Digicel Fiji Junior Kulas head coach Marika Rodu expressed the necessity for government support for overseas players following his team’s narrow 0-1 loss to Samoa at the Oceania Federation Confederation Women’s Under-16 Championship. Fiji required at least a draw to progress but was unable to overcome a robust Samoan squad.
Rodu emphasized that the issue is not a lack of skill but rather the disparity in player levels, noting that some players overseas could potentially represent Fiji if they could obtain Fijian passports. He also mentioned that several younger players still have an additional year in the U16 category, providing optimism for the future.
He pointed out that Samoa’s team includes several overseas players and reiterated the importance of governmental backing for Fiji’s overseas athletes in building a competitive team. He believes that local players can benefit from the experience of international talent, which could elevate the overall quality of football in the country.
In light of the loss, he acknowledged the considerable work ahead for the team and recognized the disappointment of not winning, especially while hosting the tournament. Despite the setback preventing Fiji’s qualification for the World Cup in Morocco, he believes the players have bright futures ahead and that they will be better prepared for forthcoming competitions after experiencing the competitive level firsthand.
Samoa’s Ayres Ava scored the decisive goal in the 51st minute, securing the third win for her team and a place in the semi-finals, where they will meet the runner-up from Group B next Wednesday.