FORMER Ba and national football team captain Allan Jesoni has called for more international matches for the national men’s senior side.
Jesoni says football players in the country needs more exposure at the international level for us to win any tournaments.
The national men’s side settled for a bronze medal during the Pacific Games where they played four matches – winning two, losing one, while one match ended in a draw.
Once a powerhouse in the Pacific, Fiji has failed to make a mark on the international stage lately.
In 1988, Fiji did not only beat Australia but also had two wins over New Zealand, a team which we haven’t been able to beat since 2008.
Jesoni says more international matches was the only way forward.
“There are hardly any international matches going on for the senior side so when we assemble the team and take it to play at international level after a lapse of some time, this is what happens. The teams we used to thrash before are defeating us today,” he said.
“Talking about our football neighbors in Solomon islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
These teams are now ranked above us.
“They have immensely progressed in terms of their development programs, in terms of their national team outings.
They have concentrated a lot of their resources and finances on the national senior teams whereas here in Fiji, the current leadership is basing a lot of emphasis on local tournaments.”
Jesoni played for Ba from 1988- 1995 and also captained the national team to the South Pacific Games in 1995 in French Polynesia.
He said, if needed, Fiji FA should arrange more matches against Oceania teams.
“Play New Zealand, play Tahiti, play New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. Invite any other team that can come across taking into account the logistics and fundings involved.
He also expressed the need for good marketing team for the national side.
“We really need a good marketing team at FFA to market them and get in sponsors for the national team. I’m not talking about BOG or IDC but we need to look at the bigger picture.
“Look at rugby, we have the Fijian Drua who have roped in big sponsors and are putting Fiji’s name high on the rugby map. The same can be done in soccer but it won’t happen with three local tournaments. Players need to get international exposure.”
