Puirana thanks NOCSI for green light
By Taromane Martin
HEAD Coach for the national Under-17 futsal team Mr Stanley Puirana has thanked the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) for confirming their participation at this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
NOCSI President Mr Martin Rara made the confirmation yesterday after there was uncertainty over the junior Kurukuru participation at the Youth Olympic Games.
“Hence, following the final deliberation by the NOCSI Executive Board in today’s meeting 23rd May 2018, the NOCSI Executive Board boldly agreed to send the Futsal men to compete at the Youth Olympic Games.
“The decision to pick futsal over hockey men’s is based on obvious reasons such as by merit and excellent performance, as a top number one ranked team in the Oceania, as a crowned championship in 2017 Oceania qualification event and as a competitive team at world or Olympic stage,” Mr Rara said in a statement.
Meanwhile Coach Puirana, whose side climbed back to the top of the SIPA National Futsal League yesterday, said they have been training a long time and the national futsal league has been very helpful in their preparation for the Olympic games.
“The league is really helpful towards our preparation for the YOG. Unlike previous years while I was still playing with the senior Kurukuru side where we just train, train, train and then travel to compete.
“Thank you to NOCSI for the decision they made for us to represent the country at the Youth Olympic Games,” he told SunSPORTS yesterday.
“Yes we are the champions but it is not for ourselves. It is for the nation and Oceania region as well. We will go out there and perform to a hundred and ten percent for the nation.
“We are not going to participate but we are going there to compete,” Puirana said.
