Three players from the victorious Extra Supermarket Labasa football team, which won the FMF Inter District Championship 2024, have been called up to join the Fiji men’s national football squad. The Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) announced the inclusion of a 29-member extended squad to prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The players from Labasa who have been selected are goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau, experienced striker Christopher Wasasala, and defender Sekove Naivakananumi. Labasa coach Ravneel Pratap expressed his pride in their selection, emphasizing that the players earned their spots due to their outstanding performances.
Pratap highlighted Wasasala’s ability to enhance the team’s attacking options and his skill in building effective partnerships with other strikers. He thanked the Fiji FA for recognizing the improvement of his players, which contributed to their inclusion in the national side.
“My players have the capability to perform at a high level of football,” Pratap noted, encouraging those Labasa players who were not selected to put in the effort to earn national recognition. He also reminded the three selected players that they need to elevate their performance for regional competition.
“We want our players to be part of history if we achieve World Cup qualification,” he stated. The national team, coached by Rob Sherman, commenced their World Cup qualifying campaign with a strong start, securing a 1-0 victory over the Solomon Islands in their opening match.
Former Labasa FA president Paul Jaduram supported the decision by Fiji FA to include these players, affirming that their exemplary performances warranted a call-up.
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