ARRIVAL OF VANUATU ADDS COLOUR TO CELEBRATIONS

The arrival of the Vanuatu Senior National Soccer team this afternoon will add colour to the country’s independence anniversary celebrations.

Sun Sport caught up with the Vanuatu Head Coach Malas Williams shortly after they arrived at the Honiara International Airport Henderson field and asked him what his thoughts are about the competition.

“We are excited about this new competition because it will help us to be competitive. In the past we have not had enough international matches so it affected our performance,” he said.

Williams revealed to Sun Sports that only 18 players traveled with him. The other two will arrive on Friday ahead of their opening match on Saturday.

According to him, it was a tough call to participate in this competition having just returned from New Caledonia.

However, he said they agreed to come despite financial difficulties because of the importance of this competition.

“As you know, we’ve just returned from Noumea and financially it was difficult for us. Anyway, the important thing about this trip is the birth of new competition which will eventually become a major event in our region,” he added.

When asked if the team he brought over was the same one that lost to New Caledonia he said only half of them are retained. The others are new players.

Missing in this trip is Vanuatu’s rising midfield player Francois Sakama, Richard Iwai and Ettiene Mermer.

However, Malas will be banking on the experience of his captain Moise Poida and his generals to lift Vanuatu’s flag in the competition.

The Vanuatu national team will play its first match against the Solympic on Saturday before it takes on Solomon Bonito in its finals match on Monday 7th July.

The winner of the competition will receive a trophy and substantial amount of money as cash prize.

Meanwhile, soccer fans and supporters are being urged to turn up in numbers at Lawson Tama to watch the international matches starting this Thursday.

The two local sides; Solomon Bonito and Solympics will tussle in the opening match while Vanuatu is bye.