The state of affairs of football in the country needs serious revamp.

It’s time fans, former reps, administrators and critics lend a hand because the sport needs help.

Fiji Football Association needs a collective input from all stakeholders to start afresh stopping it from sinking further.

The latest ranking by the world governing body FIFA put us below football playing nations in the region.

This is quite alarming as we used to dominate the region.

We once beat the Socceroos and the All Whites. Once we hosted the top clubs in English Premier League and Bundesliga. Those were the glory days.

Last month we were ranked 165th but now we are 168th after the 2-0 loss to Singapore earlier this month.

The teams who are better than us are Solomon Islands (144), New Caledonia (154), Tahiti( 157), Vanuatu (163), Papua New Guinea (165).

The countries who are ranked below us are Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands.

We don’t have to look far to gauge our progress but just   look across the seas to our island neighbours.

While the Fiji FACT, Battle of the Giants and Inter-District Championships are income generating tournaments for the Fiji FA, a new format should help lift the sport on the local scene. We need to fix football on the home front first.

The low turnout at the weekly Vodafone Premier League is an indicator that the interest of fans is the waning.

Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel has promised the introduction of the Franchise League in 2020. We applaud that but as of now, all who love the sport should contribute to make it worthwhile watching.

Perhaps one way to share, talk and plot the best way forward is during the 2018 Courts Inter-District Championship which kicks off at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on Friday.

The final of the biggest event in the Fiji Football Association calendar will be held during the Fiji Day public holiday on Wednesday October 10.

For so long we have been on the losing end as the last time we won was at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games.

But strong teams rise from defeat and losing in sport is not a bad thing.

In fact a loss can help build character and offers another way to take another look at what’s going on, make adjustments and fight your way back.

Losing can keep teams on check, on their toes to reclaim lost glory.

A loss can be motivating if you have a positive mindset.

But first you need to identify things that need work and do the work, focus on strengths and make them stronger.

Football needs a lot of fixing on the home front to make it more competitive.

Our collective mission is stop the losing streak.

OSEA BOLA

Feedback:  oseab@fijisun.com.fj