NEW Zealand-based duo, Shravan Sharma and goalkeeper Krith Kumar of Manukau, have been drafted into the Vodafone Fiji football team preparing to play Indonesia in an international friendly match next month.
Shravan was happy with the welcome reception he received when joining camp this week.
“My experience with the Fiji team is going well as most of the boys are new to the camp and I feel really welcomed,” he said.
“The coach has got his expectations and I have to make sure that it is my expectations and I have to meet what he wants.”
He said the major challenge for him in Fiji was the weather.
“I have to adapt to it because our coach has already told us that Indonesia will be hotter.
“The combinations are going well and I look forward to being in the team.”
Head coach Christophe Gamel said Shravan had been coping well at training while Kumar had few areas to improve on.
“Shravan is going well with the team but we need to see him in the competition because the competition is the reality,” Gamel said.
“Krith is doing well, but he needs to improve more and I will discuss with my goalkeeper coach regarding him.”
Gamel is disappointed after not getting his full squad in camp.
“I will do with what I have given this short time. They are young and we will face a very good team.”
The team departs for Indonesia on August 29 to play international friendly against the Indonesia team on September 2 and Persiga, a top league team in Jakarta. Meanwhile, sponsor Vodafone donated a set of PlayStation 4 including two controllers and a LCD television screen to the team to help in preparation.
Gamel said: “I thank Vodafone for this gift and it is of a great benefit.
“It is not linked with results. It is good for recreation.
“It is good to relax our minds when under pressure.”
Gamel said the recreational items were of a great benefit which help in team bonding in camp.
He said they had to put everything in a good way.
“First is work, that is hard work, and when we have free time. It is important for the players to enjoy to create team building.
“They can also express themselves outside the field.
“This is a good link as we have to be in the modern way,” he said.
