3 Jun 2014

Sport: Fiji football revel in achieving coveted FIFA slot

12:08 pm on 3 June 2014

Fiji football is still revelling after earning themselves Oceania's qualifying berth at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand next year.

Fiji created football history after defeating Solomon Islands 2-1 at the Oceania U-20 Championship in Suva on the weekend.

Victory handed Fiji its first ever appearance at a FIFA world event and ended a 40 year wait to claim the Oceania U-20 title.

The Fiji coach Ravinesh Kumar says winning a coveted FIFA U-20 World Cup slot, brings with it huge benefits.

"Now things are coming up for the development of our team. The boys will get a huge experience going into USA and the Middle East to play different teams and they will go to the next level before we reach the World Cup next year. So I would say it was a very good move by Oceania Football Confederation for having this Under 20 play-offs ahead of the World Cup so that the next qualifying team will get a good chance for preparation."

Ravinesh Kumar says the players will be getting a bonus from their sponsors Vodafone and Fiji Football will be allocated some money from FIFA