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Last Updated: Apr 9, 2007 - 12:46:40 AM |
THE Fiji Football Association has been blessed with a $1 million grant by England's soccer body the Football Association. Under the corporation agreement Fiji will receive technical aid from England for the next five years.
The Fiji FA president Doctor Muhammad Sham Suddean Sahu Khan has just returned after attending an important Oceania meeting in New Zealand where this was announced.
According to Dr Sahu Khan this assistance by the Football Association will go a long way in developing soccer in Fiji. Dr Sahu Khan the first thing on his mind is to send at least ten players to England on playing on contracts.
Dr Shau Khan spoke to our western bureau senior writer Zanzeer Singh on the English offer and the development of sport in the country.
Q: How will this $1million investment help Fiji Football?
A: It is a five-year corporation agreement. This means that for next five years they will assist us in any way that we require. It can be for coaching programs and refereeing, all at their costs.
We will only pay for the accommodation of the expatriates. It is a very big thing for us. One of the reasons they agreed is because we have the United Nations office or European Commission.
The most important thing is that FIFA and Oceania are impressed with the development of soccer in Fiji.
Q: When will Fiji soccer put forward its proposal to the FA?
A: They will fund the trip for me and chief executive officer Bob Kumar to London to finalise all this matters in April.
The FA has agreed that we put up all our proposals, what fields we require the assistance in. They will come over here to sign the agreement.
Q: What areas will Fiji FA seek assistance in?
A: The first thing I'm going to ask them to assist in is contracting our players.
At least ten players to fit in clubs in England. As far as Fiji is concerned we hope to send some of our local players to England.
Q: What are some of the other decisions made at the Oceania meeting in Fiji's favour?
A: It has been conformed that the Oceania under-12 playoffs will be held in Fiji. Teams from Tahiti, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Samoa and PNG will participate in the event.
The OFC council agreed that Fiji could enter three or four teams depending on the number of countries participating to make it an even event. This will be held on July 22-24 at the Academy grounds and Govind Park.
Also Doctor Tharid Ali of Lautoka Hospital was appointed on the Oceania medical panel. Chandra Segran was appointed as a member of the referees committee. This just goes to show that our people are doing their job on the committee.
Q: With the Oceania Under-12 playoffs being held in Fiji for the first time, how will Fiji FA accommodate this and mould a formidable national team?
A: What we plan is to select players from each of the three divisions west, south and north. At the Fiji FACT there will be an under-12 tournament where the national team will be selected. The number of players in each team will be 10.
Only nine can be on the field. For the under-12 competition the full pitch will not be utlised so adjustments will be made. This is a good chance for Fiji to qualify for the international championship. There will be an international tournament in France in September where the winner of this playoff will gain direct entry.
Q: Will Fiji stage another other international events over the next few years?
A: FIFA has suggested that Oceania apply to stage the next Futsal world Cup in the region. OFC has agreed to nominate Fiji as a venue. They have seen our facilities in Suva.
f we win the bid then it will not only be a big boost for soccer but tourism also. Beach soccer is part of the FIFA events. We are exploring venues in Fiji. This is certainly an area of opportunity for Fiji.
Q: What is OFC doing to develop soccer in the region?
A: Oceania has also agreed to set up a task force to monitor the development of soccer in the region.
Fiji has been nominated to send one member on this committee. I will send a technical man on this committee.
It will not be a board member or a vice president as such. For development of football we require experts to be there.
Q: How can the district associations help develop the sport in the country?
A: Our district associations will have to play an important role to help lift the sport to the next level.
They talk often about Fiji FA's development program. I would like to see our district teams participating in these programs. Like the coaching of coaches program. Once we stated that no district team should have a coach who is not licensed to be sitting on the bench.
But during the last Homecentres inter district championship there were a number of coaches who were not licensed.
The districts are not making any effort. I would like to see the districts start preparing now for the upcoming programs. We have got assistance from Oakleigh Cannons.
This is not only open for district coaches but club coaches as well. In April FIFA has set out three days for community programs. This program will not be successful if the districts do not corporate. From April 19-21 we will have a community program we will get all the members of the community involved.
This is the first time for Fiji FA to hold such an event. Football is not only about playing on the field.
The president of Oceania is here with some members of FIFA will be here. There will be separate aspects during the program.
Q: There was talk of Oceania getting direct entry to the world cup in 2010. Has there been any discussion on this?
A: We have some bad news. It was almost confirmed that Oceania would get a direct entry in the next world cup in 2010. But that has been changed by FIFA. We will have the old scenario where we will playoff against Asia or South America.
There was a promise that there will be two teams from Oceania participating in the Under-17 world cup, unfortunately FIFA has decided that there will only be one.
Q: Is Fiji FA still looking to towards professionalism?
A: We have informed Oceania on our program to bring in professionalism by 2008. The national league will be replaced by the franchise league. For the Oceania club championship it has been agreed that Nokia United can register new players. The only thing is that players can change clubs twice.
So it means they cannot return to their initial club in 2008.
Q: There has been some criticism in the media about Fiji FA reducing the number overseas, which can be drafted by district teams for the tournaments. Do you think the reduction will benefit Fiji soccer?
A: It's disappointing to see district associations criticising matters in the media rather than debating on it at the council level first. In the last council meeting in Suva we had a separate agenda on overseas players.
I'm surprised that one of the presidents of the southern district was critical of what was resolved in the meeting. And yet the meeting was in Suva and he was not present. District associations should realise that they themselves make up Fiji FA. There are 23 district officials in the council and only seven Fiji FA officials.
It's a pity though they do not come to the meeting and then are critical. I don't mind criticism but it has to be fair. It's unfortunate that these people give the wrong impression to the public.
Q: FIFA has allocated tickets for the world cup to all the affiliated members. What will happen to Fiji's allocation?
A: FIFA has made it clear that we cannot market the world cup tickets. But what Oceania has done is get in an agreement with FIFA that they would market the ticket. This means each country, which gives its tickets to Oceania, would receive $100,000 each.
But unfortunately we could not give all our tickets, as our officials want to go to the world cup. So the tickets for the quarterfinal, semi final and final have been taken up. But the preliminary tickets we will give to Oceania.
There is a FIFA vice president who is under investigation by the ethics and fair play committee for selling tickets. So we cannot take that risk. I'm told that we will get around $35,000 for the preliminary. So there are no tickets left.
Q: National coach Lee Sterrey's contract expires this September. He is currently in charge of the national under-20 team preparing for the Oceania playoffs in New Zealand in January. Will Fiji FA extend Sterrey's contract until the Oceania under-20 playoffs?
A: I can't answer that question right now. After the world cup in July there will be a meeting. If we are extending we will let him at least a month before. That matter will be discussed at the board meeting.
Q: What is the latest on the Goal Project in Nadawa?
A: Right now I'm just waiting for the title. Unfortunately there are some conditions on the approval.
We have had a meeting with the authorities. When we go to London in April, I will take the project papers with me to see what further can be done.
Q: Now that FIFA has reduced Oceania's allocation from two to one for the under-17 world cup, what happens to the team, which is in camp?
A: There are only six or seven boys in camp. We will hold a meeting on this with Lee Sterrey, Farouk Janeman and Hussein Sahib to see what is the right program.
Q: Fiji remains as the top island nation in the region in the latest FIFA world rankings. Are there any international matches lined up for the national team?
A: A New Zealand-based company is willing to sponsor a team to tour Fiji. But I don't want to stage a match just for the sake of playing a game. We will have to take the match seriously. The national team will definitely play games this year.
We are looking at options either hosting or touring Malaysia, India and Singapore.
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