Our national side faces Solomon Islands in their first game at 11am this Friday which will also be the opening match of the playoffs. #Reddy said they were focused on the task ahead of them. #“We are ready for the playoffs and look forward to a positive outing. All teams will be tough and we will not be underestimating any side,” he said. #“Our focus is now on the first game against the Solomon’s and once that is finished then we will set a plan for our remaining matches.” #The playoffs will be held in Lake Taupo, NZ from March 16 to 24. Fiji is in Group A with American Samoa, Solomons and Vanuatu. Host NZ are in Group B with PNG and Tonga. #The national sides fly out of the country this morning. The winner of the playoffs will qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games football event. #Fiji Under-23 team head coach Imdad Ali said our side needs a positive result in their opening match against Solomon Islands to stand a good chance of progressing from Group A. #Fiji will also face American Samoa and Vanuatu during the pool matches. Host New Zealand heads Group B will face off against Tonga and Papua New Guinea. #Top two sides from each group will progress to the semifinal stage. #“It is going to a very difficult game for us (against Solomon’s) but we must win that game to stay in contention to play in the final,” Ali said. #National coaching director Juan Carlos Buzzetti said it was important the players made use of what was taught during training. #“Coach Imdad Ali, assistant coach Kamal Swamy have done a fantastic job over the weeks preparing this squad. They showed real professionalism along with Usenio Logaivau who was also assisting. It is up to the players now to go out there and perform.”#“The playoffs will be difficult as all teams will come well prepared. I had an opportunity to watch Solomon’s play against Vanuatu and they will be strong.”#Fixtures #Friday March 16, 2012#11am Solomon Islands vs. Fiji#1.30pm Vanuatu vs. American Samoa#4pm New Zealand vs. Papua New Guinea#Tonga bye#Sunday March 18, 2012#4pm Solomon Islands vs. Vanuatu#1.30pm American Samoa vs. Fiji#11am Papua New Guinea vs. Tonga#New Zealand bye#Tuesday March 20, 2012#4pm Fiji vs. Vanuatu #11am American Samoa vs. Solomon Islands#1.30pm Tonga vs. New Zealand#Papua New Guinea bye#Thursday March 22 #12 noon Semifinal Group A Winner vs. Group B Runner-up#3pm Semifinal Group B Winner vs. Group A Runner-up#Saturday March 24#12pm Loser Semi Final 1 vs. Loser Semi Final 2#3pm Winner Semi Final 1 vs. Winner Semi Final 2#
We are ready says Tarunesh
