THE decision to reduce football's top super premier grade to eight teams will not help the sport prosper, says former national team goalkeeper Tagi Vonolagi (pictured).
Vonolagi, a former Fiji Football Association development officer, believes the top division could be made more competitive by increasing the number of teams to 12.
"Reducing the number of teams to eight won't help soccer at all," he said.
"All this time we're talking about development but by having eight teams, the
league could be completed in over two months so what will the teams do for the rest of the year - play in tournaments.
"It's much better, instead of dropping two teams, Fiji FA should consider bringing up two teams from the premier grade with two teams facing automatic demotion after every season.
"In that way there will be more player development.
"Already our players are being starved of international games and now we're reducing the number of teams."
Fiji FA made the decision to have an eight-team National League from next year after its recent council meeting in Ba.
"The decision was made by council members and Fiji FA shouldn't be blamed for it. Fiji FA is just acting on the council's resolution," Vonolagi said.
He said the problem laid with district officials.
"It's the administrators that make up the Fiji FA council. They should think of development and more importantly about smaller teams.
"Development is every district's responsibility. How many districts actually have development teams and age-group programs?
"I'm urging Fiji FA to overrule its council members and do what is in the best interest of soccer.
"If we reduce the number of teams, soccer will not be the winner.
"By doing that many players will be deprived of the talent they have and they will lose interest," he said.
Fiji FA chief executive Bob Kumar said Vonolagi should send his suggestion to the parent body for it to be considered.
"We'll be looking at the format and mechanics of the competition in the next council meeting in September," Kumar said.