HONIARA – Alongside Fiji star Inosi Ratu Cava former Auckland City FC striker and Papua New Guinea international striker Reggie Davani is Solomon Islands first ever overseas
football import with the pair now starring for KOSSA in the Honiara-based DJ League.
Davani took time out to speak with OFC Media about his experiences in Solomon Islands, what it means to play in the OFC O-League, his opinion of the DJ League, NZFC and Telikom
NSL Cup, and the sadness of missing out on competing at the XIII South Pacific Games with the Papua New Guinea national team.
OFC Media: How many people turn up to watch the DJ League matches?
Reggie Davani: My first game for KOSSA was played on a Thursday afternoon and there was a crowd of about 6,000 at Lawson Tama Stadium – it was crazy for a
mid-week fixture. It was overwhelming the attention KOSSA attracted and it was flattering. Not many foreign players go to play in Solomon Islands and so it was a novelty to be given so much
attention by the public and media here. I only hope I can try and repay that encouragement by scoring goals for the club. The other import here at KOSSA is Inosi Ratu Cava and we both feel honoured
by the response.
OFC Media: Why did you sign for KOSSA?
Reggie Davani: Two reasons. First was because its an opportunity to play in the OFC O-League and secondly after I left Auckland City FC I thought the chance of
playing at that level again had passed me by.
When KOSSA asked me to sign, I jumped at the chance to experience a new league, with a reputation for an attacking style of play and also for the new experience.
My contract is only a short term one and that meant I could see if I liked the atmosphere before committing to something more long term.
OFC Media: Who approached you to play for KOSSA?
Reggie Davani: I got an email from my good mate Vivian Wickham who helps with the KOSSA club and also the manager Willie Lau who is part of the coaching team.
Willie said the club was committed to playing with a bit more freedom individually with the emphasis on free flowing attacking football. With Moses Toata and Jacob Moli also involved with the club
and with big reputations as former players it was an attractive prospect overall.
OFC Media: Which of the players has impressed you most in Solomon Islands?
Reggie Davani: James Naka – he has great potential and would benefit from being in a more professional environment. James has done great things for Beach
Soccer with his performances for the Bilikiki Boys at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil over the past two years. Gideon Omokirio is another player I rate highly – he has loads of experience
and is a born winner – he’s another one from the Bilikiki Boys who is a top quality footballer.
OFC Media: What comparison can you make between the standard of the DJ League and the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) or Papua New Guinea Telikom
Cup?
Reggie Davani: Well, the NZFC is more organised when you play, tactically speaking, there is a strong plan. NZFC is much more physical and probably quicker
paced. In Honiara you can’t play at that pace because the heat will get you so the build-up play is more patient. The DJ League is technically better player for player than the NZFC. In Papua New
Guinea, the Telikom Cup is similar to the DJ League – but it’s the same as the rest of the island nations; there is a need for better organisation, better tactics rather than relying on individual
talent by itself. The NZFC could benefit from a bit more flair though!
OFC Media: Which team has been the most difficult so far?
Reggie Davani: People are saying Marist FC will be tough and Makuru have made a good start, so I guess its those two clubs so far. Makuru will very
tough.
OFC Media: Is there any extra pressure in being one of the first ever imported players to a new country?
Reggie Davani: Yeah, I guess there is but I try not to let it get to me.
OFC Media: Is playing in the DJ League making up for not appearing at the XIII South Pacific Games with Papua New Guinea international team?
Reggie Davani: It does…a little…playing in the OFC O-League is a great honour and its good to share the experience with another foreign player like Inosi who
is from Fiji. We both struggled in the opening weeks of the season but we’re used to the heat and fine now.
I felt we had a good chance of making an impression in Samoa and to not get that chance hurt everybody but especially the players who missed out on the FIFA World Cup and OFC
Nations Cup.
We lost 2-1 to Solomon Islands in a friendly international just before the South Pacific Games and we didn’t field our strongest team so there was a sense of emptiness at what
might have been had we been given the chance to play in Samoa.
OFC Media: Do you play up front with James Naka?
Reggie Davani: Not really, James plays just in behind me and we do like to link up play. We’re slowly building up an understanding and its great when a move
pays off. Things were disrupted a little by James travelling to Brazil for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup but I’m positive we’ll be back on track. All the players in Solomon Islands love to attack
but that brings problems too in a general way. But we’re slowly getting there. Losing so many players to the Bilikiki Boys Beach Soccer campaign really hit our DJ League hopes.
OFC Media: How different is life and culture from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands?
Reggie Davani: There are dramatic differences! At first I thought there would be similarities but it’s the small things you notice like not being able to drink
tap water, so I use a water tank; food is really expensive and the everyday living standard is not as high. I’m not being critical or anything, its just different and the country is still
developing. The internet is fine – football is always on the radio, television and newspapers and if you’ve got Sky Pacific you can get the FA Premiership matches and other international football.
DJ League is restricted to radio coverage but football means everything to people here.
OFC Media: Can KOSSA win the O-League and/or DJ League?
Reggie Davani: Sure, but it won’t be easy. It’s the old cliché of taking it game by game. We’re confident in our own ability and we’ve got great support here
in Honiara so anything is possible.
OFC Media: What was the atmosphere like when Solomon Islands were knocked out of the XIII South Pacific Games and consequently the FIFA World
Cup?
Reggie Davani: Oh, man, you really have to be here to understand the sadness. People here cannot stand talking about the subject for too long it brings up too
many bad memories for them. KOSSA is now flying the flag for Solomon Islands football so there is some compensation for missing out on Stage 2. But it still hurts the locals.
