Courtesy: Solomon Star News


Kurukuru prepare for Oceania cup

Thursday, 12 March 2009

KURUKURU will fly Solomon Islands flag once more when teams from Oceania converge in Fiji to compete for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship Cup this year.

And the Solomon Islands Football Federation’s (SIFF) Small Sided Games Development officer, Victor Wai’ia, is taking no chances to prepare a strong side to defend the country’s position.

Already, 21 players have been selected and named in the futsal training squad for the Oceania Futsal Championship Cup this year.

The visiting Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Development Officer Scott Gilligan helped identified the players.

Gilligan, who has wide experience in coaching futsal, also assisted in their preparation for the futsal championship.

His contribution, including the futsal coaching programme, reflects his desire and vision to spread futsal gospel.

Gilligan, a renowned Australian Futsal coach before taking up the job with the OFC, is keen to see futsal develop in all the island countries.

Wai’ia said those selected into the training squad have been attending training sessions since the team was called together late in January.

“The futsal boys or Kurukuru as they are referred to, will undergo intensive preparation before a final team of 12 players is named,” he said.

Solomon Islands have been highly rated in the Oceania region following their success at the OFC futsal qualifiers in Fiji last year the Futsal World Cup in Brazil.

Having recorded a historic world appearance, the Solomon Kurukuru must work hard to retain their position.

Tahiti and Vanuatu are expected to give the young Kurukuru’s a run for their money at this competition.

Although the country has no proper futsal training facilities, the Kurukuru had proved the odds and made their way into regional and international arena.

The squad members are: Moffat Sikwa’ae, Ron Ginio, Jack Whetney, Elliot Ragomo, James Egeta, Francis Lafai, Alfred Pamoana, Stanley Puairana, Micah Lea’alafa, Philip Houtarau, Jenan Kapu, McPhilip Aisa, Mathias Saru, George Stevenson, Robert Laua, Goerge Qaqa, Benjamin Kiko, Paul Huia, Junior Lioka, Junior Koti and Junior Kogua.

In related news, Fiji Football Association’s FUTSAL commission has named a strong 25 member training squad for the futsal championship.

The squad was named end of February and have commence training under Coach Intiaz Khan.

The training programme continues till the championship in July.

Fiji FutsalSecretary Jainendra Sukhu said the commission decided to name a squad early so the team prepares well for the tournament.

“Fiji is hosting the championship and needs to field a competitive and strong team therefore we have named our squad early so they can have the best preparation,” he said.

The players have been selected based on their performance in the first open club championship in Suva. Other players that impress in the western competition last month were also considered for the national team.

“Futsal is a very popular and fast growing sport in the Oceania region and teams have a lot of benefits of competing in the sport, as the winners of the regional playoffs automatically qualify for the World stage competitions,” Sukhu added.







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