Courtesy: Solomon Star News


KURUKURU SPREAD THEIR WINGS FOR LIBYA

By Philip Lilomo

Saturday, 03 October 2009

Solomon Islands National Futsal Team ‘Kurukuru’ have spread their wings and flied out of the country yesterday to participant in the Alfateh Continental Futsal Cup in Libya where they are expected to fly with the country’s national flag with pride.

The Alfateh Futsal Cup is an invitational tournament, approved by FIFA, where the top futsal playing nation from each FIFA Confederation will compete from 5-11 October for a winner’s cheque of $69,978 (NZD).

The less successful teams won’t be left empty handed either, the last placed national team will walk away with $13,994 (NZD).

Kurukuru is a team made up of teenagers but with big hearts and love for the game, something Team manager Mapuru Tausinga refused to take away from the young stars.

“They are confident because they have been together for a long time.

“These boys have been playing together since they were kids so their sense of togetherness is incredible”, he said before their departure.

Kurukuru captain Elliot Ragomo is just happy the team will be playing in Libya and says they are ready for the challenge.

“We have given our all in training and looking forward to play in the championship.

We got there to compete not participate”, he said.

Samson Faisi representing the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) who is travelling with the boys said the boys are confident of making it to the top during the trip.

The young Oceania Futsal kings will go into this tournament as clear underdogs but keeping in mind the value of such experience by playing against the best in the world stage.

Win In Oceania Futsal Instructor Scott Gilligan sees this as a perfect test for the Kurukuru to see how far they have come since their initiation at the highest level and to see how much they still need to improve.

In an interview with Oceania Football Federation (OFC) Gilligan said it is also an opportunity for some of the squad members to stand up individually and showcase their phenomenal skills on a world stage.

The two year OFC Futsal champions were invited to the lucrative tournament by the Libyan Football Federation with most of the major expenses for the trip generously covered by the host Federation.

The Alfetah Futsal Cup will be played under a two group round robin format with the top two qualifiers from each group playing off in seeded knock-out semifinals to determine the finalists. The bottom two teams will play-off to determine fifth and sixth placings.

The Cup field consists of: Guatemala, Iran, Libya, Solomon Islands, Spain and Uruguay (Brazil had to withdraw).


Scott Gilligan is the Win In Oceania Futsal instructor and former Australian national Futsal team coach.

Gilligan has also spent some time with the Kurukuru team.

Here’s what Gilligan had to say about the team when inter viewed by OFC

OFC – Scott in your own words can you explain to our readers why this invitation and opportunity is so valuable to the Solomons Futsal team?
After the Kurukuru qualified for last year's World Cup the team learnt valuable lessons from their matches in Brazil against seasoned international opposition. That same squad demonstrated they had learnt from that 2008 World Cup campaign by their hugely dominant performance at the OFC Futsal Championship this year - they were much better in defence, they were more clinical in attack and they rectified their main deficiency by bringing in a more senior goalkeeper.
I see this as a perfect test for the Kurukuru to see how far they have come since their initiation at the highest level and to see how much they still need to improve. It is also an opportunity for some of the squad members to stand up individually and showcase their phenomenal skills on a world stage.

OFC – What do you expect from the other teams participating at the Alfateh Cup?
This invitation will see them take on the best country from each Confederation. So like the World Cup, there will be some extremely tough matches for the Kurukuru. But it should also be noted that Iran have proven that they have improved massively and are on the brink of breaking the top two (Brazil and Spain) countries’ dominance of this code. Both Guatamala and Libya have also proven that they take futsal seriously and their recent performances have shown that they too are starting to get closer to the powerhouses.

OFC - What do you think the team should be expecting to achieve and what do they most need to improve on at this tournament?
Realistically they shouldn't be expecting to win the tournament, however, I would hope that they can further improve their defensive play. While Spain clearly stands-out as the formidable opponents, all the international teams that the Kurukuru come up against in Libya will be fast and very dangerous in attack.




Courtesy: Solomon Star News


Frangipani Ice helps Kurukuru

Saturday, 03 October 2009

FRANGIPANE Ice ice-cream company yesterday (Thursday) supported the National Futsal Team with a $10,000 donation and equipment towards its preparation for the Alfateh Intercontinental Championship in Libya.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) General Secretary, Eddie Ngava, thanked Frangipani Ice saying the federation is happy to see a prominent business house take the initiative to support the team.

“‘In light of the tough economic times it is heartening to see a company like Frangipani Ice have the courage to support the team.”

Ngava explained that such support is very important for the morale of the players.

Frangipani Ice Managing Director, Marilyn Ronia, that her company is very happy to support the National Futsal Team.

“We will continue our support for sports and for Kurukuru in the future,” Ronia added.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Kurukuru Captain, Elliot Ragomo said that this show of support from Frangipani Ice is a very big boost for the team.

He added the assistance is unexpected so the boys are extremely thankful and happy.

The popular ice-cream company is the major sponsor of the National Futsal Team.

Kurukuru will leave 3:45pm this (Friday) afternoon.

In the meantime, Diane Justus and Christopher Asipara will also be leaving tomorrow to attend a FIFA Women's coaching course in New Zealand.

Waiia will head to Noro and Viru in the Western Province on Sunday to conduct some futsal coaching and refereeing programs.







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