Courtesy: Fiji Times


Keep possession

by Amit Raj

Friday, July 30, 2010

NATIONAL Futsal team coach Hussein Sahib says patience and ball possession will be the key to victory in the upcoming Oceania qualifiers.

Sahib, who previously coached the national Futsal team in 1999 and 2004, issued a stern reminder to players yesterday as the 12-member squad continued polishing its various combinations.

"The players need to be composed," he said.

"The most important thing for us is patience and keeping ball possession. We can't lose the ball. Turnovers need to be avoided because it will result in goals," the Labasa man said.

"We've played practice matches and compared to previous tournaments that Fiji has played in, this will be a different national team because now the players have started to play Futsal," he said.

"The players have been responding well.

"We've been practising various combinations, mostly working on attack and will continue with that. People should come out and watch these boys play because Futsal is a very attractive sport." He said the Kurukurus from Solomon Islands led by inspirational playmaker Elliot Ragomo would be the team to beat.

"Definitely they are the favourites. They've played in FIFA World Cups and other international tournaments. They have specialist players while our players are football and not Futsal players so it will not be an easy task for us.

"But we're hoping to achieve something."

Under Sahib's guidance the national team in 1999 recorded one its best ever results in the Oceania qualifiers by finishing second behind Australian Futsalroos in Vanuatu.

The 1999 team had quality Futsal players like Suva duo Shalendra Lal and Intiaz Khan, Nasinu's William Sikuri and Navua goalie Sitiveni Qarau.


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