But would love to wear the famous blue, yellow and green jersey in December’s Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu for the one last time before bidding farewell
BY ROMULUS HUTA
NATIONAL football captain Henry Fa’arodo is thinking of retiring from international football after the Pacific Mini Games this year.
The Pacific Mini Games will be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu from December 4 to 15.
Soccer is one of the codes that will be featured in the regional sporting event.
The attacking midfielder, who has 58 caps and scored 18 goals in his lengthy 15-year career donning the national jersey will consult loved ones before making this big decision.
Turning 35 on October 5, Fa’arodo said he may want to make the Mini Games as his last.
“Yes, that’s right. I have other options to take into account. For International, I would love to make the Mini Games as my last international. But again, I have to weigh up my options with the people close to me.
“But for club level, I’m still keen on playing.
“I’m still thinking about it. I have to sit down and speak to my wife, my dad and the people that matters in my life right now,” he told SunSPORTS in an interview yesterday.
Fa’arodo first debuted for the national senior soccer side at the age of 20 during the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup held in Auckland, 2002.
His international debut a decade and a half ago was marked with a goal in the 6-1 loss to hosts, New Zealand.
Since then, he had become a main stayer in the national team until this week’s world cup qualifying match against New Zealand where coach Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso greatly acknowledged his tireless efforts on the pitch.
Commenting on his performances in the two-legged fixture against New Zealand in the Stage 3 Final of the Oceania World Cup Qualifier for Russia 2018 where Solomon Islands lost 8-3 on aggregate, Alonso described Fa’arodo as the best in Solomon Islands.
“Henry played a wonderful game.
“But I told him, you don’t have many international matches left to play, you are 35 years old.
“This is his last year playing he told me. He was wonderful.
“He was the best there. He did wonderful work here. He didn’t do any mistakes. He didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. He has worked and worked very hard as a wonderful skipper,” Alonso told reporters after the game.
Yesterday, Fa’arodo posted on his facebook page of being thankful for the football talent he have.
“Thank you lord for giving me football.
“I would like to take this time to say a very big thank you to my comrades – the senior national team – for the tireless efforts you have sacrificed for our beautiful game.
“We have been through it all. I am so honoured and blessed to be part of the journey.
“I will always cherish these moments.
“To our families – thank you for your continuous support and positiveness you have given us all through this journey.
“I have been blessed to be wearing the ‘blue, yellow, and green’.
“I have given everything, I have never left any stone unturned.
“I have been there, done that. I have no regrets.
“All I have now is pride for this country of ours. Go solo, Go. My love, my pride. Again, all praise and glory to you Our God,” he stated in the post.
While the campaign to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is now over for Fa’arodo and Solomon Islands, a final honourable opportunity to don the national jersey for a one last time already awaits him in the Pacific Mini Games in December where he will try to help Solomon Islands win gold in the football competition in bidding farewell to the famous blue, yellow and green jersey.
