Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has announced its first-ever women’s futsal team, set to compete in the upcoming OFC Futsal Women’s Nations Cup in Honiara from August 17-25 at the Friendship Hall.
The tournament serves as a qualifier for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025.
Leading this pioneering squad will be OFC Futsal Senior License C holder, Arthur Barko, who has expressed optimism about the team’s development and readiness.
This will be his first national duty and will be guided by Technical Advisor, Dickson Kadau who brings experience – also giving opportunities to aspiring female futsal coaches in the country.
Also, in the fold are well-known names that have donned the Kurukuru colors in the past – Mathias Saru OFC Futsal License C holder, and former Kurukuru shot-stopper, Paul Laki.
Coach Barko shared some insights into the team’s progress during the months leading up to the tournament.
“Preparations have been going well since we finalized the squad. The ladies are picking up the technical aspects of the game, which is encouraging,” Barko who is also Head Coach for the SIFF Super Futsal League (SSFL) side, DAWN FC told SIFF Media.
“But beyond that, the most important thing we’re focusing on is building their understanding of the game.
He emphasized that understanding the nuances of futsal is crucial for the team’s success.
“If the girls can grasp the concepts of futsal, it will be easier for me to fine-tune the technical and tactical elements.
“After a month of preparation, I’ve seen real progress in how they understand the game, and we’re confident that with the remaining days before the competition, we’ll be in a strong position to compete.”
The 14 players selected for the team emerged from a mini-championship and following trials held.
He highlighted that the selection criteria were heavily based on the players’ ability to quickly understand game strategies and their creativity on the court.
“What we looked for was how quickly they could pick things up and how they could creatively apply those instructions in play. This was the basis of our selection.”
The squad includes experienced players like Ileen Pegi, Agnes Gitoli, and Lisa Solo, who began their careers in futsal, bringing a wealth of experience to the team and the Head Coach sees this as a significant advantage.
“Having players who have grown up with futsal is a bonus for us. It’s an advantage, especially when it comes to understanding the game.”
The team also features younger players, many of whom have come through active football academies in Honiara.
According to Barko, their confidence is on par with their more experienced teammates, and his goal is to keep that momentum going.
The tournament sees five nations compete in a single-group format, with the top two teams contesting the final and the 3rd and 4th placed sides playing in the Playoff for 3rd place.
Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, and Solomon Islands will participate, with the winner not only taking home the trophy but also qualifying for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, to be held in the Philippines in 2025.
Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Barko noted that New Zealand would likely be the team to beat. However, he also pointed out the pressure and the opportunity of playing on home turf.
“It’s going to be pressure on us as the home team because we have to deliver our best. But we need the support of the home crowd.
“We encourage everyone to come out and back the team – it’s our first national women’s futsal team, and it’s the first time we’re hosting this tournament.
“It’s a great moment for our nation, and with everyone’s support, we can do our best for the country.”
-SIFF Media
