Now they are seeking a rebirth under the guidance of new head coach Juliano Schmeling, who will lead ‘Kurukuru’ into the 2016 OFC Futsal Championship in February, where qualification to the FIFA Futsal World Cup will be on the line.
The Solomon Islands national team haven’t played a single international in the past two years, while club competitions in the country have only been run sporadically.
The OFC representatives at the last two FIFA Futsal World Cups, it was only three years ago that Kurukuru were making history as the first OFC nation to win a game at the tournament, beating Guatemala 4-3.
But of late they have dropped out of the top 95 in the world rankings altogether, and are relying on Schmeling to turn things around for them ahead of the qualifiers, which will be held in Tahiti between 6-14 February.
“For a country who has done nothing for two years having a few months to prepare is nothing,” Schmeling says of the challenge he is faced with.
“We will do our best to build it back up again for the qualifiers, but we don’t have that much time.”
The four-time OFC Futsal Championship winners’ struggles started two years ago when they managed only one win from three games at the 2013 OFC Futsal Championship Invitational, which was the last tournament they played in.
“In the past we have been the best in Oceania, but the reality of what has happened in the past two years means we can’t say that now,” says Schmeling, who worked as a technical advisor for the team at the 2012 World Cup.
“The last two qualifiers we have dominated, but the last tournament we went to in Auckland we didn’t do so well at, so there is a mental block there now.
“It’s not just one thing we have to fix, it’s reinstalling all of the processes, rebuilding the physical, tactical and mental skills.
“The reality here is that it’s a challenge. We will be focussing on all the different aspects in our preparation.
“I have a big job to do here. But I am really enjoying it, the Solomon Islands is a great place.”
The OFC Futsal Championship is expected to be hotly contested, with the likes of New Caledonia, New Zealand and Tahiti all making big strides in futsal since the last tournament.
Kurukuru secured their spot at the 2012 World Cup by going through the qualifying tournament undefeated, but Schmeling says this year will be a much tougher ask.
“I think at the moment Tahiti is a little bit ahead of everyone,” the Brazilian mentor says.
“I can see Tahiti have had the best preparation.
“Following them it’s New Zealand, because technically and tactically New Zealand and Tahiti are very close.
“In the past two or three years New Caledonia has grown as well. I know all of the coaches and players from those nations very well and they will present a big challenge.
“The Solomon Islands have very good players, technically gifted players, but these days those other countries have that too.”
For more on Solomon Islands football visit www.siff.com.sb.