Courtesy:
Solomon Star NewsFutsal champ underwayWednesday, 31 March 2010The Our Telekom National Futsal Championship after the official opening ceremony which was held Monday at Lawson Tama Stadium.
Six (6) of the 10 teams in the competition participated in the brief opening ceremony. The other teams were not able to attend the ceremony after arriving late in Honiara.
Malaita Football Association’s second team, Auki Futsal Club, arrived late in the afternoon on Monday and consequently missed the opening ceremony.
The competition is expected to be even given that each team is only allowed to field up to 2 futsal national team players.
This effectively balances out the level of strength amongst the teams and gives the provincial sides a much less steeper experience curve.
Makira Ulawa were a late inclusion after Isabel Frigates withdrew one of its teams from the competition.
The reason for Isabel Frigates withdrawal of their second team was not stated. However, Makira Ulawa which has great interest and promise in futsal is expected to be one of the teams to watch.
A Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) appointed National Team Selection Panel will be scouting for potential national team players during the competition.
Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Manager, Scott Gilligan, will be assisting the team.
Gilligan will also run coaching program after the tournament for the participating teams’ coaches and other coaches who have registered with the SIFF office for the course.
Competition matches will continue throughout the week except on Friday which is the competition rest day. The Our Telekom National Futsal Championship finals will be played on Saturday. Entrance fees: Grandstand $5-00 Hillside Adults $3-00 Hillside Children $2-00
Pool Draws:
Group A: Makira Ulawa ,Auki, Guadalcanal Scorpion, KOSSA Marist
Group B: Isabel Frigates ,Guadalcanal Spider, Koloale, Afio, Frigates
Courtesy:
Solomon Star NewsOne touch our problemWednesday, 31 March 2010by
Charles KadamanaSolomon Islands have plenty of execellent individual skills and talented soccer players but the problem is keeping the ball too long before passing it.
Thats the view of Win In Oceania Futsal Project Manager Scott Gilligan who is currently in the country assisting local national team selection panel to select a national Futsal team.
Mr Gilligan who also did the same assistence to other Pacific island countries said Solomon Islands has alot of talented players who posses skills and technique, which are far beyound compared to other pacific countries.
"But the problem here is that players hold on to the ball more than three times or even up to six or eight before passing the ball," he said.
Mr Gilligan said in the international level the mininum is 2-3 touches to keep the game moving.
Beyond that the biggest problem here is there is no proper court for the futsal game.
He said that once Solomon Island has the proper court for futsal game it will be well ahead because the players train everyday here.
When asked how many players he is identifying in the first day yesterday he said only seven players.
And the best team he sees is Marist team because they play a very simple game and very smart in moving the game.
He said if he is to select the national team he is looking at selecting 20 players and four goal keepers.
Gilligan will also run coaching program after the tournament for the participating team’s coaches and other coaches who have registered with the SIFF office.
Meanwhile the Our Telekom National Futsal Championship kicks off to a high note yesterday featuring eight matches.
Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
