SUVA U20 Youth Football newly appointed head coach Charlie Purcell has wasted no time setting high expectations for his side, declaring his ambition to win the Southern Zone Division title.
Purcell, who only joined the team this year, oversaw his second match in charge and was candid in his assessment of the team’s performance against Tailevu Naitasiri in Round 2 of the Extra U20 Southern Zone Youth League at the Fiji Football Academy ground in Suva yesterday.
“It wasn’t good. I didn’t really like it compared to last week,” he said.
“Maybe because the opponent was much harder than last week.”
The new coach acknowledged that building the squad would take time as he continues to evaluate players and identify his best combinations.
“I haven’t found my 18-member squad yet. Even though I’m not supposed to be doing this trial and error, I’ve got to do it. I’m just looking for that best 18,” Purcell explained.
Despite the disappointing outing, Purcell believes the team’s issues are not technical, but physical.
“There are no weaknesses for them,” he said confidently. “What I tell them to do, they just do. They just must improve their fitness and they’ll be OK.”
One of the major challenges facing the coach is limited time with the players, with several members currently involved in futsal and under-17 commitments.
“At the moment, I can’t get them to train with me because half of them is in futsal and under-17,” he said.
“But once I get them together as a whole, it’ll be okay because they’re committed.”
Purcell said that his first game in charge was only last week, making the current campaign an early stage of his rebuilding process.
However, he has already made his ambitions crystal clear.
“My plan is to win this Southern Division,” he declared. Then win the playoff and win the whole thing. That’s my plan.”
Suva U20 Youth Football coach Charlie Purcell during an interview with Times Sport on Saturday, May 9th, 2026. Picture: KATA KOLI
