Solomon Islands football coach Felipe Vera-Arango believes the future is bright, despite a heavy defeat in the FIFA World Cup Oceania Qualifying Final.
Solomon Islands defender Leon Kofana and New Zealand striker Chris Wood battle for possession. Photo: OFC Media
The Bonitos were outclassed 5-0 by New Zealand in the deciding match in Doha.
Vera-Arango said their preparations for the final began to fall apart when both of their starting centre-backs and a reserve all tested postive for Covid-19.
"We had to cancel the team meetings, we couldn't have lunch together and we lost another player due to the PCR (test following two positive RAT tests)," he said.
"So we lost two starters and things start falling apart there and then we have some muscle problems with a lot of players."
Solomon Islands football coach Felipe Vera-Arango issues instructions. Photo: Solomon Islands Football Federation
The are no full-time professional players in the Solomons squad and their coach said the short turnaround between matches was difficult.
"I think the tournament for us was a little long - especially playing three games in six days at this level is really tough for us to recover but I am extremely proud of my boys,"he said.
"This is football: sometimes you win and sometimes they don't so you have to accept it, congratulate the opposition and make sure that the boys are happy. I told them when I went to the locker room not to be disappointed, to be proud of what they have done and keep going from here."
The Spaniard has revamped the Solomons team since his appointment in June last year, with the squad in Doha having an average age of just 22.5.
Felipe-Arango said the team will now focus on building towards next year's Pacific Games, which are being hosted in Honiara.
"There is a really young generation," he said.
"I believe we were the youngest team in the tournament. We had several 19-year-old boys play in the game (against New Zealand) - people with no international experience - so I think the future for Solomons football looks bright.
"With players like Raphael (Lea'i) and there are several there who are under-17s there is a lot of talent in Solomons so with the right coaching and the right things I think the future in Solomons looks bright."
The Solomons squad in Qatar had an average age of 22.5. Photo: OFC Media
The Spanish coach previously told RNZ Pacific that teenage phenom Raphael Lea'i was good enough to play in La Liga in the next two to three years.
The 19-year-old scored four goals during the OFC Qualifying Tournament and Vera-Arango said professional clubs should be lining up to sign the Henderson Eels forward.
"I hope so. If they don't give it to him it's because they have no idea about football," he said.
"He's 19-years-old. It's the first time that he plays in senior level at this level. Before he started the game today he was in the top of the scoring list with Chris Wood, who plays in the Premier League, and he played with pain and he played with a lot of hamstring problems and he tried as hard as he could.
"He's 19 years-old, naturally gifted, a wonderful boy and if nobody talks to him to play professional football it's because people are missing something."
Solomon Islands captain Micah Lea'alafa said Lea'i was "different".
"That guy can go far. That kid's going to go far and I believe in him. He has a bright future ahead of him."
Raphael Lea'i takes on the All Whited defence. Photo: OFC Media
The entire Solomon Islands squad currently play in the country's domestic competition, which only runs for five and a half months per year.
Felipe Vera-Arango said he was surprised that Pacific Island players continue to be ignored by Australian clubs, despite there being so much raw talent in the region.
"Sometimes in the league in Australia they sign really old players in the last stage of their careers and they are not performing that well," he said.
"But you have a lot of Pacific Island boys that they have the talent, they have the will, they have the genetics, they have the strong bodies.
"One thing that is extremely important is you can develop them to mould them how you want them to be and they are cheap...because they are not in the market yet and they can give you a lot more in the long run."