Friendly match this Saturday.

 

SOLOMON Islands will name their final 18-man squad for Tahiti Monday next week Team Manager Eddie Omokirio said.

The final squad will travel to play Tahiti Thursday next week in their first away game of the OFCs third stage FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers next month.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday Interim Team Manager Eddie Omokirio confirmed most of the players were selected from the Telekom S-League (TSL) and the two recent friendly matches with New Caledonia.

As part of their preparation the national squad this Saturday will be playing a friendly match with one of the top clubs in the TSL at Lawson Tama.

Currently a training squad of 24 players are camped at the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Academy at Panatina training in the mornings and evening and will be trimmed to the final 18 after the friendly match.

“We are yet to get response from KOSSA FC and Malaita Kingz FC team managements for the friendlies but we hope to play two,” Mr Omokiro said.

“Most of the players are selected from the TSL and the squad’s two recent friendly matches with New Caledonia.

“We have been monitoring players and their performances in the TSL and their commitments towards training. Because we do not want to risk injury the final squad will be named Monday next week”, he adds.

Tahiti who released their final squad list for next month’s match will be tough but Solomon Islands will be out to gain maximum results, Henry Fa’arodo who is expected to wear the armband for the national team once more said.

“The first two matches are always important. All the players know how hard it is going to be with only six games however our aim is to get a good result.

“The away game is very important and our aim is to get maximum points of six from our first two games,” Fa’arodo said.

Solomon Islands will host Tahiti in the home match at Lawson Tama on November 13.