The 9-0 drubbing of the Fijian Under-23 football side against New Zealand in the final of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Olympic Qualifiers in Auckland, on Saturday night, is unacceptable.

This was same New Zealand side that beat us 3-1 in group play, but when it came to the final they blew us away.

We’ve got to remember that the Kiwis were without their overseas-based players like Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest (English Premier League) and a few others.

If they had been playing the score would have been more humiliating.

Fiji U23 head coach Rob Sherman was spot on with his observations: “I think there are some real stark lessons in some regards.

“I think the domestically based-boys, there’s a gap in their tactical understanding, without any shadow of a doubt.

“Maximising their fantastic physical capabilities is another factor.

“So, those will be the two priorities as we move forward towards the 2026 World Cup qualifying process.”

This newspaper has kept on highlighting the fact that the Fiji Football Association executives should create a pathway for our players to get contracts with overseas clubs.

Fiji Under-23 football team. Photo: Fiji Football Media

We cannot develop our players further in terms of skills and exposure by allowing them to play in our local competitions.

This is because the level of our domestic football competition is well below standard.

We’ve got to start sending our promising players to clubs in the Australian A-League, Asia, Europe, and South America.

This is a priority, if we are to excel in football and improve on our 169th ranking with FIFA.

Since Fiji FA executives continue to turn a blind eye on this, our neighbouring Pacific countries have overtaken us on the world rankings – Solomon Islands- 133, Vanuatu-165 and Papua New Guinea-161 with Cook Islands, catching up on us at 188.

This big loss is a wakeup call for the Fiji FA executives.

Minister of Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru has already voiced his concerns on the standard of football in the country and the need for improvement.

“It’s about time that they (Fiji Football Association) should open up,” Saukuru said in an earlier interview with this newspaper,” he said.

“We must get new blood to come in and do a little bit of organisation and restructure of Fiji Football for the betterment of the sport.

“It’s about time that they (Fiji Football) seriously look into that, Fiji Football needs to be re-organised and refocused on what they can achieve.”

There’s no turning back from here; the matter must be dealt with accordingly if we want football in the country to reach newer heights.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj