And a total of eight countries including host Fiji will be part of this year’s event whereby the overall winner will go on to represent the Oceania region at the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand. #The five-day tournament will be held from May 16 to 20. #Fiji futsal head coach Intiaz Khan says they plan to utlise the next few days as they wrap up their preparation .#“We still have a few days ahead of us and our plan is to make use of this time as we will shortly be wrapping up our preparations,” Khan said.#“This year’s event with a spot at the FIFA futsal World Cup at stake no doubt will be very competitive and the Fiji team will be out there to make the country proud.”#Fiji has been seeded in Group A with New Zealand, Vanuatu and an unknown Kiribati side. Group B sees defending champion Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Tuvalu. A change in the format sees top two teams from each group qualify for the semi final stage and two winners to progress to the final. #Khan requests the fans to come out in numbers to support the national futsal side. #“I would like to request the fans to come out in numbers and support us. We have a golden opportunity to qualify for the World Cup and the general public’s support should boost the boys.”# NZ first up#Fiji Futsal side will face nemesis New Zealand in their opening match of the 2011 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal World Cup playoffs next Monday.#This will be the main event of match day one which kicks off 7.30pm at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. #Fiji will be out to make a winning start to their campaign and at the same time avenge the 6-4 loss when the two rivals clashed last year.#Initiaz Khan the Fiji futsal coach says the opening match of the qualifiers was a vital one for his side. #“The first game of the tournament for any team is very important. It helps to plan ahead for the remaining matches. It gives the players a chance at the same time to go out there and adapt,” Khan said.#“NZ will be no walkover and they will come up with a strong challenge. We cannot afford to underestimate any teams and NZ is no exception. #Fiji faces Vanuatu in their second game on Tuesday before completing the round robin stage against Kiribati.#2011 OFC Futsal Playoffs fixtures #Group A: Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Vanuatu#Group B: New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu#Dates: May 16 – 20#Venue: Vodafone Arena, Suva, Fiji#Monday 16 May#1pm Tahiti vs Tuvalu#3pm Vanuatu vs Kiribati#5.30pm Solomon Islands vs New Caledonia#7.30pm Fiji vs New Zealand# #Tuesday 17 May#1pm Kiribati vs New Zealand#3pm Tuvalu vs New Caledonia#5.30pm Fiji vs Vanuatu#7.30pm Solomon Islands vs Tahiti# #Wednesday 18 May#1pm New Caledonia vs Tahiti#3pm Tuvalu vs Solomon Islands#5.30pm Kiribati vs Fiji#7.30pm New Zealand vs Vanuatu# #Thursday 19 May#1pm 7th/8th Play-off#3pm 5th/6th Play-off#5pm Semi Final – 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B#7.30pm Semi Final – 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A# #Friday 20 May#5pm 3rd/4th Play-off#7.30pm Grand Final# Fiji FA MEDIA#
Fiji Futsal gears up for Playoffs
