18 Apr 2009

Military links queried in Fiji volleyballers' visa delay

12:30 pm on 18 April 2009

Most of the Fiji women's volleyball team due to begin competing in New Zealand next week have had visas issued, but immigration officials are seeking further information about two players.

New Zealand Volleyball president Allan Brodie says the Fiji team's first match at the Oceania Zonal Championships in Porirua will go ahead as planned on Monday.

He believes New Zealand immigration officials are checking whether two players have a family member with links to the Fiji military, before issuing the final visas. Nine players have visas.

The championships involve eight teams from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand. The round robin tournament is the first official international volleyball competition in New Zealand.