BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) technical department has named a 44-man training squad for the national under-19.
The squad was released yesterday.
In the 44-man squad, most of players were selected from the Youth Solomon Cup tournament held in January with the exception of four players namely Marist defender John Aeta, Spain-based Marcus Chan, Simon Wolfgang (Western United) and Steward Saru of Waimapuru.
Aeta is the former national under-17 captain and also a current member of the national senior side.
Chan is currently a member of the CF Cracks Academy in Valencia, Spain.
The SIFF technical department said trials will begin on March 19, which is Monday next week at 9am.
“The SIFF Technical Director and the Technical Department would like to inform all Provincial Football Associations (PFA) presidents and coaches that we are calling on all selected players from each PFAs to attend the national under-19 trials,” a statement from SIFF said.
Players named in the training squad are expected arrive in Honiara by this Sunday.
SIFF is calling on PFAs to send their players based in the provinces to Honiara for the trials.
The statement said PFAs will be responsible for meeting the transport costs of players based in the provinces – to and from Honiara.
SIFF also calls on the training squad members to bring own training gears which include boots (2 pairs), running shoes, extra socks and shin pads.
“All players must be reminded that the trial period starts as soon as the training camp starts –
19th March 2018.
“Training and trials goes for only one week – 19th March 2018 to 25th March 2018.
“All players will be observed during the one week training/trial period.
“Players must be in their best behaviour and must perform throughout the training/trial period.
“Any player(s) who does not meet the requirements during the training and trial period will not be selected.
“Players please note that the coaches and technical team can kick players out on the spot or even 2-
3 days after the training and trial period has started.
“Players who chew beetle-nut or found smoking will be kicked out immediately,” the statement said.
The national under-19 team will participate in this year’s Oceania Under-19 world cup qualifiers.
The qualifiers will take place in Tahiti from August 5 to 18.
The top winners from the qualifiers will progress to the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
The dates for the Under-20 world cup is not finalised yet by the world governing football body and so as the host country.
Two countries namely Poland and India have submitted formal bids to host the tournament.
FIFA is expected to announce the successful host after the FIFA Council meeting this Friday (Saturday Solomon Islands Time) in Bogotá, Colombia.
The National under-19 training squad
Goalkeepers:
Darwin AOMATANGI (RenBell), Junior GATU (Guadalcanal) Junior John MATA (Honiara)
Defenders:
Henfred (Malaita), Phillip POLANCOS (Makira), Richard KERA (Western), Stanford CLEMENT (Honiara), Collin LOKATA (Malaita), Raymond DAUABU (Malaita), Absolom WAWANE (Malaita), Junior AENGARI (Honiara), Sebastian AKORIU (Guadalcanal), Casper MAMAE (RenBell), Stanley RYNIKER (Honiara), Anthony RASAU (Western) and John AETA (Marist FC)
Midfielders:
William KOMASI (Malaita), Nashville HITE (Western), Clinton OTOI (Honiara), Hubert AU (Honiara), David KOESI (Guadalcanal), Simon WOLFGANG (Western Utd), Don KEANA (Honiara), Lino HOU (Guadalcanal), Alfred KAFU (Malaita), Mathew FAGONO (Malaita), Junior BAKO (Honiara), Henry RAMO (Malaita), Colton LUI (RenBell), Frank KABUI (Malaita), Martin DEPORES (Guadalcanal), Clayton MENAPA (Honiara), Milton MEKE (Central), Ian TUTU (Honiara), Steward SARU (Waimapuru), Marcus CHAN (Spain), Alfred Jr TAGINI (Makira)
Forwards:
Charles MANI (Malaita), Ali MEKAWIR (Honiara), Densley GESENI (Guadalcanal), Steve MANE (RenBell), Steve SIWA (Makira), Marlon NONONE (Real Kakamora) and Junior DAVID (Western).
