Fiji Soccer team qualifies for Olympic Games

The Fiji men's soccer team has created history after qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio next year for the first time ever.

Fiji beat Vanuatu 4-3 in the Olympic qualifier final in the Pacific Games in a penalty shootout.

Fiji and Vanuatu were locked 0-0 after regulation time.

Both teams also failed to score a goal during extra time.

Fiji coach Carlos Buzetti says this is the best feeling in the world.

Buzetti says the win is for everybody in Fiji.

He says their next aim is to win Gold in the Pacific Games with the semifinals to kick off on Wednesday.

New Zealand who were supposed to play Fiji in the final was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

A protest was lodged by the Vanuatu Football Federation which led to New Zealand being kicked out of the final.

The Fiji men’s basketball team settled for silver after losing to Guam 61-78 in the final.

In Rugby League, the men’s team lost in the bronze medal playoff after losing 16-14 to Tonga.

Meanwhile, Athletics starts today with Decathlon at 2pm.

The 100 metres heats, the 800 metres heats, 5,000 metres women’s final, 3,000 metres steeplechase final, shot put final and javelin final will also be held tonight.

Hockey also starts today with the Fiji men’s team playing  Solomon Islands at 12pm and Netball will start at 7pm with the Fiji Pearls taking on Vanuatu.

Looking at the Fijivillage Pacific Games medal tally Papua New Guinea is leading with 36 gold, 23 silver and 22 bronze. New Caledonia is in second place with 23 gold, 23 silver and 18 bronze, Tahiti is on third place with 23 gold, 16 silver and 14 bronze, Samoa is in fourth place with 18 gold, 18 silver and 1 bronze.

Team Fiji is in fifth place with 14 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze.