Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) national team coach Airton Andrioli will assist in Marist FC’s O-League preparations following last month’s disappointing loss to Ba.
The 2-0 defeat in front of 17,000 fans at Lawson Tama Stadium saw SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava draft in Andrioli to ensure Marist FC were better prepared for their upcoming away matches against AS Temanava and Ba.
Andrioli is determined to help Marist FC regain some lost pride and has spent time working alongside head coach Patrick Miniti in a bid to turn around the club’s O-League fortunes.
Ba currently head the Group B table with four points after an away win and draw at Marist FC and AS Temanava respectively. AS Temanava sit in second place with one point and winless Marist FC are last.
Andrioli’s work schedule continues as the national Under 17 squad is into its final stages of preparation ahead of their OFC qualifying competition in Tahiti from 21-29 March 2007.
The 20 strong- team is being groomed by the senior national coach Airton Andrioli and he had expressed confidence that the boys have responded well to his sessions.
If all goes well, the team will leave early next week via Fiji and New Zealand on their way to Tahiti.
Meanwhile, the team management is calling on the general public for support to the team either in kind or cash to assist the team in their final preparations before they leave for the tournament.
SIFF has stepped up preparations for the women’s senior national team following OFC’s decision giving Solomon Islands the nod to attend the OFC World Cup qualifiers in PNG in April.
SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava confirms OFC’s decision saying his federation has been directed to prepare a team for this competition.
The federation’s technical department has already started preparing the team and will soon trim the squad down.