Ragata was dropped from the 12-member national squad last Friday as he went on to feature for the Suva side in the Fiji Sun/Weet-Bix National Football League without consent.
“It is sad to know that one player has been dropped. Ragata without consent broke camp and went on to play for Suva. No players were released to feature for the district as we did not want to risk any injuries to our players. Ragata left and went on to play for Suva without anyone knowing where he was,” Khan said.
The Fiji futsal head coach says Ratu has been a timely replacement for his side.
“Replacement Josaia Ratu is in camp now and I would like to thank him for turning up in such short notice. Ratu is no stranger as he was part of the national side which participated in the 2010 OFC futsal championship,” Khan said.
Meanwhile the final-12 member Fiji squad for the 2011 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Fustal World Cup playoffs was announced last Thursday at the Fiji Football Headquarters in Suva.
The playoffs will be held from May 16-20 at the Vodafone Arena in Suva whereby the overall winner will go on to represent Oceania region in the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.
Fiji has been seeded in Group A with Kiribati, New Zealand and Vanuatu. Group B sees Solomon Island, Tuvalu, Tahiti and New Caledonia.
Head coach Intiaz Khan has opted for a fairly experienced side along with Rajnesh Raju and Eron Underwood who are set to make their debut for the national futsal side.
Other players with the likes of Kamal Hassan, Uraia Loki, Ajesh Narayan, Aisea Codro, Ratu Josefata Dugucagi, Levi Tawake, Shivam Nathan and Mira Sahib make their return.
Sandeep Nair who missed out last year due to injury has found their way back in the side. Khan has also named three non-travelling reserves that are New Zealand based Roy Krishna, Ba rep Petero Dauniseka and Navua’s Joseph Mishra.
The national coach says they are focused for the task which lies ahead of them.
“We have been training hard for the past few weeks and I would like to thank the players who showed commitment. As a coach I faced a major problem of not getting the full compliments of players to work with but the players who have put their hands up, look keen and I’m sure we will be able to field a good side,” he said.
“We are training very hard for the playoffs and I’m sure this boys will give their hundred percent for the country.”
Fiji has hosted the regional meet since 2008 and has respectively finished second best to Solomon Islands in the 2009 and 2010 edition.
Fiji 12-member squad: 1. Josaia Ratu (GK), 2. Hussain Mira Sahib, 3. Sandeep Nair, 4. Shivam Nathan, 5. Ajesh Narayan, 6. Rajnesh Raju, 7. Aisea Codro, 8. Ratu Josefata Dugucagi, 9. Kamal Hassan, 10. Uraia Loki, 11.Eran Underwood, 12. Levi Tawake (GK);
Non Travelling Reserves: 13. Petero Dauniseka, 14. Joseph Mishra, 15. Roy Krishna
Ratu replaces Ragata
