A 31-man provisional squad for the national team was announced at the Allen Boso Complex in a press conference today in Honiara.
SIFF Technical Director, Moses Toata front the media to officially released the new-look national side.
“I am happy to announce the provisional team based on our assessment of the national teams and the domestic league,” he said.
“We have omitted some key players of the last national team due to some disciplinary reasons.
“We are also looking at some players who could be added later in the national team.”
The majority of the players drafted into the team are members of the national U-23s who finished second in the 2019 OFC Olympic qualifiers in Fiji.
Wonder-boy Raphael Lea’i is named alongside inseparable defending duo Javin Wae and Leon Kofana who played a huge role in the heart of the national U-17 backline.
Micah Lea’alafa, Junior David, Atkin Kaua, Darold Kakasi and Gagame Feni made up the crop of players based abroad.
Three new inclusions without national team experience are FC Isabel defenders Nathaniel Mosese and Eddie Supa alongside Malaita Kingz top goal scorer Edward Huniehu.
The average age of the team is 23 despite the addition of veterans Haddis Aengari, Emmanuel Poila, Jerry Donga, Tuitazama Tanito and Gagame Feni.
Toata revealed SIFF has received an overwhelming interest in the national team coach position.
“SIFF will confirm who will be the next national team coach when the selection process is completed,” Toata stated.
“So far 15 coaches already expressed their interest to lead the team but the SIFF technical committee will make consideration based on qualification, experience, and the cost because we want to engage the coach for a longer contractual term.
“We hope to create a partnership with the government to share the cost of having the best coaches available.
“It is not easy to get the best-qualified coaches due to the cost bit, we hope to find the suitable candidate that will lead the national team into 2023”.
The first assignment for the national team this year is the Tri-Nation international tournament proposed to be held in Fiji this March.
Next is the first stage of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the OFC Nations Cup in June.
Meanwhile, the national team is expected to start training in the coming weeks for players currently in Honiara.
In his capacity as the Technical Director, Toata will take care of the national team training squad while waiting for a foreigner to be appointed as a long term coach.
