The first major task for the new Digicel Fiji ‘Bula Boys’ head coach will be to guide the team during the upcoming FIFA International Friendly matches to be hosted in the country next month.
This competition will involve Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji under-20 side.
It will be played at Churchill Park in Lautoka and the Fiji Football Association academy ground in Ba from March 20-26.
The Fiji FA advertised the position of the national team head coach recently after former Denmark international Flemming Serritslev’s three-year term expired at the end of last month.
Serristlev has since returned to his homeland and hasn’t given any indication if he is going to reapply.
Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf said the applications for the top job would close tomorrow.
He said the contract duration was from March 2023 until the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a possible extension if the team reaches the next qualification round.
Yusuf said Serritslev was eligible to reapply for the position.
“The successful candidate will need to be an experienced international head coach or an upcoming coach with high potential who has a Pro-License Coaching Diploma with a minimum of five years experience,” he said.
“The person will lead the development of the Fiji team with the aim of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“For the first time, OFC has been given 1.5 spots for the FIFA World Cup. This means the winner of the OFC qualification playoffs will receive direct entry while the runner-up will feature in a cross continental playoff.”
Yusuf said apart from identifying and developing the best eligible players to peak as a team for the regional qualifiers, the national head coach will also have the responsibility to identify and mentor local coaches.
“He will need to support football development programs and coaching education outside of national team activity,” Yusuf said.
“The successful candidate will be required to work in close collaboration with all other Fiji FA national team coaches and build positive relationships with club coaches working closely together with the Fiji FA CEO and the technical director.”
