South Pacific stalwart football nation, Fiji and New Caledonia have been left out of the newly organised Wantok Cup competition that some say has been set up to replace the famous and fiercely contested Melanesian Cup.

The Wantok Cup is the brainchild of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) to the now defunct Melanesia Cup competition.

It has been set up as a Tri-nation competition between PNG, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

SIFF named the competition 'Wantok' because it reflects the one language that they all speak - Tok Pisin (PNG), Pidgin (Solomon Islands) Bislama (Vanuatu).

Solomon Islands general secretary Eddie Ngava told Solomon Times that the new tournament concept is not linked to the Melanesian Cup and therefore does not include Pacific Giants Fiji and New Caledonia.

"The Melanesian Cup was also the brainchild of the Solomon Islands Football

Federation but these two competitions are not linked in anyway," he said.

He made the clarification following confusions raised by soccer commentators about the two competitions and why Fiji and New Caledonia were not included.

Ngava explained that the Wantok Cup will provide much needed international matches for the national teams of the three countries and help them to be competitive seeing that there are no other major regional competitions besides the South Pacific Games and World Cup qualifying competitions which happens after every four years.

"By having regular international matches, at reasonable cost will greatly benefit our teams in terms of preparation for regional competitions such as the South Pacific Games," he added.

The SIFF General Secretary thanked the Solomon Islands Government for meeting the accommodation for the visiting teams from PNG and Vanuatu.
The tournament kicks off tomorrow at Lawson Tama Stadium in Solomon Islands.

Fijilive

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