A Soccer fanatic and supporter of the national squad has acknowledged the move made by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) to start early preparations for the senior men and women squad for international competition.
Stanton Pazaka, a student residing in Gizo said that he still is a strong supporter of the national squad which recently bowed out of the South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. A result which disqualified the Solomon’s from participating in the Oceania World Cup qualifiers.
He added that the recent drop by Solomon Islands in the FIFA rankings is a wake up call for the country and SIFF to pull it self up.
“With the South Pacific Games coming up next year, its time to start preparing the team”, Mr Pazaka, who is soccer player himself added.
SIFF last week announced that preliminary preparations for the Men and Women's National Teams to participate in the 2011 South Pacific Games are starting this month.
The SIFF General Secretary, Eddie Ngava, said a training squad has been selected from the Solomon Cup tournament in November last year.
The final list of the 25 selected players for the Men's and the Women's national teams will be released soon.
There are two international matches for the men's national team this year.
In July the National Team will travel to Vanuatu for the second edition of the Wantok Cup.
The first edition was held in Honiara in July 2008.
The second international Senior National Team will play against an Oceania Football Confederation All Star side.
This is part of the FIFA Football for Hope program. The match will be played to raise funds for Goldie College Secondary School to assist in their efforts to purchase a new generator. It is also a good opportunity to try out the national team players.
The national women's team will be playing in the OFC Nation's Cup tournament in September and this will add to their preparation for the South Pacific Games.
Mr Pazaka called on SIFF to release the list soon and allow the squad to resume its training.
He said Solomon Islands must regain its soccer status in the region this year and next year.
Solomon Islands previously rubbed shoulders with the Australian Socceroos some years back after drawing with them in Australia, in the qualifiers but lost during a return match in Honiara.
By MOFFAT MAMU
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