The 14th edition of the Pacific Games will be held in New Caledonia from August 28 to September 12 and Vatu has decided to get his players together next week to begin their preparations.
There will be much at stake at the event as it also doubles as part of the OFC qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil. The three highest-ranked teams at the Pacific Games will go on to be joined by New Zealand in a home-and-away playoff series.
The winner of that will then meet the fifth-ranked Asian team in a two-legged clash for a spot in Brazil.
Vatu has picked an attack-minded line-up that he hopes will fire his side through the first stage of qualifying.
“With the presence of players like Fenedy Masauvakalo, Robert Youlou, Jean Nako, Francois Sakama and Seule Soromon, I believe Vanuatu can perform well in New Caledonia,” he says.
The squad warmed up for the training camp by drawing 0-0 with New Caledonia in a friendly match at Port Vila last week and largely had the excellent reflexes of goalkeeper Chikau Mansale, who pulled off some stunning saves and was named man of the match, to thank for the result.
Those who make the final squad will have some sizeable boots to fill – Vanuatu came third at the last Pacific Games in 2007 after Soromon and Francois Sakama scored twice in a 2-0 win over Solomon Islands in the bronze medal match.
Vanuatu training squad for Pacific Games 2011
Goalkeepers: Chikau MANSALE (Amicale), Ernest BONG (Amicale), Seloni IARUEL (Academy), Ham ISAIAH (Tafea)
Defenders: Fredy VAVA (Tafea), Jeffery GETE (Tafea), Andrew Chichirua (Tafea), Young PAUL (Amicale), Selwyn SESE (Amicale), Lucien HINGE (Academy), Brian KALTAK (Academy), Jacques IAPUT (Tafea)
Midfielders: Daniel NATOU (Tafea), Robert YOULOU (Amicale), Saimata CHILIA (Amicale), Dereck MALAS (Amicale), Roddy LENGA (Spirit 08), Namatak SILAS (Tafea)
Forwards: Fenedy MASAUVAKALO (Amicale), Robert TASSO (Spirit 08), Jean NAKO (Tafea), Seule SOROMON (Wairarapa, NZL), Francois SAKAMA (Tafea), Daniel MICHEL (Shepherds United), Yvon AUGUST (Academy)
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu