Coach Etienne Mermer has been busy preparing the squad for the tournament and after downing Premier League club Seveners United 4-0 in a friendly match at PVL Stadium on Tuesday, he believes the team is prepared for the task of attempting to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Justin Koka, Alex Saniel, Donald Napat and Jaison Thomas all registered their names on the scoresheet during the team’s final friendly ahead of flying out to Santo on April 8.
“Our boys are really looking forward to representing their country for the first time in an OFC competition and it is not going to be easy,” Mermer says.
“It is a competition that people in Vanuatu have been waiting for. The whole of Vanuatu are not waiting for other matches, just those of the host team which is us, so I hope we can give people what they are waiting for,” he adds.
“I feel privileged that we can play important football matches in front of our supporters and the most important thing is to play fair and win – that is our objective.”
Vanuatu are set to open the tournament when they take on Papua New Guinea in the opening match on April 17 at Chapuis Stadium.
Vanuatu squad for OFC U-17 Championship
Goalkeepers
1-Charlie BEN
20-Samuel LOLI
Defenders
3-Goshen DONNA
2-Jason THOMAS
4-Elie Melte ROSSI
5-Remy KALSRAP
6-Douglas PATRICK
15-Andrew VANVA
17-Kerry IAWAK
22-Fernandez WIFORD
Midfielders
7-Etienne NAIEU
8-Alphonse TOA
12-Jacky RUBEN
13-Justin KOKA
10-Bong KALO
14-Andre BULE
18-Ray IWAI
21-Donald NAPAT
Forwards
9-Gregory ROUARD
11-Alex Jason SANIEL
16-Ruben FRANK
19-Joe FLOSSE NAKO
Staff
Etienne MERMER – Coach
Jimmy OBED – Assistant Coach
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

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