Courtesy: Fiji Live


Fiji FUTSAL coach cries foul

June 11, 2008

Fiji coach Imtiaz Khan is calling for the recognition of futsal in Fiji after he suffered his second consecutive loss in the OFC FUTSAL Championship in Suva tonight.

The former national rep said the abbreviated code of football should be given consideration if Fiji was to win internationally.

Futsal is also known as 5-a-side soccer.

Fiji suffered another loss when Vanuatu which now rules the standing with 11 points after three wins and one loss beat Fiji 5-2 at the Vodafone Arena.

Solomon Islands which led the points table after Day Three was on a bye tonight.

Khan shifted the blame of the administration of Fiji soccer after his team was placed in a slim chance in the weeklong round robin competition.

“I have a good team of top local players but we cannot do much because of the short preparation time given to us. Futsal is a game of skills and it needs time to perfect combination among players. We did not have that and we suffered the consequences,” he added.

“The players were fatigue because of our long soccer season. They just came out of the Fiji FACT and was placed against some professionals like New Zealand and the Solomons. I do not blame them but at least we could change our approach to the code.”

Fiji FA chief executive officer Bob Kumar sided with his coach saying Fiji gained exposure and experience which could be fruitful in the future.

Meanwhile, Vanuatu coach Marcellino Barthelemy is bracing himself for a tough encounter against the Solomons today.

“That will be the final because I am hungry for them,” he added.

“I want the number one spot and I will bring them down from the top. I will win because now my players are confident after beating Fiji. The Fijians were good but they were heavy,” he added.

Vanuatu beat Fiji 2-5, Fiji’s goals came from Sandeep Sanjesh Alvin and Asish Chand.

New Zealand cooked up the biggest win last night with Bakr Al Saudi slotting eight goals in their 13-1 win over Tuvalu.

In another match New Caledonia and Tahiti played to a 2-all draw.

Standings: Vanuatu 11, Solomons 9, Tahiti 8, Fiji & NZ 3 and New Caledonia 2.

Today’s draws: 4pm: Tahiti vs Fiji, 6pm: New Caledonia vs Tuvalu, 8pm: Vanuatu vs Solomon Is.





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