Onto the next challenge: Arango

BY TAROMANE MARTIN

SOLOMON Islands men’s football team Head Coach Felipe Vega Arango said it was on to the next match after a comfortable 11-0 win over American Samoa in their final Pool D match of the 2023 Pacific Games football competition.

Coach Arango admitted that with Fiji or Tahiti likely to be opponents in the semis, it won’t be an easy ride to the gold medal for the Solomon Islands.

“It’s a good job, but this game is over. Start thinking and concentrating on the next match, because I believe that this is the most important game of their lives. They have a chance to play the final at home, so I hope they are ready,” Coach Vega Arango said after the win.

“The crowd is always nice. Its good they support the team and they are here and enjoy, and I hope in the semi-final they do the same.

“If Tahiti score more than ten goals against the Northern Marianas, or if they score less than ten goals, it will be Fiji. But either way, they both play the same kind of football.

“They are really kind of physical; they play long ball; they’re really tall; they are really mean and aggressive. It will be a huge challenge for us,” the head coach added.

Goal-scoring machine John Orobulu, who netted five goals for the national team in the win over American Samoa, said he is confident their squad can capture the gold for the Solomon Islands.

“Because of the combination and hard work of the team, I managed to score those goals. Thank you to the crowd for also coming out to support us boys. I feel comfortable and confident about getting the gold medal for the Solomon Islands,” Orobulu said.

Other goal scorers for the Solomon Islands are Gagame Feni (3 goals), Tigi Molea (2 goals), and Bobby Leslie (1 goal).

The men’s football competitions, meanwhile, will continue today with the final pool match for Pool C between Tahiti and Fiji at 7pm while Pool A will see New Caledonia take on the Cook Islands at 4pm.

ENDS///