MARIST FC interim head coach Jerry Allan says to have nine players in the national team that will represent the country in the Vanuatu Mini Games next month is a great achievement for his players and the club.
The interim head coach made the sentiment to Star Sports after the national coach Felipe Vega-Arango named the squad for Vanuatu Mini Games.
The national coach Felipe Vega-Arango has decided to reshuffle the team for the Pacific Mini Games with majority of young players.
“To have highest number of players (9) in the squad is a great achievement for our players and a team as a whole,’’ he said.
“Since they were selected by the national coach, I think they deserve to be in the national squad.
“it’s also a big bonus for Marist especially the younger ones to be in the national team to gain experience and expose themselves to regional competition,” he added.
Meanwhile the Spaniard earlier last month named a squad consisting of both experience and youth players but decided to put his trust on the youth players after a meeting with National Olympic Committee Solomon Islands (NOCSI) officials last week.
He said his hands are tired since other Pacific Islands countries are sending youth teams to participate in the Pacific Mini Games football tournament.
“We are changing the team selection because I have been talking to other technical directors from other countries and they told me, they’re sending a team of majority youth players.
“I don’t want to go with a senior team because I believe for the development of the game we need to go with mostly young players,’’ he added.
By CROFTON UTUKANA
