Reps Earn Draw Where Spain Beat England Last Year
Hola from Spain
The Vodafone Fijian Under -23 team played well to draw 1-1 against third division team Hercules Football Club yesterday. After going 0-2 against Levante United in Valencia, the team lifted their performance at the 30,000-seat Jose Rico Stadium, home of the Hercules FC.
The team had an early breakfast at Mas Camerana Hotel in before coach Frank Farina named the team to play Hercules FC last night. One of the two players Alvin Singh and Samuela Kautoga were retained with coach Frank Farina making nine changes.
Team: Misiwane Nairube, Alvin Singh, Samuela Kautoga,Manasa Nawakula, Anish Khem, Ratu Tevita Warainivalu,Antonio Tuivuna and
Nickel Chand, Napolioni Qasevakatini,Samuela Nabenia and Rusiate Matererega.
We travelled for nearly two hours by bus to reach our match venue where Spain beat England in an international friendly in September last year.
Fiji started well, controlled play and adapting to the new brand of football in the first 35 minutes. But Hercules scored the opener after a mistake on the left flank.
The Fijians scored the equaliser five minutes later after a corner kick by Napolioni Qasevakatini was headed in by captain Alvin Singh.
Assistant coach Kamal Swamy was impressed with the performance.
“We played much better football, made less mistakes and control more possessions,”he said.
“It’s a good learning ground as our aim is to get more experience playing against professional teams.
Team captain Alvin Singh was happy to score the equaliser and thanked the boys for a much improved performance.
“It was through teamwork and I must thank the boys for a gallant performance,” said Ba rep.
“We’re here to learn and I think the boys are learning a lot as they do what they are taught during training.
‘We all are looking forward for the remaining matches and we hope to do better.”
Apart from the matches everyone is well in camp and well cared for by hardworking physiotherapist Varoon Karan and Dr Ronald Kumar.
The next game is against CF Cracks at Until tomorrow.
Moce Viti.
Edited by Osea Bola
Feedback: oseab@fijisun.com.fj
