The 23-player squad representing Fiji at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti has been announced.
This eight-nation tournament will be held from July 28 to August 10, 2024.
Head coach Sunil Kumar has selected a squad that includes four overseas-based players and 19 local talents.
The tournament is highly significant, as the winners, runners-up, and third-placed teams will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Coach Kumar expressed his enthusiasm about starting a new age group cycle with a well-scouted squad.
“It was not an easy task to select the best 23 players, but the established criteria helped in choosing the best players for the tournament,” said Kumar.
“We started with our talent identification program in which we scouted 38 players, and they marched in camp in May, and from that it was not easy to select the 26 members.
All these players are very talented. We have four international players and the competition within the team is amazing. We had some hard times ahead as we narrowed down the names.”
Kumar said some players were unfortunately dropped due to injuries.
He thanked the players for their sacrifices over the past months and acknowledged the support of their parents.
The Digicel Fiji Baby Bula Boys are drawn in Group A with Cook Islands, New Zealand, and Vanuatu. They will open their campaign against the Cook Islands on Monday, July 29, and take on New Zealand on Thursday, August 1. Their final Group A fixture will be on Sunday, August 4.
The 2025 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup will mark a significant change as it expands to 48 teams and shifts to an annual format. The next five editions of the competition, starting in 2025, will be hosted in Qatar, reflecting FIFA’s strategy to enhance international competition for youth teams.
1.USAIA TAMANIQIO- Tailevu Naitasiri,
- ARAV AYUSH NADAN- Navua
- RYHEAL REUBEN RAM-Tailevu Naitasiri
- JASON RANDELL DAU-Tailevu Naitasiri
- AVISHAAN KASH CHAND-Rewa
- MAIKAH DAU- Nasinu
- RISHAL RITHIK SHANKAR-Suva
- ISOA VONU LATUI- Lautoka
- MELVIN RATAN PRAKASH- Ba
- KANAV MANI GOUNDER-RakiRaki
- MANASA KUBUCAUCAU- Ba
- KRISHNA SAMY JNR-Ba
- RYAN DIXON DAVID- Nadi
- SAULA MUATINI- Ba
- RATU APENISA NAVUKITU- Rewa
- VELENI RASOREWA-Lautoka
- AVICHAL VEER LAL- Labasa
- TUKAI RAVONOKULA-Labasa
- JOSAIA NATUBAKILAGI-Labasa
- RAHEEL NARSEY-Australia
- MOHAMMED ZIYAAD KHAN-New Zealand
- JOSAIA TUIDELA RAIKOSO-England
- FARHAAN REHMAN KHAN- Australia
