The Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf has dispelled fears of a drop in morale within the Fiji football team after the axing of two key players for the all-important 2022 Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) Qualifiers later in the month in Qatar.
Yusuf said morale remained high in camp despite the dismissal of experienced pair Beniamino Mateinaqara and Dave Radrigai for “unacceptable behaviour”.
“There won’t be any effect on the team whatsoever,” Yusuf said.
“We have equally good players selected to represent the nation. There is togetherness within the team that reflects well on anyone. The atmosphere is at its best.
“The mood in camp is fresh as usual despite a little bit of setback. The team is certainly good in terms of morale and confidence.”
Yusuf has promised that the pair would be offered a fair opportunity to defend and clear themselves.
“We’re waiting for a report from the national team manager Anushil Kumar and peruse through it. They will be given prior notice to appear before an independent disciplinary committee. Both footballers will be given a fair chance to defend themselves.”
Mateinaqara had represented the country on 31 occasions while Radrigai had been capped 25 times.
Meanwhile, the 22-member Bula Boys reported to camp at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba from Monday for their final camp before departing the country on Saturday morning, March 5 for Doha, Qatar via Sydney, Australia.
The Roy Krishna-captained side is in Group B with New Caledonia, New Zealand All Whites and Papua New Guinea.
Fiji plays Bertrand Kai’s New Caledonia on March 18, Sarpreet Singh’s New Zealand on March 21 and Tommy Semmy’s Papua New Guinea on March 24.
