Courtesy: Solomon Star News


FIFA commend Solomons futsal

Friday, 13 February 2009

A FIFA official had praised Solomon Islands for making the Futsal World Cup last year.

FIFA Development Officer Glen Turner uttered the commendation at Fiji Football Association's ground breaking ceremony for its academy in Vatuwaqa, Suva, Wednesday this week.

Solomon Islands, though without proper futsal training facility, proved the odds and made their way into regional and international arena.

The Solomon Islands national U-14 futsal team recently featured in the 30th Australian National Futsal Championship in Canberra, competing against Australian state opponents.

Last year, Solomon Islands humiliated Fiji in round robin play to win the Oceania Futsal qualifiers for a historical appearance in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Turner, a chief guest at the ceremony, said building training facilities and academies does not guarantee the results the people of Fiji want from its national team.

He said the Fiji FA's academy in Ba was one of the best maintained facilities in the world but at the same time expressed disappointment at the state women's soccer in Fiji.

"I'm disappointed there is less women and more men here. This facility is dedicated to the region's women and youths, and not national teams. There is no guarantee if this academy will contribute to the success of the national team."

"It will provide support for the national team and if you develop football properly then results will come," the Fiji times quoted him saying.

Turner said for a successful Fiji team, a strong domestic national competition was a must.

"To those Futsal officials who are here, you must ensure the game is in the national program and not remain recreational," he said.

Fiji FA boss Dr Mohammed Shams-ud Dean Sahu Sahu Khan said the first stage of construction work on the six-acre land at Karsanji Bhindi Park would start next month.

"We'll finalise the tenders by March 15 and construction should start straight after," Khan said








Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com