HONIARA – Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has named an enlarged 64-man squad for the forthcoming Wantok Cup competition to be played during the Solomon Islands Anniversary week celebrations.

Solomon Islands has not played a full international since September 2007’s shock XIII South Pacific Games defeat to Vanuatu in Apia.

With the opportunity to play international matches so rare since being eliminated from the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Oceanian Zone Qualifiers, SIFF will enter two teams to ensure their domestic-based players gain as much experience on the international stage as possible.

The 64 players will be divided into two teams – Solomon Islands A and Solomon Islands B – for the purposes of development.

Successful Kossa FC coach Jacob Moli and his assistant Moses Toata will take the reins of Solomon Islands B with Solympic coach Luke Eroi and his assistant Masuaku Valere Rex in charge of Solomon  Islands A.

Vanuatu will be favoured to turn in a strong performance following its two recent 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Oceanian Zone Qualifiers against New Caledonia.

Papua New Guinea has not played a full international since July last year when it lost 2-1 to Solomon Islands at Lawson Tama Stadium. Prior to that match, Papua New Guinea had not played any type of international football at senior level since 2004 when it beat Samoa 4-1 in an OFC Nations Cup match.

One notable name missing from the Solomon Islands squad list is that of Portland Timbers striker Benjamin Totori who recently left New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) champions Waitakere United for the American A League.

Another surprise absentee is former Youngheart Manawatu midfielder Alick Maemae. Maemae played three seasons in the NZFC before returning to the Solomon Islands domestic football late last year.

The lightening quick and talented Maemae blotted his copybook in his last two international appearances for both the senior international team in Samoa and Solympics U-23 international team in Fiji when he was red carded in big matches against New Caledonia and New Zealand.

Maemae was also red carded at the National Clubs Championship recently and the view shared by local observers is that a rest on the sidelines will allow the player to review his disciplinary problem.

Veteran striker Batram Suri has left Solomon Islands to take up a short term contract with Ferrymead Bay in New Zealand and is also unavailable. 

Solomon Islands international players based in Australia and New Zealand such as George Suri, Henry Fa’arodo and Stanley Waita have been overlooked for selection in favour of blooding more locally based talent.  

The four team competition which will feature Solomon Islands A and Solomon Islands B, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu in a tournament reminiscent of the now defunct Melanesian Cup.

The Melanesian Cup was first played for in 1988 with Fiji winning five titles, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu all winning one.  

THE WANTOK CUP – HONIARA 2008 

Tuesday July 3rd

Solomon Islands A vs. Solomon Islands B

Vanuatu vs. Papua New Guinea

Saturday July 5th

Solomon Islands A vs. Vanuatu

Solomon Islands B vs. Papua New Guinea

Monday July 7th

Solomon Islands B vs. Vanuatu

Solomon Islands A vs. Papua New Guinea 

SOLOMON ISLANDS SQUAD:

Goalkeepers 

1. John MORGAN (Kossa FC); 2. Shadrock RAMONI (Koloale FC); 3. Leon LEKEZOTO (Makuru FC); 4. Navusu KITU (Kokohale FC).

Defenders

5. Mahlon HOUKARAWA (Koloale FC); 6. Hardis AENGARI (Uncles FC); 7. Martin RUHASIA (Marist FC); 8. Steven RIQEO (Brothers FC); 9. Arnold KENI (Marist FC); 10. Stanton HULA (Vatu FC); 11. Batu FURAI  (Uncles FC); 12. Edward KAIRI (Kossa FC); 13. David HOUPERE (Marist FC); 14. Timothy JOE (Koloale FC); 15. Jeffery BULE (Koloale FC); 16. Berry QALOKALE (Makuru FC); 17. Gibson DAUDAU (Uncles FC); 18. Welshman HOU (Koloale FC); 19. Seni NGAVA (Kossa FC); 20. Nelson SALE (Makuru FC); 21. Mathew OKAMAE (Koloale FC).

Midfielders

22. Mahlon MAEMANIA (Kossa FC); 23. Judd MOLEA (Uncles FC); 24. Richard MAMA (IC Rovers FC); 25. Lenson BISILI (Kokohale FC); 26. Fulton TEMOA (Uncles FC); 27. Ian NGAHU (Uncles FC); 28. Patrick MINITI (Marist FC); 29. Philip MISIBINI (Marist FC); 30. Leonard ROKOTO (Lagoon Brothers FC)l 31. Richard ANISUA (Koloale FC); 32. Mostyn BEUI (Koloale FC); 33. Lency SAENI (Koloale FC); 34. Moffat KILIFI (Makuru FC); 35. Andrew WAIMORA (Fasi Roo FC); 36. John WAYNE (Marist FC); 37. Priestly FUTA (Koloale FC); 38. Trevor SUINAO (Fasi Roo FC); 39. Stephen SIKOU (Uncles FC); 40. Kennedy UNGA (Sunbeam FC); 41. Paul WALE (Kossa FC); 42. Ken TONGA (Kossa FC); 43. Joachim WAROI (Marist FC).

Strikers

44. Commins MENAPI (Makuru FC); 45. Godwin BEUBEU (Kokohale FC); 46. Kluivert DAGI (IC Rovers FC); 47. Billy OLOMANI (Uncles FC); 48. Nathan KERA (Kokohale FC); 49. Lawrence FONAOTA (Naha FC); 50. Oscar SARA (Koloale FC); Michael TAEMAN (Wallas FC).

Auxiliary

52. Franco NE’E (Kossa FC); 53. Willie RIQEO (Kokohale FC); 54. Chris MOI (Vatu FC); 55. Joe MANU (Naha FC); 56. Timothy TIME (Central Honiara FC); 57. George KAUHIONA (Central Honiara); 58. Silas SAMO (Central Honiara); 59. Thomas MEKE (Central Honiara); 60. Ezra SALE (Central Honiara); 61. Wesley OLEA (Central Honiara); 62. Johan DOIWALE (Marist FC);63. Philip ASHLEY (Kossa FC); 64. Maxy SASAI (West Honiara)

Coaches (Solomon Islands A)

Luke EROI

Masuaku Valere REX

Coaches (Solomon Islands B)

Jacob MOLI

Moses TOATA