Monday 15th February, 2010
The much publicized trials for the selection of the Senior National Team started in Honiara today. After weeks of preparation the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Technical Department is happy that the trials are finally underway.

The number of players who turned up on the first day was lower than expected. However, Noel Wagapu, who is coordinating the trials, is optimistic that the objectives of the program will be achieved.

‘The number of players is not what we wanted but it is adequate for our objective so we are proceeding,’ Wagapu said. ‘Today we start and, hopefully, tomorrow the program will be in full swing.’

A number of the top players in Solomon Islands whose names are in the trials are currently overseas playing for clubs inside the pacific region. This partly accounts for the low number of players who turned up for the trials.

According to Wagapu these players will have also have to be tested before they are integrated into the national team. Wagapu added that this will happen at a later date.

More than 120 players from all over the Solomon Islands were called for the Senior National Team trials. Most were selected during the Solomon Cup tournament which was held in November, 2009. A good majority of the provincial based players who were called have turned up in Honiara to attend the tryouts.

The purpose of the trials is to select players for the Senior National Team. SIFF is hoping to select the best 25 players from the trials to represent the country in the Football for Hope match and the Wantok Cup both to be held later this year. SIFF further intends to maintain the team in preparation for the 2011 South Pacific Games.

The trials will continue throughout this week and end on Monday 22nd February. The final training squad will be announced after that.

The Solomon Islands National Futsal Team is also conducting trials to finalise a squad for the 2010 season. Assistant Coach, Jerry Sam, said that the final list will be ready by the end of February.

Severino Aefi leading warm up