The side is training under the custodianship of caretaker coach Noel Wagapu, who is taking care of the team until a fulltime coach is appointed.
He is putting the squad through their paces three times a week, including mid-week trial matches each Wednesday. The other training days are Monday and Friday.
“The team is continuing to address the basics, such as passing, shooting and set pieces at this stage,” Wagapu says.
“There are many excellent players in the team but there are also players who will need to improve in their discipline and commitment to training. This is a national representative side so I am expecting a lot from them.”
The recent confirmation that the national U-20 championship will take place in November is being viewed as a bonus by the squad management.
The tournament is pencilled in for the final two weeks of that month and will bring together 200 youth players from 10 provinces.
Wagapu and the rest of the coaching staff will keep a close eye on proceedings and hope to identify any additional talent that could be drafted into the squad which will eventually travel to Auckland next year.
Wagapu is happy to release his charges to play for their home provinces as most of the squad are provincial players anyway. But he would rather see them in action together as one unit.
“Having the U-20 squad play as a single team is ideal because the coaches can take a further look at how they will perform in a competitive match,” he says.
The likes of Samson Koti, Leonard Rokoto and Cornelly Rata are expected to be recalled by their respective provinces for the national tournament.
The final squad for the OFC U-20 Championship will be announced at the end of the year.
Solomon Islands U-20 Training Squad
Goalkeepers:
Peter KIRIAU, Polycarp BONAVE, Silas SEDA, Samson KOTI
Defenders:
Emmanuel POILA, Ralph KERA, Peter AUGA, Michael SIRA, Freddie DIOTE’E, Augustine TIARO, Jilini JUNIOR, Brian PETER, Ian DAMOLA, Shem TAKANUNU, Ian SIDA, Ramo NIUGA, Iro NIUGA, Francis LAFAI, Michael Stephen BOSO, Tafoa CHRIS, Eugene TEKOBI, Scott Mark PUIRARA, Clifford MALEFO
Midfielders:
Joseph LOSI, Mike Machris BENTLEY, Augustine SAMANI, Hudson FELANI, Christopher MOIA, Kevin Sia GWALU, Molea TIGI, Leonard ROKOTO, Michael TOMANI, Johnson WANEFAI, Brown TEROI, Himson TELENDA, Robert SAENI, Ray WATOTO, Wilson ALUFURAI, James EGETA, Steve SARU
Forwards:
Tuti ZAMA, Ian PAIA, Conley RATA, Denis IFUNAOA, John Jnr DAU, Dickson RAMO, Zilando KIRIAU, Nathan KERA, Larry Hong SEA, Micah LEA’ALAFA, Paul HIRI, Peter KENNEDY, Lore FONAOTA, Tony OTINI
For more on Solomon Islands football visit www.siff.com.sb
U-20s put in hard yards
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.oceaniafootball.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/solomon20u20.jpg?resize=374%2C300&ssl=1)