The Solomon Islands national futsal team, nicknamed Kurukuru,[5] represents the Solomon Islands in international futsal competitions and is controlled by the Solomon Islands Football Federation. It is one of the strongest teams in Oceania, but fares poorly in competitions outside the region.
| Nickname(s) | Kurukuru | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Solomon Islands Football Federation | ||
| Confederation | OFC | ||
| Head coach |  Damon Shaw | ||
| Captain | Elliot Ragomo | ||
| Home stadium | Friendship Hall, Honiara | ||
| FIFA code | SOL | ||
| FIFA ranking | 74  8 (2 October 2023)[1] | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Australia 9–0 Solomon Islands  (Canberra, Australia, 25 July 2004)[2] | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Solomon Islands 21–2 Tuvalu  (Suva, Fiji, 14 August 2010)[3] | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Russia 31–2 Solomon Islands (Brasília, Brazil, 6 October 2008)[4] | |||
| FIFA World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 4 (First in 2008) | ||
| Best result | Group stage (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021) | ||
| OFC Futsal Championship | |||
| Appearances | 7 (First in 2004) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019) | ||
| Confederations Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (First in 2009) | ||
| Best result | 5th place (2009) | ||
The team's coach in 2008 was Victor Wai’ia.[6] By 2009, he had been succeeded by Dickson Kadau.[7] The country has no futsal stadium, although in July 2009 Prime Minister Derek Sikua promised that the government would assist in building one.[8]
On 6 October 2008, the Solomon Islands established a record for the worst defeat in the history of the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil 2008, when they were beaten by Russia thirty-one goals to two.[9] It was the country's first participation in the World Cup;[10] it finished last in Group A, with four games lost out of four, 6 goals for and 69 against.[11] At the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand, the Kurukuru once again finished last in their group, suffering heavy defeats to Russia and Colombia, but did manage to obtain their first World Cup win, beating Guatemala 4–3.[12]
On a regional level, however, the Kurukuru won the 2008 Oceanian Futsal Championship, and successfully defended their title in 2009, beating Fiji 8–1 in the final,[13] and then again in 2010 and 2011. After failing to win in 2013 and not competing in 2014, they would win their record-tying fifth OFC Futsal Championship in 2016. They are, therefore, the current regional champions.[14]
The Solomon Islands national futsal team currently holds the world record for the fastest ever goal scored in an official futsal match. It was set by Kurukuru captain Elliot Ragomo, who scored against New Caledonia three seconds into the game in July 2009.[15]
Results and fixtures
editThe following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2021
edit| 13 September 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup GS Group C | Morocco  | 6–0 Source (FIFA) | Solomon Islands | Kaunas, Lithuania |
| 18:00 EEST (UTC+3) | El Mesrar  2'Saoud 3'El Fenni 18'Bakkali 28'Boumezou 31'Borite 34' |
Report (FIFA) | Stadium: Žalgiris Arena |
| 16 September 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup GS Group C | Solomon Islands | 0–7 Source (FIFA) |  Portugal | Kaunas, Lithuania |
| 18:00 EEST (UTC+3) | Report (FIFA) | Fábio 4' Ricardinho 12'André 20', 23'Sia 26' (o.g.)Erick 30'Pany 38' |
Stadium: Žalgiris Arena |
| 19 September 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup GS Group C | Solomon Islands | 4–9 Source (FIFA) |  Thailand | Kaunas, Lithuania |
| 20:00 EEST (UTC+3) | Mana 15' Ragamo 27', 38' (pen.)Sia 40' |
Report (FIFA) | Nawin 4' Suphawut 6', 32', 39'Kritsada 17'Jetsada 24', 34'Jirawat 37'Peerapat 39' |
Stadium: Žalgiris Arena |
Team
editCurrent squad
editThe following players were called up to the squad for the 2023 OFC Futsal Nations Cup.[16]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Lordrick Afia | 8 July 2003 | Mataks FC
