PHILEMON JOHN EYES VANUATU OLYMPIC DREAM

PORT VILA – Vanuatu Olympic Games coach Philemon John has named a forty two strong squad for a training camp ahead of the OFC Olympic Games Men’s Qualifying Tournament in March. The squad
features a raft of players with age-group or senior international experience with the mercurial Francois Sakama the star turn. Sakama – currently on trial with a professional club in Israel –
set the XIII South Pacific Games alight last August with a string of eye-catching performances alongside Fiji-based striker Seule Soromon. But Sakama’s creative talents won’t be isolated.

Philemon John is spoilt for choice in the striking department with the enigmatic one-time Southampton trialist Jean Victor Maleb, Ricky Tari, Fenedy Masauvakalo, Joseph Nimaniau, Brian Melar
and Jeffry Nimaniau have all been capped at senior or age group level. Defensively, Vanuatu can call upon Andrew Chichirua, Joseph Obed, Jeoffrey Gete and Rexly Tarivuti, another group of
experienced international players. Whether or not their varied age-group and senior international experiences amount to a cohesive unit will depend much upon the quality of John’s work with the
players and his selection process.

Goalkeepers Alfred Malas and Daniel Mansale continue the fine football family tradition of Vanuatu international goalkeepers Chikau Mansale and David Chilia and midfielder Derek Malas. Len
Merika and Charley Kalnasei round off the glovemen. If Philemon John has one area of his squad causing concern it will be who joins Sakama in the Vanuatu midfield engine room. Michel Kaltak and
Antoine Sablan – both graduates of the Vanuatu U-20 campaign last year – are the only recognisable names in an otherwise little know midfield contingent.

Whatever the final squad looks like, Vanuatu appear to have the talent at its disposal to better cope with the rigours of Olympic Games qualification this time around. New Zealand edged Vanuatu
out of the running four years ago in a thrilling 3-2 victory that ensured the Oly-Whites progressed to the two leg playoff with Australia.

Vanuatu opens its OFC Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament campaign against Cook Islands on March 1st.

Vanuatu OFC Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament Qualifiers History

2004

Vs. American Samoa won 8-0

Vs. Cook Islands won 11-0

Vs. New Zealand lost 2-3

Vs. Tonga won 6-0

2000

Vs. Papua New Guinea lost 0-2

Vs. New Zealand lost 0-4

1996

H A

Vs. Fiji won 1-0 lost 0-4

Vs. Solomon Islands drew 1-1 lost 1-2

Vs. Australia lost 0-12 lost 1-9

Vs. New Zealand lost 0-10 lost 1-5

1992

Did Not Enter

1988

Did Not Enter

TOTAL RECORD:

VANUATU OLYMPIC GAMES TRAINING SQUAD