BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE lone foreign inclusion into the provisional national under-19 boys’ soccer training squad will join the team next month.
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Media Officer Simon Abana confirmed on Monday.
Europe-based Marcus Chan was among the 25 players enlisted for the provisional under-19 training squad in preparation for this year’s Oceania Under-19 Championship which serves as a qualification pathway for next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland where Oceania was given two qualifying spots.
Abana said details of Chan’s travel date to Solomon Islands are still unclear but they have received assurance that he is definitely coming home to join the team in June.
The under-19 head coach Batram Suri described Chan’s addition into the team as a bonus.
“Marcus Chan’s addition to the team is a bonus for us since he is coming in with a professional way of doing things.
“He has contacted me few days ago expressing his intention of joining us for the World Cup qualifiers,” Coach Suri said.
Sixteen years old Chan is currently a member of the Valencia CF Cracks Football Academy in Spain.
Over the years, CF Cracks Academy has enjoyed close partnerships with big clubs in the Spanish La Liga such as FC Barcelona and Valencia CF.
Others who have emerged from the Cracks Academy comprise a host of La Liga stars including Spain Under-21 and Valencia defender Jose Gaya, former Liverpool star Pedro Chirivella and Inter and Valencia star Francisco Farinos.
Chan is fast becoming a star for the CF Cracks Academy U-19 team as he continues his football growth competing in the top Valencian Amateur division called Primera Regional.
The CF Cracks Academy regularly uses Chan as a model on its Facebook page and a series of videos showcasing his skills have been posted.
Meanwhile, Chan is the son of Laurie Chan who was Solomon Islands’ former Ambassador to Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan and a former Member of Parliament for West Guadalcanal.
