Fiji Kulas coach Angeline Chua is on the ground at the Extra Supermarket Fiji Secondary School Football Association Championship, eyeing fresh talent from the championship for the Fiji Women’s Under-19 squad ahead of the OFC U19 tournament in October. She confirmed that several players from the championship will be invited to trials, with some U19 picks set to enter camp in three weeks for the pre-tournament assessments. “I will be selecting some U19 players from the championship for the OFC in October. They will march into camp in three weeks for trials. The tournament is really good and competitive,” Chua said.
In the same breath, Chua also weighed in on the Open Women’s grade, highlighting Ba Sanatan as a potential pick, while noting Tavua and Xavier also field strong teams. “My pick will be Ba Sanatan, they have a good team. Tavua and Xavier are also good, but we will see at the quarterfinal on Friday,” she added.
This scouting aligns with Fiji’s broader development program for the younger cohort. The Fiji Young Kulas U-19 side has been in a structured training environment at the Fiji Football Association Academy in Suva, with a dedicated camp to refine skills ahead of regional duties. The Young Kulas have been drawn into Group A for the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship, competing against Samoa, the Cook Islands, and the winner of a qualifying tournament scheduled for March 7-13 in Tonga. The championship proper is set to be held in Tahiti from September 21 to October 4, 2025, placing a premium on preparation and exposure for Fiji’s youth.
Earlier in the year, extended squads and training camps were announced to nourish the pipeline. A Jan. 19-31 camp in Suva aimed to bolster the U-19 program, with players from districts across Fiji—Ba (Elesi Tabunase, Sisilia Kuladina, Sereana Naweni), Labasa (Grace Lakavutua, Selai Tikoisuva), and representatives from Nadi, Lautoka, Savusavu, Tailevu/Naitasiri, Navua, Nasinu, and Rewa—forming a broad talent pool. The emphasis remains on building cohesion, technical proficiency, and tactical understanding to prepare for the OFC stage and beyond.
The ongoing focus on women’s football in Fiji signals a hopeful trajectory for the sport in the region. With a steady flow of organized camps, cross-district talent, and the integration of young players into the national setup, Fiji’s teams are positioning themselves for meaningful progress on the Oceania stage and, potentially, future global opportunities.
Summary: Chua’s current scouting drive at the school championship complements Fiji’s broader youth development program, mapping out U-19 talent for the OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti and reinforcing Fiji’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of women’s footballers. The pathway includes January camps, a March qualifying phase for Tonga, and a September-October championship window in Tahiti, underscoring a structured, optimistic plan for Fiji’s young Kulas.
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