The announcement follows a month of trials and training which saw the original 76 players downsized to 27 and then to 25, the size of the final squad.
A total 20 players are named in the
contingent that will travel while five are home-based reserves.
The final list was presented to the SIFF
general secretary on Friday but the list was held up until the position of team
manager was filled.
A decision was then made to appoint
Gideon Omokirio as the team manager and Batram Suri was called in to assist Luke
Eroi who is the confirmed head coach for the team.
Head of the selection panel Noel Wagapu said
that the selectors have come up with a very good squad from a generation of
skilled soccer players and he is confident about the prospects of Solympics in
the upcoming competition.
“There are very good players in the Solympics
team and I believe that they are the right bunch to represent Solomon Islands
at the qualifying competition.
“We worked with top class players
throughout the trials and in the squad are the best of the best in Solomon Islands,”
Wagapu said.
Interestingly no overseas based players
have been named in the final squad despite several worthy candidates attracting
attention from New Zealand.
Team manager, Gideon Omokirio, says that
the management is thoroughly satisfied with the quality of players currently in
the squad and they are more interest in team rather than individual talent.
“In this squad we have selected players
whom we are able to monitor on a daily basis, hence, we know how best to
utilise them in the team. We have good players overseas but it is a matter of team,”
Omokirio said.
Silas Seda has been named as the first
choice goalkeeper while his second is Peter Kiriau. The duo held goalkeeping
positions in the same order in the 2011 national U-20 team. Seda and Kiriau are
Telekom S-League regulars as number one goalkeeper for their clubs. Former
LEARN&play students, Polycarp Bonave, is named as the non-travelling
reserve goalkeeper along with Samson Koti.
Israel Koti, Francis Lafai and Emmanuel
Poila join the experienced trio of Freddie Kini, Christopher Tafoa and Michael
Boso in the defence section. A key feature of this line-up is height and Poila,
Tafoa and Boso are expected to mount a strong aerial defence against teams like
New Zealand
who often break through defences with long floating passes.
Hana’s energetic midfielder Jeffery
Henry is among the players named in the most crucial department in the team. His
strong ability as a utility midfielder found great favour with selectors and
the former futsal player is expecting his first cap for his country in the
qualifiers. Another interesting decision in the department is the inclusion of Tutizama
Tanito as a midfielder. Tanito is known widely as a striker but in this team he
has been picked in favour of his qualities as a wing player rather than as a
goal scorer.
No U-20 made the list of strikers as
fierce competition from older and more experienced players saw them exit in the
trials stage. Solomon Bonitos striker Ian Paia and futsal maestro Micah
Lea’alafa join Carroll Kakate and Tony Otini in this department in a bid by the
management to utilise the experience of these players to get the goals.
OFC last week conducted the draws for
the men’s Olympic qualifier and Solympics are grouped along with Fiji, American Samoa
and Vanuatu.
New Zealand have a much more
easier path in Group B where they are grouped with Papua
New Guinea and Tonga. The Solympics first match is
on Friday 16th March against Fiji.
Goalkeepers
1. Silas SEDA - Solomon Warriors
2. Peter KIRIAU - Hana
3. Polycarp BONAVE - Marist Fire (non-travelling reserve)
4. Samson Koti - KOSSA (non-travelling reserve)
Defenders
1. Freddie KINI - Koloale
2. Christopher TAFOA - Solomon Warriors
3. Emmanuel POILA - Solomon Warriors
4. Francis LAFAI - Koloale
5. Michael BOSO - Western United
6. Israel Fanai KOTI - Koloale
7. Michael Sira - KOSSA (non-travelling reserve)
Midfielders
1. Jeffery HENRY - Hana
2. Augustine SAMANI - Koloale
3. Himson TELEDA - Western United
4. Moffat KILIFA - Western United
5. Jeffery BULE - Solomon Warriors
6. Tutizama TANITO - Marist Fire
7. Jerry Lou DONGA - Solomon Warriors
8. Johan DOIWALE - Real Kakamora
9. Remarx KWARIA - Hana (non-travelling reserve)
10. Molis GAGAME - Koloale (non-travelling reserve)
Forwards
1. Ian PAIA - Koloale
2. Micah LEA’ALAFA - Solomon Warriors
3. Karol KAKATE - Solomon Warriors
4. Tony OTINI - Hana
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