The team will compete in the OFC U-20 Championship in Auckland during April and a final cut of 20 will be picked for the tournament from the 35 players currently involved.
Since resuming training earlier this month, coach Noel Wagapu has put his charges through a tough regime combining fitness and ball skills as he looks to settle on the players he would like to take to Auckland.
Wagapu says this is not going to be an easy task and the team of selectors have some tough choices to make in the coming weeks.
“The quality and commitment of the players is outstanding so this makes it hard for us to pick out the top ones,” he says. “A stringent criteria is being applied for the selection of the final squad but that will not make it any easier.”
The players made Wagapu’s decision even more difficult when they performed well to beat O-League representatives Koloale 2-1 in a friendly match on Sunday.
Koloale youngsters Jeffrey Bule and Steve Saru were lining up instead for the U-20 team but Koloale were still able to field a strong side. They nearly took the lead in the opening minutes but some desperate defending from the U-20s kept the scores level and they broke the deadlock themselves not long after, Bule showing good awareness to delay his pass and pick up forward Dennis Ifunaoa who finished expertly.
But the lead didn’t last long, Koloale getting back on even terms when Joses Nawo evaded several defenders before finding the back of the net. They then had the perfect opportunity to go in front when they were awarded a penalty just before half-time but Henry Fa’arodo’s spot kick was saved.
It was instead left to the U-20s to find the winner and it duly arrived in the 75th minute. Saru fed substitute Paul Hiri and he gave the unmarked Hudson Felani, the chance to finish with a powerful shot from inside the penalty box.
Wagapu was satisfied with the performance of his players but says a lot of work still needs to be done.
“This is our first friendly match against an opponent like Koloale and the boys have done well. But it is clear from this game that there are more than a few things we need to correct,” he says.
“Koloale were able to reach our goal area with only a minimal number of passes during counter attacks. The players need to switch between attacking and defending with more ease and efficiency.”
The U-20 training squad will play a combined Bilikiki and Kurukuru, the national beach soccer and futsal sides, team in their next friendly this Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb