Vanuatu will field a full strength side for the Telekom Wantok Cup which kicks off this Thursday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.
Their squad is the same one that recently lost 3-0 to New Caledonia in the World Cup qualifiers in Noumea.
They will come with the intention of winning the inaugural Telekom Wantok Cup and cash prize attached to it.
The last time they played the Solomon Islands senior team was at the South Pacific Games in Samoa in 2007 where they beat them 2-0 in the playoff for bronze medal.
It would be interesting to see them take on the two local teams who are equally as eager as them to lay claim to the silverware.
The two teams have gone into full training since the squad was assembled last week and are confident of doing the country proud in the competition.
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) General Secretary, Eddie Ngava expressed his optimism when asked about the two local teams’ chances saying that the boys will give it their best.
Commenting on PNG’s withdrawal, he said the door is open for them to participate in future Wantok Cup competition.
The PNG soccer team informed SIFF of their decision to withdraw from the competition on the eve of their arrival.
Despite that he said the competition would go ahead with slight changes to the fixtures because of PNG’s withdrawal.
Initially, there was supposed to be two matches per day for the duration of the competition however, there will only be one match with one team on bye per match day.
The Telekom Wantok Cup will kick off this Thursday with the opening match between Solomon Bonito and Solympics. Vanuatu is on bye.
Vanuatu’s opening match will be against the Solympics on Saturday before they play against Solomon Bonito on Monday to coincide with the country’s 30th Independence Anniversary.
The Fixtures
3rd July 2008 Solomon Bonito vs Solympics 4.00pm
Bye: Vanuatu
5th July 2008 Solympics vs Vanuatu 4.00pm
Bye: Solomon Bonito
7th July 2008 Solomon Bonito vs Vanuatu 4.00pm
Bye: Solympics