Transcript
LAKAR SILAS: It is the first time a club from the rural has participated in the O league. We take it as a challenge and we are very happy to get through to the quarter-finals. We are looking forward for the quarter-final match on the seventh. It will be a game that we are preparing for.
KORO VAKA'UTA: What do you think has made Nalkutan so successful? You mention it is the first time that such a team has been in the OFC Champions League.
LS: We borrowed some players from some of the clubs from within the Port Vila league. We really try our best and we prepare and that's the result, the outcome of it and takes us to the quarter-final.
KV: Tell us a little bit about where the club is based and where you normally play because I know you hosted the last group in Port Vila and you will be having this quarter-final at the Korman stadium but the club itself is based elsewhere.
LS: The club itself is originally from one of the remote islands in Vanuatu, in the southern part of the country, Tanna island. That's where the club is mainly from. They have to fly over from Tanna to Port Vila to take part in the OFC. Port Vila is hosting. Port Vila has the facilities for the stadium and everything that meets the requirements for OFC. So that's why they have to fly from the island to Port Vila, the main city of Vanuatu and they have to play the game in there.
KV: What's the reaction been like on Tanna, the community there, how are they feeling after seeing their club doing so well?
LS: The community itself, they are very happy, they are excited, they celebrate the whole time. They are looking forward to extend celebrations for the quarter-final match. We have been getting supporters from the island on the ship. They travel from the island on the sea transport to Port Vila just to give their support, to support their club. That is the reason Nalkutan succeed, because of the support from the people of the island.
KV: Is there any way that those that can't make it to Port Vila, have they been able to follow the success of the team?
LS: Yes, through the sponsorship, we have sponsors of live coverage. Local business people from the island, they sponsor the live coverage so people can't travel, they follow the matches through the live coverage and also from the OFC livestream. That's how they get the live updates from, those who have no chance to get to Port Vila.
