FORMER Fiji and Labasa midfielder, Buli Cama said teams needed to play more constructive and control soccer in the remaining rounds of the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants (BOG) to avoid getting exhausted.
Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel made the decision to play 90 minutes soccer in the Fiji FACT and BOG with the old 60 minutes to be followed only in the Inter District Championship (IDC).
However, some coaches are concerned with the recovery of their players as the tournament proper begins at Lautoka's Churchill Park from this Thursday.
Cama, who welcomed Fiji FA's decision, said the teams were used to the 60 minutes tournament and would take some time to adjust to the 90 minutes system.
"It's a good move by Fiji FA. In fact this should have been done a long time ago," Cama, who hails from Vunivutu, Labasa, said.
"Playing 90 minutes soccer throughout the season will not only help improve the fitness of the players but also improve the standard of football in the country. But it will take some time."
Cama, who played and won Labasa many tournaments in his career, said coaches needed to plan appropriately to ensure their players recovered on time.
Fiji FA has chipped in to help the teams by allowing four substitutes to be used in a match. .
"The teams need to play control and constructive soccer. Playing fast and running soccer will only get the players tired because we don't have super fit players in Fiji," Cama said.
"They need to play a structured game similar to what we see overseas unlike the bazaar pattern which we still see in some teams."
Labasa coach Epeli Levaci said the onus was on the players to do their responsibility on the field.
"It's not much about fitness, it's all about working as a team. We need to get the team bonding and the players need the roles they have to play."
Meanwhile, the 47-year-old Cama, who works for Telecom Fiji in Labasa, said he had noticed some improvements in the standard of football played in the country.
"But there are still a lot of areas we need to work on and Fiji FA should focus a lot on the grassroots development and plan for the future."
Cama, who plays for his district Nadogo in the premier division, is putting his money on Labasa and Ba to win the BOG.
He said defending champions Rewa remained a threat and could bounce back despite the early loss to Labasa.
Cama played for the Babasiga Lions in their last BOG win at Subrail Park in 1997.