Solomons hunt new coach

Over half a year after Wim Rijsbergen left the post of Head Coach of the Solomon Islands, the Football Federation has announced they have started looking for his replacement.

“The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is in the hunt to recruit a national team coach to replace Dutch legend Wim Rijsbergen who left the national side after the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa,” a statement from SIFF read.

The Pacific Games ended in July.

SIFF say they are looking for a foreign coach but that time is urgent and that “it’s still possible to appoint a local coach as a caretaker while the search is on for a foreigner.”

“A foreign coach could be appointed but it will take time to find a suitable candidate to take the helm of the national team. […] The appointment of a new coach is urgent as 2020 is shaping up to be a busy year for the national team.”

Asked if he will apply, former Technical Director and Head Coach of the Solomons, Felipe Vega-Arango has told Football in Oceania he will not try for the job this time.

The new head coach would take charge of the Nations Cup in New Zealand in June and SIFF say a tri-nation tournament with Fiji and Tahiti is in the process of being completed.

SIFF President William Lai has not answered Football in Oceania’s question for a comment on the minimum qualification they are looking for in a new coach, or why it has taken so long for SIFF to say they are looking for a new coach.