Dear Editor – An interesting feature in the upcoming Pacific Games in PNG is the participation of our u-23 Solympics squad, which all soccer fans and supporters in the country are eagerly looking forward to, come June, July.
A preliminary squad was announced early this year in which players undergo a series of trainings and match trials to determine the suitability of players for the final squad.
According to a reliable source a final squad has already been selected.
Of the 38-men preliminary squad are few outstanding players who are likely to be the first choice of the national selectors (including the head coach). Soccer fans and supporters who have been closely following how these few brilliant young men have performed know too well their chances to make it into the final squad.
Now that the solympics squad has been named, it is however with regret and disbelief that these hard-working individuals, the likes of Keloby Benty, Tiqi Molea and Frank Foli are being sidelined despite their outstanding performance in the S-League trainings and match trials.
How did the selectors failed to see their merits?
As a die-hard soccer fan and supporter I am also stunned how the selectors including the head coach handpicked someone who did not play in the S-League and who has never been in the provisional squad, let alone undergo respective trainings and match trials.
This particular player is said to have only arrived in Honiara a week ago and made his way straight into the final squad by and through the courtesy of the head coach who happens to be his wantok.
This is it! If that’s how we like to do it in all sports, I am afraid we will never get anywhere. This and the exclusion of the likes of Keloby, Tiqi and Frank is a case in point.
Let’s hope this time round no more tourists as we have too much already for nothing.
Pae N. Kyani
Lengakiki
