No words to describe how the team feels about the support they receive at home
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
Solomon Kings FC head coach Ben Cahn has expressed his appreciation to the thousands of supporters who turned out to back the home side during their OFC Pro League Round Four matches on home soil in Honiara.
Speaking to the media after their 1-1 draw with South Melbourne on Thursday, in the final fixture of an electric Round Four, Cahn emphasized that there are no words to describe how the team feels about the support they receive at home.
“I think the bigger picture is really special. I think we did something amazing tonight and it’s the start of a great journey for Solomon Islands football. Amazing crowd, amazing. There aren’t really words to describe how grateful we are and how welcome we feel being here,” he said.
The Englishman was disappointed not to secure maximum points in front of the home support against South Melbourne but stated that the team did enough to get the win.
“I’m disappointed for everybody that came to the stadium and everybody watching at home that we couldn’t get the three points,” he added.
“It’s hard, so many things happened in the game, it’s hard to process it all now and there’s a lot of emotion, but my feeling is we probably did enough to win that, we had a lot of chances.
“Fortunately we weren’t able to take them and they got that goal at the end and it hurts a lot.”
In front of a sold-out National Stadium, the home side took the lead just before halftime through Javin Wae and held on for most parts of the match.
South Melbourne, however, found the equaliser deep into additional time, with both sides sharing the spoils.
Cahn said the local support had a huge impact on the players and hopes for more similar nights in the future.
“The impact they had on the players, they pushed us on and the boys wanted so much to win for the crowd tonight and it’s a shame that we didn’t get the three points, but they were amazing and I hope that every time we’re back here we can build nights like this again,” he added.
The coach also highlighted that the new professional league in the region provides a clear pathway to professional football for young players in the country.
“We’ve spent time driving through Honiara, we’ve spent time in the schools and you can see so many talented young players just kicking the ball around in the street and in their school.
“I think the biggest thing to come from all of this, you put the results aside, is it shows everybody here that there’s a clear professional pathway in the Solomon Islands and it’s an amazing thing to have,” he said.
“I would imagine that most young boys in the Solomon Islands at the moment are going to bed tonight dreaming of playing in nights like this in the future.”
Cahn also stressed the importance of playing in a way that reflects the identity of Solomon Islands football.
“It’s really important for me and for the players that we play in a way that is appealing for them to play and reflects the identity of the Solomon Islands.
“When you walk around, when you drive around, everybody’s technical, there’s so many skills so we want to play in a way that reflects that and brings that to life on the pitch,” he added.
A loss and a draw for the Kings in the Round Four circuit has seen them drop to fourth on the standings, with 15 points from 11 matches.
Ahead of the fifth round circuit in Fiji next month, Cahn said the team will fight to ensure they finish in the top four.
“If you told me at the start of the season that we’d be going into the last three games, the last circuit in Fiji in the top four, I’d be happy.
“Before we played a game here we said, look if we leave Honiara in the top four, that’s a success and we believe that we’ve got what it takes to go to Fiji and win the games we need to win to make sure that we finish in the top four,” he added.
Meanwhile, following the conclusion of Round Four in Honiara, Auckland FC still maintain their lead at the top of the table with 23 points from 10 matches. South Melbourne remain in second place with 19 points from 10 matches.
A brace of wins in Honiara has also seen Bula FC climb to third place, sitting above the Kings on goal difference.
