Fiji coach urges A-League visa slots for Pacific players

Fiji's soccer coach, Rob Sherman, is advocating for the A-League to allocate two visa slots for Pacific Island players. He believes this would enhance the development of Pacific teams and support the upcoming OFC Pro-League set to start in January 2026. As Fiji prepares for a World Cup qualifier against New Zealand on March 21, Sherman acknowledges the challenge posed by New Zealand's professional team. He emphasizes the gap between their amateur status and New Zealand's full professionalism but remains hopeful about their performance. The Fiji team is acclimatizing to Wellington's colder weather after training in Auckland. Sherman notes that their recent warm-up matches have improved their tactical understanding, although he is concerned about occasional lapses during games.