Fiji Under-19 men’s head coach Marika Rodu is confident the final 23-member squad named for the upcoming OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa has what it takes to compete against the region’s best.

After an extensive talent identification process across Fiji and overseas, Rodu said the selected players had earned their place through hard work, commitment and a genuine desire to represent the country.

“I’m convinced with the boys that we’ve worked with through the trial process,” Rodu said.

“We feel that the players we have selected are satisfactory and they should be able to do the job in Samoa.”

Rodu said a key factor in the selection process was finding players who were fully committed to the national cause.

“We wanted players who really want to be here, not just making up the numbers, but who are competitive at every training session and in all our games,” he said.

The selection process included nationwide trials as well as a two-day scouting trip to New Zealand in July. Players based in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Dubai and the United States were also considered.

Despite the diverse backgrounds of the players, Rodu stressed that all members of the squad should be viewed equally.

“It would not be right to make this separation of overseas-based and local-based players. I see them as all Fijians and all of them have the eligibility to represent Fiji,” he said.

“The expectations for all players are the same, to represent Fiji with pride and do their best to be competitive.”

Rodu also highlighted the importance of teamwork, saying every player in the squad would have a role to play during the tournament, whether starting on the field or supporting from the bench.

Fiji will head to Samoa aiming to secure one of the coveted qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship providing a crucial pathway for the nation’s next generation of football talent.