Fiji Football Association has set a four-year programme for the Under-14 national squad to prepare for the 2019 U17 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) tournament.

28 players from Rewa, Levuka, Suva, Navua and Nasinu attended the two-day U14 South camp at Fiji Football Academy in Vatuwaqa over the weekend.

Coach Umesh Nadan said it was a tough job for them to select the top 18 players.

“The trials have been very positive because for most of these boys, it’s the first time for them to come into the camp,”Nadan said.

“So they are taking back as much as they can and learn from the experience.

“The talents on show made it hard for us to choose the best 18 because they all seem to be good.

“Most of players have missed out on this camp so we cannot select the best 18 until we have a look at everyone. We will be having another camp maybe next week or the following week.”

Nadan said the approach that Fiji Football has taken to set up such a camp to prepare young players for future tournaments was a step in the right direction.

“This initiative by Fiji Football is very important,”he said.

“Sometimes when the best are sent from the districts we don’t know if they are really the best but when we stay with them, we get to know them.”

The U14 team will take part in the Ultimate Soccer Cup on December 9.

justine.mannan@fijisun.com.fj