With just a month to go before the 2025 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup kicks off in Papua New Guinea from November 10 to 22, the Solomon Islands senior men’s national football team is stepping up preparations with the focus on winning back the title.
The Solomon Islands last won the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in 2023, defeating hosts New Caledonia 1-0 in the final.
Speaking to the media ahead of their historic clash with Isuzu UTE A-League outfit Brisbane Roar on Saturday, Solomon Islands head coach Josh Smith said the friendly will be a key step towards their campaign next month.
“For us leading into the MSG Cup, full focus is about implementing our ideas and being ready for the tournament to take back the title. So this opportunity to play against Brisbane is a massive test and we know what we’re up against,” he said.
“But I think we need to challenge ourselves, we need to play opposition of a higher level if we want to progress forward, so I believe that after these interactions and engagements, and the match that we play with Brisbane, it will set us up nicely for the team to be ready to travel to PNG and reclaim the title.”
The Solomon Islands’ last international match was a 3-1 defeat to Fiji in December 2024 during the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup held in Honiara.
Coach Smith said he is excited to lead the team again after almost nine months without an international game.
“When you move from club football to international football, it has been a long time since our last match which we lost to Fiji in December.
“So that’s been playing in my head for a while and we are super excited to just get back out on the park and play games,” he said.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
