PORT VILA, (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) President, Lambert Maltock, has come out to congratulate the national senior team on the performance they did over the weekend against the Solomon Islands team.
Vanuatu’s senior men’s team had to pull off a last minute call up for players, and had only one afternoon to meet at the Teouma Academy before flying to Solomon Islands the next day.
The team had a lineup of 6 uncapped players, but held on to dominate against Solomon Islands in a 0-0 draw, at the Lawson Tama Stadium.
“On behalf of all VFF Staff, Exco Members and Football families of Vanuatu, I wish to take this opportunity to extend our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to you, Moise Poida for accepting the call from VFF to lead our 2017 Senior National Team to Honiara at a very short notice. Also thank you very much to Kaison Maki for accepting the role of Assistant Coach as well as Peter Takaro, the Technical Director as Team Manager.
“Also I wish to extend a very special thank you to each and every one of the players who have responded willingly to this invitation.
“This is a national duty call and I have really appreciated the willingness and readiness of each and every one of you in taking up the challenge in the name of Vanuatu Football despite the noticeable lack of good preparations.
“I salute you and the players — not only for the excellent effort and performance but by being very brave in maintaining respect and pride to our football, especially at the eve of the anniversary of our Independence.
“I am particularly proud to see that the VFF Staff capacity, ability and knowledge of modern football continue to prevail against foreign knowledge and abilities in the field of play.
“This clearly demonstrates and proves all analysis wrong about Vanuatu Football since Korea U20 until today with our senior men again. You should be all proud for what you have done though it was only a friendly match but this counts as a record for VFF and your personal profiles.
“May I humbly ask that we start to look forward to other coming up international matches with Fiji and New Caledonia before we meet Estonia on November 23 this year as I mentioned to you earlier this year.
“You will remember that I have promised to provide you assistance of 4 international matches before the Mini-Games, plus one Assistance of International Coach.
“I am still holding my promise no matter what and on your side please do go ahead with proper training and preparations,” Maltock said.
