Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) and Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) are working together to develop the national ‘Beach Soccer’ team through technical course.
As the qualifying rounds for the beach soccer Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup is upcoming in June, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SINIS and SIFF will help boost the development of the sport in preparation for forthcoming games.
For Solomon Islands the upcoming FIFA qualifying rounds in June has been boosted with the assistance of beach soccer Technical Instructor Angelo Schirinzi from Switzerland who has been hired by Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to assist with structures and proper professional trainings.
SIFF Development Officer for ‘Beach Soccer and Futsal’, Dickson Kadau said OFC sees the gap, and has taken on board the beach soccer instructor from Switzerland to visit countries that play ‘beach soccer’ as a visitation.
“During his visitation he has interacted with the national training team of beach soccer, assisting them with structures and proper professional trainings, giving confidence to the boys in preparation for the upcoming games,” said Kadau.
“This is OFC’s program, in which they have requested FIFA for the professional beach soccer instructor to visit these countries.
“After this training here [SINIS beach complex], there is a beach soccer championship which will be organised in Honiara around April, so that we can scout more players, combine them together, put a trial squad to do training and select a final squad for the FIFA qualifiers.”
On behalf of SIFF, Mr Kadau thanks SINIS for supporting with the beach soccer field for their technical course.
“We really thank SINIS for the support and seeing the gap in creating a good beach soccer field. This venue really helps for preparation, especially the beach national soccer team to have times for training here. The sand here is standard. That is how the focus of SINIS and the government is by looking seriously into assisting this sport.
"On behalf of the federation, we thank SINIS and we look forward to arrange for our squad to continue doing training here [SINIS] into the future in preparation for upcoming FIFA games as well,” said Kadau.
Angelo Schirinzi said he is happy to help country’s beach soccer preparations, adding that the players are very motivated, well engaged and their time together was very fantastic as they have learnt a lot.
“I hope the federation will continue to support them well to train and to have a good qualifier for the FIFA World Cup which is upcoming in June. I wish you all the best, and I thank you so much for the invitation and to the well stayed that I have had here,” said Schirinzi.
He added “When I arrived here it was playing football on the sand, now that I am leaving, I see them playing Beach Soccer. You know, two touches, one touches, bicycle kicks, having fun, running good routes, so I am very happy”.
Beach Soccer expert Schirinzi explain that his visits is starting with Solomon Islands, before heading to Fiji, Tahiti and Tonga to improve players and the game in which he is very happy to be assisting under tour invitation by Oceania’s OFC.
SINIS Performance Manager (PM) for Portfolio Two (Team Sports), Amanda Korinihona said through the MOU agreement between SINIS and SIFF, they are able to provide the facility (beach complex and conference room) for them to run their technical course.
“And, we are glad to help the sport with the program FIFA and SIFF has planned for them,” said Korinihona.
Source: SINIS Media