Fiji Football Association Technical Director David Baltase has confirmed the introduction of a new Under-14 girls’ competition at school level, as part of FIFA’s youth development framework.
Speaking at the Fiji FA Council meeting, Baltase said the programme will follow FIFA’s recommended structure and will be implemented in schools using a 7-a-side (7v7) format.
He said the initiative will be overseen by Luisa, who will be responsible for coordinating the programme across participating schools.
“For the girls, we will have a new category at Under-14 level in schools,” Baltase said. “This follows the FIFA implementation model, with a 7v7 format.”
Baltase said the Federation will retain the existing girls’ competition structure for now, with no immediate changes to other age categories.
He explained that while Fiji FA is keen to expand opportunities for girls, the decision to hold off on additional categories is based on the current player pool, which is still being assessed.
“At this moment, we believe the pool is big enough to implement this Under-14 category,” Baltase said. “But we are not yet sure about adding further categories, so we will keep things as they are for now.”
He said the Federation will continue to monitor participation levels and performance, with the possibility of further expansion once numbers increase.
Baltase added that the introduction of the U14 school competition is an important step in strengthening the girls’ football pathway, ensuring players receive structured competition at an early age.
