Fiji Futsal team head coach Jerry Sam plans to lay a platform for all teams to follow as he maps a workable pathway to make his work easy when it comes to selecting players for national duties and international competitions.
After the completion of the four-day Extra Supermarket Futsal Inter-District Championship, Sam is impressed with the level of competition and said there are few things players needed to work on.
“They have to lift the level of competition to another standard,” he said.
“I think for the first time, teams have shown how to work on its tough defence pattern to counter the opposition’s attack. Sam said judging from the team’s performance on the past four days, the competition had been very competitive.
“Especially in attack and defence, this is the tactical aspect of the game that I want all the teams to understand when they have a game,” he said.
“I can see that futsal is growing and changing very much in Fiji.” He said it was bonuses to have women take part in this competition.
“It’s great to see them perform and to see the interest grow. “I am really happy with the performance of all the teams.”
This year is going to be a busy year for the Digicel-sponsored team as they look forward to a friendly match in April.
“We will have an international friendly competition with Vanuatu futsal team,” he said.
“We are also preparing for the Oceania Football Confederation Nations Qualifiers in October, so my hands are full.
“Performance wise, I know we will have a good combination of players and good talents.”
In the men’s competition Lami claimed the seventh spot after beating Savusavu 7-6 in the men’s division, Nasinu finished ninth after beat Tavua 5-3 while Labasa defeated Tailevu Naitasiri 5-3 to claim the third place. Tailevu-Naitasiri beat Suva 5-3 to claim the women’s title.
Meanwhile, Ba’s Etonia Dogelau scored three goals to stop Suva from claiming the final for another term.
Ba won the men’s final 7-6 for the first time last night and Dogelau was also named Player of the Tournament.
