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Oceania Football Web SiteKurukuru build-up continuesThe Solomon Islands national futsal team, the Kurukuru, are continuing to show improvement as they build towards the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012, falling to recently-relegated Spanish National League side Carnicer Torrejon just 3-0 on Tuesday.
While the final score was firmly in the home side’s favour, Kurukuru coach Dickson Kadau commended the progress his team has already made since losing 7-0 to Australia in Brisbane last week in what was the squad's first international match in 18 months.
“Compared with the friendly match against Australia, the boys are playing much better and that is important for us as we look ahead to the World Cup,” he says.
“I felt today that we could have won but the result did not go our way. I am not satisfied with this result and I want us to get on the scoreboard and win.”
Kadau says defensively the team were more organised and the players more confident with each other while in attack they showed better coordination but, despite getting the lion’s share of scoring chances, they failed to capitalise and score.
The statistics for the first half were accurately reflected in the nil-all score at the brak but, despite the second period having a similar amount of possession and goal-scoring opportunities for both teams, it was the Spanish side who were able to take advantage.
The Kurukuru adopted a more attacking approach in the second-half but this left them exposed at the back, which allowed Carnicer Torrejon to take the lead through a Kike goal just before the 22nd-minute mark.
A few moments later, a lapse in concentration allowed Kike to extend the lead with a chip over the goalkeeper, giving the home-side a 2-0 advantage.
With nine minutes remaining, captain Elliot Ragomo was employed as a flying goalkeeper to add weight to the Kurukuru’s attack which was effective for keeping the ball.
Unfortunately it also left the defence open, allowing Jorge Cavadas to score with a deep shot from inside his own half, beating Ragomo who was racing back to cover the goal.
The Kurukuru now face First Division side Caja Segovia on Thursday, followed by the friendly international against European champions Spain on Saturday.
As well as the friendly matches, the squad has been engaged in an intensive training programme at the Ciudad del Futbol, or City of Football, in Las Rozas, Madrid thanks to the partnership between OFC and the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
Not only is the team training in world-class facilities at the state-of-the-art Polideportivo Futbol Sala, they will also have the opportunity to see Spain’s national futsal squad train under coach Jose Venancio Lopez.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb
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Oceania Football Web SiteKurukuru rediscover goal-scoring waysThe Solomon Islands national futsal team have finally found the back of the net in a friendly match against professional Liga 1 side Caja Segoviea in Spain but their two goals did not prove enough to secure a win.
The Kurukuru, who are in Spain for an 11-day training camp, went down 5-2 to Caja Segovia, but showed massive improvement on their first Spanish friendly against second division side Carnicer Torrejon.
The expectation was for a straightforward win for the home team but the Kurukuru proved they were no easy beats with a determined showing.
Head coach Dickson Kadau commended his players for their performance, saying they are now playing in the manner they are expected.
"I belive we could have won this game given how the boys played but we did not put away our chances. But I am happy with how the boys played today," Kadau says.
"They have the right attitude and determination and I am particularly pleased with their communication on the court and their marking.
"At the same time there are some weaknesses which we need to work on such as the number of fouls committed, effective finishing, and anticipation of attacks, and players must learn to pass to a teammate if they cannot score. However, generally I feel that the team is moving in the right direction and picking up for the World Cup."
Caja Segovia took the initiative as they pressured the Kurukuru in search of early goals. Jose Lozano threatened with the first shot of the match but it went safely wide. However, Borja Molino made sure the home side took the lead with his strike in the fourth minute.
The Kurukuru regained some control as the first half proceeded but their options were limited as Caja Segovia kept a tight hold on the reins. There was some promise for the Solomon Islanders with worthy attempts coming from Samuel Osifelo and Jeffery Bule but unfortunately for the visitors Eduardo Padilla extended the home team's lead to 2-0 in the 14th minute.
The half-time break injected some life into the Kurukuru who returned to the court with purpose, putting pressure on the Spaniards in a bid to get on the score sheet.
However it was the home side who put away two more goals through Lozano and Padilla before the Kurukuru got their first break in the game.
A perfectly-crafted free kick from Coleman Makau allowed Moffat Sikwa'ae to send the ball into the back of the net.
Caja Segovia were quick to reply with Lozano scoring his second form a penalty foul, however the goal did little to dampen the Kurukuru's spirit.
They added their second goal through some fine finishing from Osifelo after he was set up by Sikwaw'ae with a quick pass into the box following a counter-attack.
While the final score was in favour of Caja Segovia, the Kurukuru certainly made their presence felt displaying some superb attacking play and giving management a clear indication that the players are moving towards the World Cup with purpose and confidence.
Caja Segovia is one of the top Spanish futsal clubs, playing in the premier division since 1989. Last season they finished fourth and are currently sitting seventh on the league table.
