School before sport: Coach
“My players are students, so for me it’s school first, than sport. We’ve had a couple of camps that lasted two days with three training sessions.”
Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 14:00
Jose Gerardo (standing, left) with the Fiji Under-17 girls’ futsal team after their training session at the Fiji National University gym in Nasinu on June 13, 2026.
Photo: Ioane Asioli
Fiji Under-17 girls’ futsal head coach José Gerardo values experience over winning medals at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, from November 1–12.
The no-nonsense Portuguese coach has undertaken an extensive recruitment process around the country, selecting the best players to represent Fiji.
“I’ve been to Labasa, Lautoka, Ba and Suva to search for players,” Gerardo said.
“We have started our preparation for the Youth Olympic Games.”
Gerardo was not in favour of training camps as he prefers his players to prioritise school over sport.
“My players are students, so for me it’s school first, than sport. We’ve had a couple of camps that lasted two days with three training sessions.”
Gerardo added that the team also has longer training camps that last 10 to 11 days.
“I will not promise any medals because I prioritise a strong attitude, education and fair play,” he said.
“It is important that the girls are proud to represent their country. This isn’t for me; it’s for the Fijian people.”
Fiji is pooled in Group A alongside hosts Senegal, Colombia and Ukraine.
“I can promise a strong attitude from this team at the Youth Olympic Games,” he added.
Explore more on these topics
Advertisement
Advertise with Fiji Sun