Courtesy: Fiji Times


Futsal foul-up

By Amit Raj

Thursday, July 09, 2009

FIJI missed out on expert coaching for its national Futsal team ahead of the Oceania Championship because of laxity on the part of the parent body.

Win In Oceania Futsal project manager Scott Gilligan visited the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia before the championship to help the respective national teams and coaches but Fiji missed out because the Fiji Football Association did not apply on time for his services.

Gilligan's work requires him to visit Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Tahiti twice a year for up to three weeks.

"Fiji was one of the last ones to write to us. The dates were all taken so it was difficult to co-ordinate," he said.

The former Australian Futsalroos coach and player will now make his first official visit to Fiji in October.

"I visit these countries to help their national teams, conduct coaching courses, initiate grassroots development for women and juniors, enhance competitions and set up new ones where there isn't any," Gilligan said.

Fiji Football Association Futsal commission secretary Jay Sukhu said Gilligan could not be invited because of a number of reasons.

"We don't have a regular futsal competition in Fiji that's why couldn't get him earlier," he said.

"We couldn't assemble the national team on time because many players had district commitments. The development officers before didn't bother much about futsal.

"We need regular competition to develop futsal players.

"Now we have a development squad and are looking forward to having Scott (Gilligan) spend time with the players," Sukhu said.








Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com