Coach: Fitness A Concern
Poor fitness has affected the Digicel Fijian football squad’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Qatar in March.
Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, head coach Flemming Serritslev said the long break after the Digicel Premier League (which ended in December) saw players’ inconsistency to keep up with their fitness. The 25-member squad are currently camping at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba.
“We almost had to start from scratch again, the players have not been training very much since the last game in the Digicel Premier League,” Serritslev said.
“First we are trying to build-up their fitness again.”
The Fijians will leave for Australia on February 19 to play three friendly matches against A-League teams.
“After the Digicel Premier League starts, then we will see on whether to bring them into camp before we depart for Australia. We will need to have them in the bubble,” Serritslev said.
“We will face three A-League teams, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Western United.”
The Dutch national confirmed that Roy Krishna is the only overseas-based player that is to join the squad while England-based Peter Ravai is already camping with the team.
“Depending on when his game finishes, I don’t think he (Roy) will join the team in Australia, hopefully he will join very soon. It depends on how far his team goes in the Indian Super League.”
Serritslev will select his final 24-member squad before the Australian tour as they prepare to take on New Caledonia in their first match of the World Cup qualifiers on March 18.
“I have no expectations for New Caledonia. What we do, is we prepare our team to their best possible for all games that we will have in the competition.
“We will come in very good shape but at the moment, I do not know anything about New Caledonia. I have not seen them since 2016.
“I believe they have been having the same problem for friendly games as we have had.”
The Fijians will also play against New Zealand on March 21 and Papua New Guinea in their final pool match on March 24.
Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj
