Kurukuru depart for Turks with high hopes

Futsal team second best ranked in Pool A behind Vietnam

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Kurukuru prior to departure for Turkmenistan on Monday

THE national futsal side had left the country for Turkmenistan yesterday to attend the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games with a lot of confidence.

The Games, which will take place in the Turkmenistan’s capital city of Ashbagat, will run from September 17 to 27. But the futsal competition will kick off early, a day prior to the official opening on September 16 and stretches to August 26.

The national futsal team, known as Kurukuru, is participating in the Games along with two other sports namely athletics and weightlifting.

Kurukuru was drawn into the futsal competition’s Group A alongside Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Chinese Hong Kong and the host nation, Turkmenistan.

According to the world futsal ranking, Solomon Islands is the second top ranked nation in Pool A sitting on the 46th position behind Vietnam (39) as from the latest table released on Sunday.

Chinese Taipei follows on 75th while Turkmenistan and Chinese Hong Kong are sitting on the 80th and the 100th position respectively.

Coach Sam Jerry they are confident to do better during the Games.

“I’m taking in a young team but I hope we will do better and come out with a better result,” he said.

Jerry had strongly indicated using the tournament as a preparation toward the 2019 Oceania Futsal Qualifiers for the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

And that was the reason why he decided to take onboard all young players so that he can be able to groom them ahead of the qualifiers.

“The young players are the future of futsal in this country and it is important we get them ready in time so that we remain competitive at all time and attempt to qualify to play in the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

“Exposing them at such competition will enhance their mentality toward competing at the top level.

“It’s a privilege working with a team who have a lot of talents and I’m confident we can deliver what is expected from us in the Asian Games,” the Kurukuru coach said.

The Kurukurus will open up their campaign in the competition this Saturday taking on Chinese Hong Kong before facing Chinese Taipei on Monday.

On Tuesday next week, they play hosts Turkmenistan while their final pool match is against Vietnam on Wednesday.

Meet the final team.