Next in line for the Kurukuru is a friendly against European champions and former world champions Spain. The match will take place in Guadalajara, north-east of Madrid on Saturday.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb
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Oceania Football Web SiteKurukuru to meet Euro champsThe Kurukuru will play recently-crowned European champions and former world champions Spain this weekend as they continue their build up for next month's 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.
The multipurpose pavilion in Guadalajara, north-east of Madrid, will be the setting for this historic meeting between the champions of the old world and the champions of Oceania.
The match will take place on Saturday and will be the Solomon Islands' final friendly in Spain before leaving for Thailand on Monday.
This will be the team’s biggest match since their appearance at the last FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2008 and the excitement in the camp is reaching fever pitch as the players look forward to taking the same court as some of their heroes.
“This is a dream come true for us,” captain Elliot Ragomo says.
“To play against Spain is a great honour because we respect them so much and aspire to be like them. Some of the best players in the world are in this team and I cannot wait to play against them.”
The team has been in Spain for a week and have undergone a stringent training programme at the futsal pavilion in Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas, Madrid courtesy of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
The Kurukuru have played two friendly matches against Carnicer Torejjon and Caja Segovia from the Spanish second and first divisions respectively.
It is difficult to compare the two sides with the odds weighing heavily in favour of Spain who have won no less than six European championships and two FIFA Futsal World Cup titles.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Kurukuru have won four Oceania championships and participated in one FIFA Futsal World Cup and are considered to be a newcomer to the futsal world, lacking the experience of their opponent.
That has not dampened spirits in the Kurukuru camp however as they look to make use of the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world.
Head coach Dickson Kadau acknowledges the difference in capabilities between his team and Spain but says that the Kurukuru will take the court with confidence, determination and an open mind.
“It will be a different battle for Spain and a different battle for Kurukuru - the key for us is to stick to our objectives and play our own game no matter what happens,” Kadau says.
“The result is not as important as what the team will gain from this match. Simply put, you cannot buy such experience in a shop and I want my team to take full advantage of this chance to play this world-class side.”
Kadau revealed his strategy against Spain will be to play in a conservative manner and try to keep hold of the ball as much as possible.
“We will employ, obviously, a defensive game that aims to keep possession our way because this is the only way we can build confidence to attack," he says.
“That said, when we have opportunities we will attack because scoring will be priceless.”
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb
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Oceania Football Web SiteSpain too strong for Solomon IslandsThe Kurukuru put up a brave fight against one of their greatest opponents to date but in the end European champions Spain overpowered them to take a profound 9-0 victory over the visitors.
The match was played in Guadalajara, north-east of Madrid, in front of a sizeable crowd who had turned up to witness history being made.
For the Kurukuru this was the final friendly in Spain before they wrap up their training camp and head to Thailand and the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Spain were on top of proceedings from start to finish and while the Kurukuru struggled to find an answer to the Spanish attack, in the second-half they managed to find their feet and display some of the skills and pace already well-known to their Oceania opponents.
Head coach Dickson Kadau was unsatisfied by the score-line and says his players could have achieved more during the match.
“We started really slowly today and basically gave away the first-half. The second-half we played much better and showed our capabilities, but I do not feel like we played at our best level,” Kadau says.
“However, I wish to congratulate the players for their bravery in the game. It is difficult taking the court against a class team like Spain but I think the boys stood up to the occasion and this is important to us.”
The hosts made use of the Kurukuru’s slow start by getting on the scoreboard as early as the second minute. As the Kurukuru’s determination wavered Spain struck six more times to work up a 7-0 lead by half-time. The Solomon Islands best first-half effort was a long-range shot from James Egeta which found the target but did not trouble the Spanish goalkeeper.
Following a strong exchange in the dressing room, the Kurukuru returned to the court a different side in the second-half.
Playing with greater confidence, they managed to keep the ball from the Spanish players for significant periods, however Spain’s defences remained unbreakable as the visitors possession amounted to nothing on the scoreboard.
A plus for the Solomon Islanders was managing to keep the second-half scoreline to a minimum with Spain finding the back of the net only twice during this period. However of concern for the Kurukuru now is the health of their captain Elliot Ragomo who sustained an injury midway through the game. A full report on Ragomo’s injury is yet to be made available but he was in obvious discomfort after the match and walking with a limp.
This is not the news the Kurukuru management is looking for as the team has already been hampered by the suspension of three key players prior to the Spain tour.
“We will monitor Elliot closely and hope that his injury is not as severe as initially thought,” Kadau says.
“He is a key player in this team and we cannot afford for him to miss the World Cup.”
The Kurukuru will leave Spain on Monday for Thailand, where they will play two friendly matches against Thailand and Australia. Their first game at the World Cup is against Russia and they will play Colombia and Guatemala in their second and third matches respectively.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb
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Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
