THE community transmission of COVID-19 in Honiara has caused disruption to one of the very important preparations for the country’s men’s football, the World Cup Qualifiers.
The Oceania World Cup Qualifiers is set for March.
Preparations for the country’s men’s football squad has been progressing well since last year but was forced to stop last week following the COVID-19 outbreak in Honiara.
Players have to remain at home during the lockdown with no time to train, a worrying situation for Coach Felipe Arango and his coaching team.
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has made a request to the COVID-19 Oversight Committee to consider the National Senior Men’s team to continue training behind closed doors with strict rules.
“SIFF has requested the Oversight Committee’s consideration if the National Senior Men’s team could be allowed to continue with its training behind closed doors from the public with very strict observations of the required safety protocols as outlined by the Ministry of Health with regards to COVID-19 safety protocols.
“There is a plan also in place for the national team to stay in a bubble and train a week before departing for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Doha, Qatar next month.
“Currently all training sessions have been suspended until feature notice,” according to a statement from SIFF yesterday.
Nine teams are to contest Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualifying for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Solomon Islands is in group alongside Tahiti, Vanuatu and the winner of the playoff between Tonga and Cook Islands.
By CARLOS ARUAFU
Newsroom, Honiara
