THE Junior Bula Boys may have come through different football pathways, but coach Marika Rodu says they must now put those differences aside and work as one team.
The 23-member squad are in Samoa for the OFC U19 Men’s Championship.
The team consists of players from Fiji’s professional setup; the Extra Premier League, the Senior Division and overseas leagues.
Nine players are based overseas, while four are members of Bula FC.
One player was selected from the Senior Division, while nine have played in Fiji’s Extra Premier League.
The squad also features players with previous national age-group experience, including two members of the 2024 U19 team and seven players from the U17 setup.
Rodu said the mixture had created a squad with different experiences but one common objective.
“We come from different football experiences. There are four from Bula FC, one from the Senior Division, nine from overseas and four will make their first trip,” Rodu said.
For Rodu, the key to bringing the group together is humility.
“Humbleness is key for us to make sure that we remind ourselves that we are one team.”
The team has spent six weeks preparing for the tournament, with Rodu believing the players are ready for the challenge.
“Across the board, we have a mixture of boys with experience, and I think we have the confidence to deliver the goods when we start playing on the second.”
