Vanuatu won bronze at the OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifier in Taupo, New Zealand, last month and Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) technical director Charles Vatu is hoping some of the players involved in that success can carry their form into the Nations Cup, which takes place in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara from June 1 to 10.
The Olympic stars named in the Nations Cup training squad include teenage goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel, defender Brian Kaltack and strikers Jean Kaltack and Robert Tasso, who all made their mark in Taupo with significant contributions.
But despite the youthful nature of the group, there is still plenty of experience in the likes of Ernest Bong, Dereck Malas, Jean-Robert Yelou and Fenedy Masauvakalo, all well known names in Vanuatu football and seasoned campaigners on the international scene.
The coaching staff consists of William Malas, Percy Avock, Kaison Maki and Obed Jimmy and they will be assisted by technical advisor Christian Chosson.
The panel faces some tough decisions over the coming weeks as the squad must be trimmed to 23 by the first week of May.
The OFC Nations Cup acts as the second stage of Oceania qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and the winner will also go on to represent OFC in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Vanuatu have been drawn in Group A and will do battle with New Caledonia, Samoa and Tahiti while Group B consists of Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
The teams will take part in a tournament based on a league system with semi-finals and a final.
The four highest-placed teams from the second stage will then contest stage three of World Cup qualifying – a round-robin, home-and-away play-off series. The matches are foreseen to take place between 7 September 2012 and 26 March 2013 in FIFA windows.
The winner of the third stage will advance to an inter-continental home-and-away play-off against the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF – the confederation of North America, Central American and the Caribbean – for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
Vanuatu training squad for OFC Nations Cup
Goalkeepers
Ernest Bong (Amicale)
Seiloni Iaruel (Tafea)
Simon Tousi (Siwi)
Kapen Joel (Amicale)
Defenders
Alphonse Bongnaim (Amicale)
Selwyn Sese Ala (Amicale)
Brian Kaltack (Erakor Golden Star)
Robert Thomson (Tafea)
Rexley Tarivuti (Amicale)
Freddy Vava (Tafea)
Young Paul (Amicale)
Lucien Hinge (Tafea)
Kevin Shem (Tafea)
Midfielders
Dereck Malas (Amicale)
Sakama Francois (Tafea)
Michel Kaltack (Erakor Golden Star)
Roddy Lenga (Amicale)
Didier Kalip (Spirit 08)
Namatak Silas (Tafea)
Rickyson Tari (Spirit 08)
Jean-Robert Yelou (Amicale)
Dominique Fred (Shepherds United)
Strikers
Fenedy Masauvakalo (Amicale)
Jean Kaltack (Erakor Golden Star)
Seule Soromon (Wairarapa United, New Zealand)
Robert Tasso (Spirit 08)
Kensi Tangis (Amicale)
Joseph Namariau (Tafea)
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu