WHEN Fiji got beaten handily by New Zealand, the frustrations turned to anger among the Fijians.
And immediately the coach and players were made villains.
But is it them?
No, it is the Fiji Football Association that failed both the coach and players.
Why?
As the custodian of the sport, their top-down system is flawed.
The FFA is what the sport is, and while all the more had been said about them, they need to own up to the embarrassment they caused to the coach and the players.
In November last year, the FFA knew they were up against New Zealand in the semifinal game.
They had a good 5-months to prepare, instead, they left it late, a week before engaging in exhibition games before naming the team.
Coach Rob Sherman is bound by his masters, who know no better, let alone have any knowledge of the sport.
And these cohorts run an establishment with a ‘do as I say attitude’.
What choices did the coach have in selecting better players and opponents?
He had the brightest at his peril, and Auckland City, Eastern Suburbs and Wellington Phoenix reserves left him with no other options.
It’s not in Sherman’s job description to negotiate games, if anything it is the FFA who should’ve worked the arrangements.
And Fiji found itself playing lower tier clubs, while New Zealand had been globe-trotting playing in the Egypt Cup.
Now the notion that New Zealand’s success in the sport is in their development and players playing overseas, what stops Fiji from following suit?
And while New Zealand looks to the future, Fiji finds comfort in the local league games, tournaments and of course, it is where the pomp and pageantry is.
Professional pathway
Fiji’s failure is also in creating professional pathways beyond Fiji.
Besides Roy Krishna who holds the fort as the only professional player, no one has made it outside of the country.
Fiji players need overseas scouts and exposure much like the sport of rugby, where countries like Australia, New Zealand and France pouch the best from schools to local competitions, who are then cut and polished to become stars.
Seterki Huges, Thomas Dunn, Sterling Vasconcellous, Sairusi Nalaubu and Nabil Begg are great ballers, who are not limited to New Zealand football but elsewhere, for good measures tryouts in India, and what better words Krishna could put in for their careers to leapfrog?
But football’s ‘golden boy has taken a pass on it for years and for now these players among others are good as it gets, remain loyal to their core fabrics.
Significant funds
It is not that the FFA lack funding, in 2024 it was announced they received US $8 million (Fjd) 18 million in Fifa funding.
Out of their US$8m, approximately $5m was to be used in operations to run local and international competitions, and US$3m was allocated to special projects in the next four years.
With just $5m, FFA could have housed the 22-member squad for a year in camp and have them travel to Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America to play top national teams to clubs to honed their tactical and technical superiority to become a better-prepared team to face New Zealand.
And if the $5m seemed less, tops the income generated through local tournaments and the lucrative sponsorship.
But all they did was play subordinates for a disastrous loss.
Former players speak out
Former national team players have sounded disgusted at the results, who ridiculed the standard of the sport and demanded a complete change at the football house.
There is a fresh call for the government to intervene for a sweeping clean up and restore confidence in sport.
Ivor Evans, the former national team footballer and Vancouver Whitecaps star said football needs to have a team in the A-League, where players get to play at the professional level, learn to adapt with the standard to compete at the top level.
“I’m saying this for 20-30 years ago for Fiji to have a team in the A-League, much like what Fijian Drua is to Super Rugby League.”
“We would have 20-30 years ahead of Drua.
“Ben Ryan’s suggestion works but I guess I’m just a Fijian with no knowledge of but played professionally, just my 50 cents.”
Raphael Tuilawa, a member of Fiji’s historic 1-0 win over Australia in 1977 didn’t hold back from expressing his feelings.
“I thought 7-0, was a good score. I expected more, not forgetting that Fiji were up against professional players in New Zealand.”
“We as supporters shouldn’t expect more. If the officials are acting as amateurs the players will.
“There is no professionalism in the whole system.”
Tuilawa said if the officials are content on taking their pay and leaving the system as they are, nothing will change.
“We will forever be amateurs which is not good for the kids that want to come through in the future.”
EFFRA joins chorus, demanding change
In unison, the Ex-Fiji Football Reps Association (EFFRA) have opened up a dialogue on the need to improve the sport and possibly hold meaningful discussions with the FFA to find solutions to put more emphasis on the training and development of elite players.
The understanding among the members is the FFA lacks knowledge and understanding of football.
EFFRA believes the root of the problem is due to systemic issues and leadership failure.
They believe the widening gap and the humiliating defeat are a direct consequence of systemic issues within Fiji football, particularly the FFA’s leadership and management.
“The failure to prioritize player development, facilitate overseas opportunities, and creating a professional environment has created a situation where Fiji is falling further behind.”
“The severity of the defeat will ignite strong calls for accountability, with demands for the resignation of FFA officials. The argument is that the current leadership has failed to deliver results and that a complete overhaul is necessary to address the deep-seated problems within Fijian football.
“The feeling is that those who have been in charge have had their chance and have failed.
“It’s time to do the honourable thing and pass the baton.”
