‘Fijian U17 Tour Start Of Mission 2026’
The Vodafone Fijian Under-17 football side left the country for Israel yesterday to participate in the UEFA U17 Development Tournament.
The 20-member side was bid farewell at the Fiji Football Academy in Ba on Tuesday night in the presence of their parents and guardians.
Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel said it was the first time a youth team was being sent on an international tour and it would not be the last.
Patel said the tour was just the beginning for Mission 2026 which was the World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada.
“That is what Fiji FA is embarking on, to make sure we get it right from the very beginning and to give you every opportunity to qualify for World Cup 2026,” he said.
“We are spending money in the right places. We are investing in you which is the future of Fiji FA, we are investing in coaches and developing new coaches.
“We as the custodians of Fiji FA, me as the president, and the board, will make sure that we give you every resources to become the world’s best team.
“Our goal is to be there, whether we get there immediately or whether we slowly get up there. The goal has to be set.”
Vodafone Fijian Under-17 players after the official announcement of the team to tour Israel at the Fiji Football Association Academy in Ba on April 23, 2019. Photo: Avinesh Gopal
Patel told the players that they had a bright future and the tour was just the beginning of them.
He told the players not to take it for granted that they would be the next Fiji national team players as they still had a lot of work to do.
“Don’t be selfish on the field. We can win as a team. As an individual you can never win. You can help the team to win as an individual but you have to be as a team to win,” he said.
Vodafone Fijian head coach Christophe Gamel said it was the first time that Fiji had been invited by UEFA.
“We will open the door for many people after us. If we do well, then they will invite us more and more,” he said.
Gamel told the players that they would play against European sides and it would be very hard.
Fijian U17: Suliano Doli, Inoke Turagalailai, Samuela Navoce, Thomas Dunn, Clarence Hussain, Mohammed Ishrat, Eshan Kumar, Mohammed Nabeel, Ratu Tauvoli, Rahul Naresh, Rohan Nath, Raj Pillay, Abhishek Prasad, Josaia Sela, Peceli Sukabula, Sikeli Tovilo, Melvin Mani, Netani Sukula, Faazil Ali, Isikeli Sevanaia.
Officials: Gamel, Sunil Kumar (assistant coach/manager), Xavier Henneuse (goalkeeper coach), Varoon Karan (physiotherapist) and Anginesh Prasad (assistant coach).
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
Feedback: avinesh.gopal@fijisun.com.fj
