Squad flies end of month

 

 

THE Solomon Islands national under-17 boys’ soccer team will be finalized Monday next week according to Head Coach Marhlon Houkarawa.

The country’s national Under-17 squad will then leave for Brisbane Australia on January 27 to play more friendly matches as part of their preparations for the upcoming Oceania U-17 championship in Tahiti next month.

Houkarawa said the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is currently working on arranging these three international friendly matches for the squad.

He also adds that the squad is also planning on having some more friendly matches at Lawson Tama with TSL champions Marist FC and Western United FC before taking off for the tournament.

“The team will depart to Brisbane on January 27. There will be three oversea friendlies planned for 31st January, 3rd and 6th February against youth teams in Brisbane, Australia.

“SIFF will arrange these matches for us. The U17 team will then travel to Tahiti on 8th February. Our schedules of matches are as seen on the OFC website, our first game against Fiji is on Sunday 12th February,” he said.

Houkarawa says they have drawn up a strategic plan for their campaign with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup.

“I have drawn up a strategic plan for the campaign and our ultimate vision is to qualify for the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup.

“Our goals are to develop competent individuals training them to have good technical and tactical skills plus to be also physically and mentally fit.

“Second is to develop a competent team that has good understanding and execution of roles of each division within the team and to create a good understanding and execution of the team model

“Our third goal is to reach the semi-final stage. Therefore we aim to at least get a win against Fiji team. Get a draw or Win against NZ team and beat the Samoa team and lastly to win the semifinals,” he said.

The head coach said they started the campaign in late October and the focus was to start right from the basics and work their way up, starting with improving basic individuals skills and as well as physical fitness.

Solomon Islands is pooled together with Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand in Group B whilst New Caledonia, PNG, Tahiti and Vanuatu are pooled in Group A.

Two top winners from each group will advance to the semi-finals and then winners of these two semi-finals will book their place in the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup in India later this year.

Upcoming friendly matches for the national U-17 team are as follows:

Saturday January 7 plays a NSL Select Team which will be looked after by Commins Menapi.

Wednesday 11 January and Saturday January 21 takes on champion’s league reps Western United FC

Saturday January 14 and Wednesday January 18 takes on TSL Champions Marist FC

All friendlies are proposed for Lawson Tama at 4pm.