SIFF, Honiara: The Solomon Islands Football Federation has announced officially that Mr Alan Gillet of the English FA has been appointed to prepare its senior men’s national team for the combined 2004 OFC Nations Cup-2006 World Cup (Stage One: Group 1) qualifying tournament in Honiara.
According to a SIFF media statement, the federation has seen the need to bring in an overseas coach because of the importance of the competition and to bring back some credibility into Solomon Islands soccer after a disappointing finish at the recent OFC Olympic men’s (Group A) qualifiers in Sydney back in January.
Mr Gillett’s engagement is short-term overseeing the national team preparation for stage one of the qualifiers and subject to their qualification as winner or runner up in the group – to stage two which will be held from 28 May-6 June in Australia between the top four qualifiers from the two group tournaments with seeded teams Australia and New Zealand.
Gillett’s short-term assignment is seen as cost effective – a new concept SIFF has been looking into since its former coach, Scotsman George Cowie’s departure last year. It is considered appropriate because there are no other tournaments for the senior national side, so SIFF does not see any need for long-term engagement of a national coach.
Gillett with his vast experience is expected to mould a tougher Solomon Islands side for the World Cup qualifiers. Local coaches will be given the opportunity to get coaching instructions and tips from Gillett during his time here. Gillett’s last post was national coach of Malawi in Africa.
He has also coached at national level for a number of other countries and was in New Zealand last December to conduct the first OFC Indigenous coaching workshop which was held in conjunction with technical assistance from the English FA.