The Vodafone Fijian Futsal team is ready to take on the New Zealand All Whites in one of three matches at the Trans Pacific Cup at 8pm tonight at the ASB Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.

Coach Intiaz Khan said the team has settled in well after arriving on Sunday.

“We’ve been preparing for this tour for a couple of weeks now and all we did today (yesterday) is just brush up on a few things and get rid of the nervousness,” Khan said.

“All the players are just excited to get out there and play because we have been waiting for this moment for quite some time. We can’t wait to get it started and learn more along the way.

“We met with some Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) officials who are pleased with our structure and the young players we have in the team.”

Khan said they would not promise anything but aim to do their best in every game.

“For me personally, this is a chance to gauge the players and gain some experience as well. These players know how to play but as with other sports, there is always room for improvement and learning new things,” he said.

“We are not aiming to win this competition, our first priority is the players and to make sure that they get the maximum from the tour.

“Coming here isn’t about winning; we want to see how the boys can handle the situation and playing in a different environment.

“The next couple of days will be a huge learning curve for the players and I know that they will come back home with a different view and mindset of the game.”

With the huge support around futsal, especially being a minor sport, Khan thanked the parents, Fiji Football Association, Vodafone Fiji and everyone who helped the team.

The New Zealand tour is a build up to the 2016 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship which will be held in Suva on February 8-13.

Feedback:  justine.mannan@fijisun.com.fj