THE much-anticipated international football clash between the Fiji Junior Bula Boys and the Australia CommBank Joeys kicks off at 4pm today at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
The match is expected to be a strong test for the young Fijian side as they prepare for the upcoming Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualifiers.
Australia CommBank Joeys head coach Carl Veart said the tour has been a valuable experience for his young squad.
“It’s always good to go to new countries and give the players new experiences. We’ve been very happy with the three days we’ve been here and have had some good training sessions,” Veart said.
He added that while the weather has been wet at times, the warm and humid conditions have been beneficial for the team’s development.
“It’s a little more humid than we expected, but it’s very good. We don’t often get the chance to play teams from the Pacific, so this will be a good challenge for our boys and I’m looking forward to seeing how they adapt.”
Veart said the Joeys program is focused on developing future Socceroos by exposing young players to international football early.
“That’s the plan. International football is very different, and the more exposure these players get, the better prepared they’ll be for the future.”
Junior Bula Boys head coach Dhirend Chand said the match is a major opportunity for Fiji’s young players.
“This is a big opportunity for our boys. Playing against a professional setup like Australia helps us a lot, especially with OFC qualifiers coming up,” Chand said.
He said the squad includes players from Under-16 to Under-19 levels, giving them valuable exposure in a high-performance environment.
“We hardly get this kind of environment at home, so we really appreciate Australia coming here and giving our players this opportunity. It’s great for Fiji football.”
Chand urged fans to come out in numbers to support the teams, confirming that entry to the match is free.
“This is one of the times we have made entry free. We expect a big crowd to support both teams.”
Fiji captain Ibrahim Dean said preparations have gone well despite challenging weather conditions.
“We’ve prepared well over the last two weeks. The weather wasn’t always in our favour, but we are ready,” Dean said.
While acknowledging the challenge ahead, Dean said the team will focus on sticking to their game plan.
“We don’t expect to win, but we will stick to our game plan and see how the match goes.”
The Fiji Junior Bula Boys will be aiming to put in a strong performance as they take on the highly-rated Australia CommBank Joeys this afternoon.
