The Solomon Islands are spending big to ensure the national futsal team arrives at the World Cup in Colombia as the best prepared Kurukuru team ever.
The Solomon Islands retained their Oceania title in February to qualify for a third straight World Cup appearance in September.
The squad recently returned home from a three-week training camp in Australia and the Deputy Chief Executive of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, Joseph Boso, said their schedule will only get busier in the coming weeks.
"Now they're training locally and then they will go back to Australia for a two-week programme there and then they will travel to Brazil for another two-week programme and then off to Costa Rica for some more matches - that's not confirmed yet but that's the plan - and they will meet the other teams in Colombia for the World Cup so there is a lot of hard work coming ahead for the team," he said.
"It's a much different story from previous years - now there is a lot of hard work and a lot of funds being put into trying to get the team to qualify for the second round and see where they can go from there."
Solomon Islands won their fifth straight OFC title earlier this year. Photo: OFC
Joseph Boso said with Honiara still lacking a full-sized international futsal court it is important the team travels overseas and utilises top facilities to prepare as best they can.
He said the Solomon Islands World Cup campaign will end up costing more than two million Solomon Islands dollars ($US250,000) to ensure the Kurukuru arrive in Colombia better prepared than ever before.
"In the past there has been a lot of struggles in terms of financial backing for the team but now it's a completely different story...from the (Solomon Islands) Ports Authority and from the Solomon Islands Football Federation, working together with other partners and also a lot of help from our friends in Australia with Dural Baptist Church also supporting the team," he said.
"There's also support from Oceania Football and FIFA which will enable us to accomplish the training plan and hopefully get much better results in the World Cup."
Kurukuru captain Elliot Ragomo and George will also spend the next month in Brazil training with a local team as part of their preparations.
Kurukuru captain Elliot Ragomo celebrates a goal. Photo: OFC Media
