Courtesy: Solomon Star News


Kurukuru proved too good again

Monday, 26 July 2010

The Kurukuru National Futsal team has once again proved themselves worthy and fit to represent the country in upcoming OFC Futsal Championship in Fiji after defeating the Honiara Select side 5-3 over the weekend.

The match is the second friendly to be organised to get the team prepared for next month’s competition.

It was played at the Multipurpose Hall on Saturday.

Both teams entered the arena in front of a packed-jam hall filled spectator both young and old, men, women and children alike.

With Jack Whitney and Francis Lafai back, the spectators expected the match to be all on for the Kurukuru side, but the first half of the match proved otherwise with the Honiara Select side leading by three goals in the first half.

Young Kossa star and former Kurukuru player Sammy Osifelo stunned the Kurukuru side with his bullet shot sending the ball whistling past the Kurukuru keeper to give his side a one goal lead, seconds later he had another chances but this time the keeper was more alert.

The second goal came from Stanley Purana minutes later, then it was Osifelo again who came in for the third.

Kurukuru tried to find a way through but the Select side tightened their defense to make sure Kurukuru made no converts.

Half time arrived and spectators were left wondering if the Kurukuru boys would bring the entertaining type of game they were expecting.

After minutes of rest both teams re-entered the court of play with the select side more confident to uphold their lead and the Kurukuru boys desperate to regain confidence.

The second half started off with the select side coming so close to extending their lead but good keeping by Kurukuru keeper denied their chances.

It was Jack Whitney who opened the gates for Kurukuru after a set play by Micah and captain Elliot Ragomo which he scored placing the ball easily to the side of the post.

Micah Le’alafa scored their second followed by a sensational goal by Ragomo.

Still draw in goals Honiara selected still had confidence and made a few attempts but were unfortunate to add on to their scoreboard.

Their confidence was broken after Whitney extended Kurukuru’s lead by another two goals.

The game was wrapped up with final result 5-3.

The match was described as a tough one compared to the first friendly which ended with 10-4 still in favor of Kurukuru.

Head Coach Dickson Kadau explained to Star Sports how his boys did not perform to expectation in the first half.

“The Honiara Select got the first catch of the game and they (Select) have a very good attitude of disturbing so they took advantage of the first half,” he said.

He said Whitney and Lafai did not catch up well with the combinations in the first half but they show that they did catch up in the second half.

“We played a slightly different style we call “Patience with the ball” in the second half and it worked out for us.”

Captain Elliot Ragomo said that his side did lost concentration and were not careful in the first half.

“We lose concentration and we were not very careful so it took time to get our play back,” he said.

“I think the same thing happened to us with a game against New Caledonia, they scored first and we had to put our act together and come back in the end, to us we see it as a failure or weakness that we need to work on and avoid it from happening,” he added.


The Kurukuru side will leave next week for Fiji for the OFC Futsal Championship


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