Luke Eroi, who has an illustrious coaching career including a stint at the O-League finals with Koloale in 2009, was selected for the U-17 role by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) technical department in consultation with the Solomon Islands Football Coaches Association (SIFCA). Eroi will take over from Diane Justus who has been the caretaker coach since training started in January.
Eroi has a strong background in coaching, especially at the club level, and currently holds an OFC Senior Coaching License. Under his tutelage, Koloale reached the O-League for the first time in the club’s history last year.
He was also at the helm when the national U-23 men’s team, Solympics, won the first edition of the Wantok Cup which was held in Honiara in 2008. He also coached the Solympics side that reached the finals of the OFC Olympic Qualifiers in Fiji in the same year.
The newly appointed coach completed his first session with the U-17 team yesterday in what he said is an introductory session for him.
“I am looking at the fitness level of the players and hope to identify other areas which we might need to address before moving to the more tactical part of training,” Eroi said.
He believes it is important for the team to increase fitness levels and then work on advanced skills, particularly shooting.
“Our par is New Zealand so we have to work hard to level with them and even harder to beat them.”
Stand-in coach Diane Justus says she is pleased that a full-time appointment has been made.
Justus will stay on as assistant coach while Margaret Inifiri has been appointed as the team manager. Fa’ako Liolea will look after the team’s physical fitness and training in his capacity as the team’s physical trainer.
A physiotherapist for the team is yet to be appointed.
The final selection for the U-17 women’s team will be made at the end of February. They will then travel to Auckland to compete at the OFC U-17 Women’s Championship at North Harbour Stadium from 12-16 April alongside Papua New Guinea, Tonga and hosts New Zealand.
Story courtesy SIFF.