| ||
| 12 | GK | Cliff Sasau | 28 August 1976 | Haura FC
| ||
| 2 | DF | Calvin Do'oro | 24 January 2001 | Dawn FC
| ||
| 3 | DF | Elliot Ragomo (captain) | 28 May 1990 | Dawn FC
| ||
| 4 | DF | Clifford Misitana | Mataks FC
| |||
| 5 | DF | Marlon Sia | 19 July 1999 | Mataks FC
| ||
| 14 | DF | Jayroll Patty | Wechon FC
| |||
| 6 | FW | Charlie Otainao | 5 June 1992 | Dawn FC
| ||
| 7 | FW | Junior Mana | 4 December 2001 | Mataks FC
| ||
| 8 | FW | Eddie Kasute'e | Dawn FC
| |||
| 9 | FW | George Stevenson | 7 January 1992 | Futsal G-Camp
| ||
| 10 | FW | Micah Lea'alafa | 1 June 1991 | FK Beograd
| ||
| 11 | FW | Owen Bunabo | The Saints
| |||
| 13 | FW | Elis Mana | 9 March 2000 | Mataks FC
| ||
Competitive record
editFIFA Futsal World Cup
edit| FIFA Futsal World Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GS | GA |
 1989 |
Did not enter | |||||||
 1992
| ||||||||
 1996
| ||||||||
 2000
| ||||||||
 2004 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
 2008 |
Group Stage | 20th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 69 |
| 2012
|
21st | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 30 | |
 2016
|
24th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 21 | |
 2021
|
23rd | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 22 | |
 2024 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| Total | 4/10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 22 | 142 | |
OFC Futsal Nations Cup
edit| OFC Futsal Nations Cup record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| 1992 |
Did not enter | ||||||
 1996
| |||||||
| 1999
| |||||||
| 2004 |
Fifth place | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 31 |
 2008 |
Champions | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 19 |
| 2009 |
Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 7 |
| 2010 |
Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 16 |
| 2011 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 10 |
 2013 |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 15 |
 2014 |
Did not enter | ||||||
| 2016 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| 2019 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 11 |
| 2022 |
Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 20 |
| 2023 |
3rd Place | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 16 |
| Total | 10/14 | 49 | 37 | 3 | 9 | 321 | 148 |
Confederations Cup
edit| Futsal Confederations Cup record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| Libya 2009 | 5th place | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 29 |
| Brazil 2013 | Did not enter | ||||||
| Kuwait 2014 | |||||||
| Thailand 2022 | |||||||
| Total | 1/4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 29 |
References
edit- ^ Futsal World Ranking
- ^ Fut5alPlanet
- ^ Fut5alPlanet
- ^ "Russia Beats Kurukuru 31–2", Solomon Times, 7 October 2008
- ^ "In the Land of the Giants", Solomon Times, 6 October 2008
- ^ "In the Land of the Giants", Solomon Times, 6 October 2008
- ^ "Kurukuru Flies High, Defeating New Caledonia 8–3", Solomon Times, 7 July 2009
- ^ "GOV’T SUPPORTS FUTSAL STADIUM", Solomon Star, 13 July 2009
- ^ "Russia Beats Kurukuru 31–2", Solomon Times, 7 October 2008
- ^ "FIFA Futsal World Cup: Previous Tournaments"
- ^ "FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008: Matches"
- ^ "Keeper seals historic Solomons win at Futsal World Cup", Boxscore, 9 November 2012
- ^ "Solomons retains Futsal title", FijiVillage News, 11 July 2009
- ^ "Big welcome for the champions" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Oceania Football Confederation
- ^ "RAGOMO BEATS WORLD RECORD….to score the fastest futsal goal", Solomon Star, 15 July 2009
- ^ @si_kurukuru (22 September 2023). "Kurukuru 14-man squad for the OFC Futsal Nations Cup 2023 in New Zealand". Retrieved 3 October 2023 – via Instagram.
External links
edit- The Solomon Times’ coverage of team Kurukuru's performance at the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup