BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE national futsal side will leave for Turkmenistan on Monday to attend the Fifth Asian Indoor Games.
This is four days ahead of the Games which officially kicks off in the city of Ashgabat next Saturday.
Kurukuru had named its final squad last week and the line-up includes six new faces and five old ones.
The futsal competition of the Games will run from September 16 to 26.
Solomon Islands Kurukuru have been drawn into Pool A alongside Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, HongKong and the host nation in the futsal component of the games.
Coach Sam 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 team will begin their four days journey to Turkmenistan on Monday via Fiji, Hong Kong and Thailand before reaching their destination on September 15, a day prior to the kick off.
Meanwhile, along with the Kurukuru team, two other sports are also representing Solomon Islands, as confirmed by the national Olympic governing body, the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI).
They are weightlifting and athletics.
Meet the final team.
- Anthony Talo (GK), 2. Paul Lake (GK), 3. George Stevenson, 4. Coleman Makau, 5. Samuel Osifelo, 6. Alwin Hou, 7. Albert Witney, 8. Atana Junior Fa’arodo, 9. Marlon Sia, 10. Alwin Ray, 11. Junior Kasute’e
