The trial selections to identify the national soccer squad kicked off yesterday at Solomon Island Football Federation (SIFF) Academy but only 20 out of 124 players turned up.
This signals a poor start for SIFF as it tries to select the best possible squad as early as possible to prepare for the national duties.
Most of those who made their efforts are young players from Honiara team and few from the provinces.
All senior players named for the selection did not turn up but are expected to turn up for the trial on their return.
Currently senior players likes of Batram Suri, Kidston Billy, Gideon Omokirio, Alick Mamae, Eddie Ngaitini, Junior Faárodo, Richard Anisua, Stanley Waita, James Naka, Benjamin Mela, Jack Wetney, and Benjamin Totori are on international duties.
Initially the trial was supposed to be divided into 8 teams for a mini competition to test the players but poor attendence by the players forced the supervising coach Noel Wagapu to organize a mix game instead.
The first 20 players who turned up for the trial went through long hours of trial matches from 11 pm to 4pm yesterday.
Mr Wagapu said the first turn out is not quite good but he hopes as the trial continues the turn out will improve.
Solomon Islands which wa usually term as one of the 'Brazil of the Pacific' could not make it to the World Cup qualifying after they bowed out during the 2007 South Pacific Game in Apia, Samoa.
National Squad in 2004 and 2005 has set history as the most successful member in the Oceania football family.
In 2004 our squad qualified through variouse stages and eventually meets Australia in the Conferdaration Cup and World Cup qualifying in September 2005.
This archievement comes about with the support of national government, variouse stakeholders, business houses churches, fans, players and families.
By Charles Kadamana
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