Seven members of Jeffrey Allen’s squad are part of the Solomon Islands U-23 set up and are trying to impress enough in the coming weeks to be included in the line-up for the Oceania qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics.
Allen is bringing six of those players – goalkeeper Shadrack Ramoni, defensive trio Isreal Koti Fanai, Freddie Kini and Francis Lafai, midfielder Augustine Samani and striker Ian Paia – to Auckland for the match against the reigning champions and will need them to be at their best if Koloale are to take any points back to Honiara.
The side has posted a string of disappointing results in this season’s O-League and is still searching for its first win of the campaign after losses against Auckland, Amicale and Hekari United.
They will be looking for revenge at Kiwitea Street on Saturday due to the nature of that first-up defeat to Auckland at a packed Lawson Tama Stadium in October. The support provided by Koloale’s fanatical fans counted for little on that occasion as the home side fell to a comprehensive 4-1 loss.
But Allen hopes his charges have learned from that experience and will be more competitive in the return match.
“I think that game could’ve gone either way and the scoreline didn’t reflect how well we played,” he says.
The American believes the two-time O-League winners are currently the benchmark for club football in the Pacific but does not think they are unbeatable.
“Auckland City is a top-class side and that is the standard we want to work towards. But we have definitely taken things from the first match that we can use.”
The U-23 ‘Solympics’ players will be a big part of implementing that plan as the six young stars are all regulars in the team and Samani was the only one that didn’t start Koloale’s last match, a 3-1 loss to Hekari in Papua New Guinea.
They need to take the opportunity to perform well and get some good form going as the Oceania Olympic qualifiers are now just weeks away. Owen Delany Park in the New Zealand town of Taupo will host the event from March 16 to 25 and Solomon Islands will take on seven other OFC nations – American Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu – for a place at the men’s football tournament in London.
The Solympics training squad consists of 27 players but will be cut to 20 for the qualifying tournament and selection panel head Noel Wagapu says no one’s place in Taupo is yet secure.
“Competition was tough during the first and second trials but it will now be even tougher,” he says.
“Players must prove to us why they should be picked ahead of their peers by demonstrating their ability on the field.”
2012 O-League
Auckland City [NZL] vs Koloale [SOL]
Saturday 18 February
Kiwitea St
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 3pm
Adults $10, children U-15 free
Referee: Averii JACQUES [TAH]
Assistant referee 1: Jan-Hendrik HINTZ [NZL]
Assistant referee 2: Nicholas VAN DER SALM [NZL]
Fourth official: Jamie CROSS [NZL]
Auckland City: 12. Tamati WILLIAMS [GK], 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. Chad COOMBES, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. David MULLIGAN, 9. Manel EXPOSITO, 10. Luis CORRALES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Adam DICKINSON, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Albert RIERA, 21. Ivan RUIZ, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Simon ARMS, 24. Stephen CARMICHAEL, 25. Mario ILICH, 26. Liam ANDERSON [GK]
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX
Koloale: 20. Shadrack RAMONI [GK], 2. Isreal KOTE FANAI, 3. Freddie KINI, 4. Cecil BURU, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Ezra SALE, 11. Ian PAIA, 12. Gideon OMOKIRIO. 13. Lency SAENI, 14. Augustine SAMANI, 16. James NAKA, 21. David LAFAI [GK], 23. Steven ANISI, 25. Francis LAFAI, 29. Abraham EKE
Coach: Jeffrey ALLEN

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