30 Jul 2011

Sport: Vanuatu's football coach says poor fitness has proved costly

10:35 am on 30 July 2011

Vanuatu coach Natonga Saby will look to give as many of his players gametime as possible in this afternoons final friendly clash against Solomon Islands in Port Vila.

The home side have yet to win a game in the four-match series, which is being used as preparation for next months Pacific Games in New Caledonia.

Natonga Saby says apart from captain Robert Yelou and Saimata Chilia the team is very young and still learning at international level.

He says poor fitness has proved costly in recent matches so he'll look to use his entire squad against the Solomon's and get some extra training in before the team heads to New Caledonia.

"This time we need to win to prove our physical training. I have another two weeks to go, so I don't have enough time to go through the fitness test."

Vanuatu will complete their Pacific Games preparations on Monday with a match against club side Amicale FC.