U19 Men’s Championship in Samoa. The team is composed of experienced players with international exposure.
Head Coach Marika Rondu expressed his confidence in the team’s readiness and lineup as they prepare to depart. “We are in a good position heading into this tournament. Despite the chaos of prepping, we’ve been able to put together a solid 23-member team, who are eager to play,” he reported to FijiLive.
The squad is backed by a robust core of veteran players, with nine players advanced from last year’s U17 team to the current U19 team. The team also features five players based overseas and several others who have participated in the Digicel Fiji Premier League (DFPL) and other tournaments.
Rondu believes that the team’s enthusiasm and determination in the training sessions demonstrate their readiness for the upcoming challenges.
Fiji has been grouped with Tahiti, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu in Group A, while Group B consists of New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea. The tournament is expected to be highly competitive.
With their departure for Samoa scheduled for tomorrow, the Fiji U19 team aims at securing a place in next year’s World Cup. They will start their campaign against Tahiti on July 5, at 1pm.