Solomon Island team receives a warm welcome on return: Futsal News
Solomon Island team earned a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup after winning the final of the 2011 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship. They reached back home to Solomon Island on May 24 at the Honiara's Henderson Airport.
The Kurukuru squad was received by hundreds of fans at the airport and thousands were present on the sides of the road to greet their heroes. The final of the 2011 OFC Futsal Championship was played on May 20 at the Vodafone Arena Suva, Fiji.
The team's Manager, Mapuru Tausinga, on his arrival back home said, "I would like to thank Our Telekom, Nice Bola, DJ Graphics, Lion Heart Plant and Hire, Solomon Airlines and Tausinga Outboard for the support they have given us, If I have not mentioned
you and you know you have helped then this word of appreciation is extended to you as well. Finally, I would like to thank all the citizens of this country for believing in us and for all your prayers."
The Kurukuru squad remained unbeaten through the championship. They won all the group matches and ended at the top position in the group rounds. In the final hurdle they faced Tahiti and took them down by 6-4 match score.
There was a brief ceremony at the airport parking and after that all the players boarded a bus and paraded through the city. The fans were eager to see their champion, Elliot Ragomo, who was the centre of attention as he was the man who played a key
role in the victory of the team.
The team rounded the city and then reached the head office of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF). A group picture was taken of the team and officials at the SIFF Head office. The Kurukuru squad will be heading for Spain to seeking training
from the Spanish Futsal players. Spain was the champion of the last FIFA Futsal World Cup. It will be great opportunity for the Kurukuru players to train as it will help
The President of the SIFF Martin Alufurai looked happy and greeted the players on showing an excellent performance. The officials of SIFF will be leaving for Zurich next week to sign an MOU for the Kurukuru squad to train in Spain.
The president of the SIFF said, "This team is unique in the sense of their discipline and commitment, these are things that have been missing from our teams for some time."
The FIFA Futsal World Cup will be held in 2012 at Bangkok, Thailand. Futsal is a new form of football and is rapidly gaining popularity in the world. The Oceanic Region is lacking behind in the world of sports. The training of the Kurukuru squad at
Spain will bring a new ray of hope for the region.
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