The Kiribati national football team will make history this week.
The tiny OFC associate member country’s national team takes the field for the first time at the FMF Inter-District Championship in Suva this week.
The island nation will open the 86th FMF IDC against Seaqaqa at 11am, Tuesday, October 6 local time, at the HFC Bank Stadium.
Kiribati is grouped with Seaqaqa and Nadroga in the Premier Division.
Kiribati national team manager Bernard Tatireta said the opportunity was an important step forward for football in the country.
“We would like to extend our appreciation to the Fiji Football Association for allowing us to join and participate in this very important event for Kiribati football,” Tatireta told the Fiji FA media.
He also acknowledged FMF and other sponsors for helping make Kiribati’s historic participation possible.
Tatireta said the opportunity came through collaboration and discussions between football officials from Fiji and Kiribati.
“This is actually the collaboration between Kiribati football and Fiji football,” he said.
He said participation in the IDC was also important as Kiribati continues its efforts towards becoming a full member of the Oceania Football Confederation.
Kiribati has brought 19 players and five officials for the championship.
“We are very hopeful that they will do their best and that our players will have the best experience to help them in their future preparations for bigger tournaments,” Tatireta said.
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Oceania correspondent for:
