The Solomon Islands Men's National U-20 Training Squad has begun its preparations for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-20 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in April 2011.

Yesterday 36 of the 40 players in the training squad turned up for training at the SIFF Academy football field under the watchful eye of Noel Wagapu, the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Development Officer is assigned to look after the team until a coach is appointed.

Wagapu said that he is happy with the turn out and the energy the players have put into their training on the first day.

Morale amongst the players was high as most appeared to enjoy their first official training session after the selection trials were completed about 2 weeks ago.
These players are the elite U-20 players in Solomon Islands having being selected from a pool of 132 players from the trials.

One of the selectees, Jilini Junior said that he is happy to be selected for the U-20 national team.

"This is the furthest I've reached in my playing career and it is an important personal achievement for me," Junior said. "However, I know that this is just the training squad so I intend to work hard and prove myself worthy for the final team that will represent Solomon Islands."

Indeed this is just the training squad and caretaker coach Wagapu said that the assessment of the players will continue over the next 2 months.

"The selection team will continue measuring the performance of the players especially in the coming 2 months. After the 2 months we will name the final 30 players in the final squad for the OFC U-20 championship," Wagapu said.

Wagapu also encouraged all the players to be consistent with their attendance of training and also to behave as members of the national team both inside and outside of football.

Wagapu also reminded players who have not supplied their passports or birth certificates to the office to do so or they will be dropped automatically within the next 2 weeks.

The tentative training program schedules 3 days of work for the national U-20 training squad so as to enable the players to train with their clubs in the other 2 days.

However, this schedule may change in the face of pressure from some clubs who want more time with their players.

The final squad of 30 players is likely to be announced in November.

Solomon Islands National U-20 Training Squad:

1. Peter KIRIAU
2. Polycarp BONAVE
3. Silas SEDA
4. Samson KOTI

1. Emmanuel POILA
2. Ralph KERA
3. Peter AUGA
4. Michael SIRA
5. Freddie DIOTE"E
6. Augustine TIARO
7. Jilini JUNIOR
8. Brian PETER
11. Ian SIDA
12. Ramo NIUGA
13. Iro NIUGA
14. Francis LAFAI
15. Michael Stephen BOSO
16. Tafoa CHRIS
17. Eugene TEKOBI
18. Scott Mark PUIRARA
19. Clifford MALEFO

1. Joseph LOSI
2. MikeMachris BENTLEY
3. Augustine SAMANI
4. Hudson FELANI
5. Christopher MOIA
6. Kevin Sia GWALU
7. Molea TIGI
8. Leonard ROKOTO
9. Michael TOMANI
10. Johnson WANEFAI
11. Brown T EROI
12. Himson TELENDA
13. Robert SAENI
14. Ray WATOTO
15. Wilson ALUFURAI
16. James EGETA
17. Steve SARU

1. Tuti ZAMA
2. Ian PAIA
3. Conley RATA
4. Denis IFUNAOA
5. John Jr. DAU
6. Dickson RAMO
7. Zilando KIRIAU
8. Nathan KERA
9. Larry Hong SEA
10. Micah LEA'ALAFA
11. Paul HIRI
12. Peter KENNEDY
13. Lore FONAOTA
14. Tony OTINI