BANGKOK (OFC) --- The Kurukuru team is settling into their official accommodation in Bangkok buoyed by the news that captain Elliot Ragomo has overcome injury and will take to the court alongside his teammates at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Ragomo
was put under close supervision following the injury he sustained against
Spain, but was allowed to continue training and played in both friendly matches
against Thailand and Australia.
However there was some doubt as to whether he would make a full recovery when
he limped from the court in the match against Australia.
Ragomo has had a tough run since departing on the Kurukuru’s pre-World Cup tour
as prior to the injury he sustained against Spain he also had to deal with
malaria, which struck him soon after leaving home.
A treatment regime was started in Australia, the team’s first stop in the tour,
but it took Ragomo some time to recover and regain the weight he had lost.
Head of delegation Joseph Boso says the Kurukuru skipper deserves a lot of
credit for his fighting spirit.
“The week after his knock he was slow to get back into training but now he is
well and picking up his fitness,” Boso says.
“It was a big ask of him but given his commitment to the team it was sort of
expected that he would make a full recovery.
"The amount of courage that Elliot has is remarkable and he is greatly
admired for this. On the way to the World Cup he has had to overcome malaria
and now this injury but still he is looking forward to playing."
It has been a nerve-wracking week for the Kurukuru management who had limited
options in terms of available players, so Ragomo’s recovery has been warmly
welcomed.
Boso says with Jack Wetney and Lenson Bisili out of the campaign there was
effectively no replacement for Ragomo leaving a major attacking gap in the
team.
Several other players are also nursing minor injuries, James Egeta is
recovering from a toe injury and Samuel Osifelo and George Stevenson are
recovering from knocks, though they are all expected to be fit for the World
Cup.
Having transferred to their official accommodation at the Royal Orchid Sheraton
Hotel and Towers, the Kurukuru are looking forward to having a base close to
the training and match venues.
Team manager Mapuru Tausinga says it is a relief to settle down and get over
the feeling that they are still travelling.
“After a lot of travelling in the last couple of weeks everyone is happy that
we are now in our official home for the World Cup,” Tausinga says.
“The journey was tough for the players and the management is pleased to bring
them to this point safely as now we can focus fully on the task at hand.
Everyone from now has to go into World Cup mode – both the players and the
management.”
Tausinga
has also thanked supporters of the team, and families back home in the Solomon
Islands, and called for national unity behind the Kurukuru.
“This is now the most important period of our campaign and was asking the whole
of the Solomon Islands to be with us every step of the way.”
The FIFA Futsal World Cup opens tomorrow, November 1, while the Kurukuru’s
first match will be on Saturday November 3 against Russia.
They will then play Colombia on Tuesday November 6 followed by their final pool
match against Guatemala on Friday November 9.
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