Solomon Islands football international Atkin Kaua is all set to to trial for a professional club in Europe.
Given his young age, Atkin Kaua was assessed by the Dutch coaches during the 2019 Pacific Games campaign as the player with the highest potential, career wise. Photo: Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation
The Laugu United FC striker Atkin Kaua has been invited to trial for Malta's Tarxien Rainbows.
Funding constraints had initially cast some doubt on whether the footballer would even be able to make it to Europe.
But this seems to have been sorted and Paul Driessen from the Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation, who helped arrange the trial, says it's an an exciting opportunity for Kaua.
"It is quite an endeavour and it took us a lot of hours to get this together for all stake holders involved."
Driessen said the 23-year-old Kaua would undergo a fitness test and if he excelled in the trial, he could be on the field as early as next week.
Nawo in need of funding for European opportunity
Meanwhile it is a race against time for Henderson Eels winger Joses Nawo if he wants to play professional football in Europe.
Joses Nawo in action for Henderson Eels. Photo: OFC Media
The 31-year-old was also invited to trial for the Tarxien Rainbows alongside Kaua.
However, Nawo was still chasing the funds needed to make his trial.
Driessen said the finances were needed urgently.
"They are searching for a striker like Joses Nawo and if Joses is not the one to arrive in Malta then they will choose somebody else because there are hundreds of applicants every month coming to Malta or applying for a football career in Malta."
Driessen said it was frustrating the opportunity relied on money.
"The Henderson Eels are keen on supporting a release [from the club], but it all comes down to finance.
"So, we have set up the crowd-funding campaign which is still active but time is pushing right now because we tried to extend the deadline set by the Tarxien Rainbows," he said.
Driessen pointed out that Nawo wasn't receiving financial support from Henderson because they were wanting to invest in youth players.
However, Driessen said if the winger was contracted he would be a role model for Solomon's football.
He said it would be a win-win situation once the funds are secured.
President of the Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation, Paul Driessen, visited Malta in November. Photo: Supplied/Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation