Fiji Football has welcomed the opportunity for their senior team to play a couple of friendly matches against Tonga and American Samoa.
Fiji take on Tonga at Govind Park in Ba later today before meeting American Samoa next week in Nadi.
The visitors are using the matches as preparation for the first stage of Oceania FIFA World Cup qualifying, which begins in Nuku'alofa at the end of the month.
Fiji Football National Team Director Taranesh Reddy says after a busy year with the Under 20 World Cup and Pacific Games the focus is now on the national team, and every game helps.
"Tonga and American Samoa both approached us and we said yes - the reasons are we needed some international matches. People might say that they are a below-rated team or whatever but we are not taking anybody lightly - every team will come prepared. American Samoa and Tonga is going to play their Oceania Nations Cup preliminary rounds [soon] so they are preparing well too, so nothing to be taken away from them. They will be coming up fighting to have a team which can compete and we will not underestimate them - should have a very good game.
Taranesh Reddy says Fiji are also hoping to arrange further matches in Asia during the upcoming FIFA windows internationals windows.
Fiji line-up before taking on the Wellington Phoenix. Photo: Fiji FA Media
