30 Sep 2010

Fiji ready for PNG challenge

11:16 am on 30 September 2010

Fiji begin their quest for the Oceania Nations Cup title today when they meet second seeds Papua New Guinea at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

The Fijian coach, Ramesh Sharma, says his side has been preparing for this tournament for three months and will go in feeling confident.

He says his side will have to be on alert, however, for the speed and skill of the Papua New Guinea side.

"They are a fast team, very skilful, they play fast football. We've spent quite a lot of time playing the 4-3-2 formation because we think that they have very fast forwards so we have to counter them in defence and make sure that the defence is quite tight."

Thursday's other match sees Tonga take on the Solomon Islands, while yesterday hosts New Zealand made an emphatic start, outclassing Vanuatu 14-nil, and the Cook Islands pipped Tahiti 1-0.