Preparations for the Fiji men’s hockey team ahead of next month’s Oceania Pacific up have been challenging, says head coach Shaun Corrie in a video statement.
“Preparation has been tough with the boys coming back from the World Cup and having to get back into their normal daily lives,” Corrie said.
“We’ve got the guys out in the west without the turfs, and we had a delayed season. Trying to get everybody back into the groove and trying out for fives has been tough for us,” he said.
The team also faces logistical issues, particularly for players from the western districts who have limited access to facilities and work irregular hours.
“A lot of the guys in the west work kind of shift jobs, and they don’t have a proper facility like this,” Corrie explained.
“We’re trying to get them leave from work to come back here, but we are moving along slowly.”
Corrie said the rebuilding phase has brought its own challenges after two years of change. However, he remains hopeful for the upcoming Oceania Pacific Cup.
“We’re moving forward, and hopefully, we can prepare well enough for the tournament,” he said.
The team aims to be competitive in the upcoming event, despite the hurdles they face in rebuilding and training.
Meanwhile the Oceania Pacific is being hosted at the National Hockey centre, in Suva from the 9-12 of December.
