Selection was tough: Suri

BY ROMULUS HUTA

The National under 19 head coach Batram Suri

THE national under-19 head coach Batram Suri says they faced a lot of difficulty in selecting the best out of the 146 players who attended the trials in their preparation for next week’s OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti.

Speaking to the media in yesterday’s press conference in Honiara, Suri said things have been tough for their coaching team since they started off with the trials in March due to the equal qualities all players possesses.

“During our preparation, we found it tough to do selection and we have to consider the criteria accorded for the selection.

“It’s not easy for us during the selection because from 102 players in the open try out plus another 44 players from the Youth Solomon Cup, things were tough.

“We continued to work on it until we reached the final selection.

“The final selection was also tough for me as this is my first time incharge of any national soccer team at the youth level.

“Me and my assistant are lucky that we have someone who works closely with us, helping us sort out issues in our preparation. He is the Technical Director,” Suri expressed.

The under-19 side left the country yesterday for Tahiti.

While speaking of the high confidence and the good spirit they have in their camp, Suri described that their participation would best come under the ‘underdog’ status.

“Going into the competition, Solomon Islands is a team to fear and beat.

“But I must say we are going in under the ‘underdog’ status but most of all going out to make a challenge for a win.

“If we cannot win and make it through then we have to work on something about it,” Suri stressed.

Suri also states the pleasure of having a quality team which possesses players going at the same level.

“All of our players are at the same level.

“We have identified few players which we believe they can make the difference especially in the midfield and the strikers.

“But the most important thing is team work from the back and up to the front. I don’t see any special player in the team but I consider all of them as equal.”

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