22 Dec 2015

Sport: Olympic spots on the line for Fiji footballers

11:57 am on 22 December 2015

Fiji's Olympic football hopefuls will get the chance to press their case for selection next month on an extended tour of Spain.

Fiji qualified for Rio after winning the Oceania regional tournament in Port Moresby in July.

Despite being an Under 23 competition, Olympic football teams are allowed to select three over-age players.

Head coach Frank Farina has just completed a week-long camp with the Fiji squad.

Former Australia and PNG football coach Frank Farina

Fiji football coach Frank Farina. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

He says the six game Spanish tour, including matches against teams from La Liga clubs Villareal and Valencia, is a big chance for players to pencil their names in the final squad.

"I'm actually taking five over-age players to Spain, out of the 22-man squad that is going, to give everyone an opportunity to show what they can do but there's only two spots up for grabs, as long as Roy Krishna is fit because if Roy is fit he will be one - there is no doubt about that. He came to Vanuatu recently [with the senior Fiji team] and I was very impressed with him. I was very impressed with him when I was coaching in the A-League, so there's two spots up for grabs and over these tours I will be giving other over-age players the chance to step up and show whether they can be selected or not."

Mr Farina says they're also hoping to arrange a tour of Brazil in April to help with their Olympic preparations.