Several rising stars have earned places in the 21-player Fiji Kulas squad bound for a Hong Kong tour this weekend, the latest sign that Fiji’s women’s football pathway is feeding fresh talent into the senior national side. The touring party, which mixes inexperienced prospects with established campaigners, will play two FIFA international friendlies against the Hong Kong women’s national team on June 3 and June 6.
Among the newcomers is goalkeeper Beatirice Qaniuci, a student at Labasa College who has already worn Fiji colours at Under-16 level. Qaniuci is also part of the extended Fiji Girls Futsal squad preparing for the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal later this year, and her elevation to the senior women’s team marks a significant step in her development. “It’s a dream come true,” she said, adding she was proud to represent her family, school and the people of Labasa and was eager to learn from the senior players on tour.
Forward Ulamila Rasovasova, a Kamil Muslim College student from Ba, receives her first senior call-up after earlier spells with Fiji’s Under-16 and Under-19 teams. Known for her pace and attacking instincts, Rasovasova said she was grateful for the chance to don the senior jersey and to gain “valuable experience at senior level,” a progression the national setup has sought to accelerate by fast-tracking promising youth internationals.
Two other players join the squad for the first time: local talent Selai Nai and overseas-based goalkeeper Aliana Vakaloloma. Vakaloloma’s selection continues a trend of integrating Fijian players based abroad into national camps to raise standards and add different playing experiences to the pool. The inclusion of both homegrown and expatriate players reflects the programme’s aim to broaden depth ahead of future regional and international assignments.
The Kulas depart this weekend for Hong Kong, where the two friendlies will provide a live environment to test combinations, give minutes to new recruits and sharpen match fitness. As FIFA-sanctioned fixtures, the games also offer a platform for players to gain international caps and for coaches to evaluate personnel under competitive conditions.
This tour is the latest chapter in a sustained drive to plug talent from the youth ranks into the senior team. In recent months Fiji’s national setups have regularly promoted players from U-16 and U-19 squads into senior camps, a strategy intended to fast-track exposure to higher-level competition and build a deeper, more resilient national side.
Selectors and coaching staff will use the Hong Kong fixtures to assess immediate readiness and longer-term potential as Fiji prepares for upcoming regional tournaments. For the young call-ups, the trip is both a reward for progress through the national pathway and a proving ground that could determine their place in future squads.