Robert Laua
Robert Laua (born 3 September 1991) is a footballer, futsal and Beach soccer player from the Solomon Islands. He plays as a defender for the Solomon Warriors in the Telekom S-League, for the Solomon Islands national football team, the Solomon Islands national futsal team and the Solomon Islands national beach soccer team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Laua | ||
| Date of birth | 3 September 1991[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Solomon Islands | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Solomon Warriors | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2013 | Koloale FC Honiara | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2015 | Koloale FC Honiara | ||
| 2015–2018 | Marist | ||
| 2018– | Solomon Warriors | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009– | Solomon Islands Beach Soccer | ||
| 2013– | Solomon Islands Futsal | ||
| 2017– | Solomon Islands | 7 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 August 2017 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 September 2017 | |||
Club career
Despite having successfully made his mark in beach soccer and Futsal, Laua find it quit difficult to make the 11 a-side breakthrough. Laua joined Koloale FC Honiara pre-season trainings in 2009 but could not make the first team until 2013. After four years of waiting, he finally earned his place in the first team in the season 2013-2014. In the following season Laua was deployed as main forward for the young Koloale side. Laua's main strengths lies on his speed and attacking abilities as he is a more natural winger. Laua joined Marist from local rival Koloale at the beginning of the season 2015-2016 and become one of the first new arrivals when Brazilian coach Juilano Schmeling first arrived to lead Marist. Once Laua found his rhythm, he never looked back. His energy and quickness of thought soon shown throughout the season. His first season with Marist was incredible as he featured in all competitive fixtures heading Marist attacking front. The newly reformed Marist side ended the season on 3rd position on the league table. 2016-2017 was a memorable season for Marist FC as the club eventually become champions of Telekom S-League. Despite being labelled as Marist' most successful season, Robert Laua faced a difficult situation in the mid-season. He was slowly recovering from a major injury he got during the Futsal World cup warm up. Laua couldn't make instant impact after recovering from his injury, also there's stiff competition on his preferred position (left midfield) which reduced his opportunities in the first team. Laua had never played as a left back in his entire career, however prior to Marist's OFC Champions League campaign in early 2017, the club realised that they had only one natural left back in the team, the Papua New Guinea international Koriak Upaiga, and there's was a need for a back-up left-back. That was the very moment that Marist Coach Schmeling opted to try him at the left back position. During the OFC Champions League campaign, he was introduced as substitute on the left-back position in all 3 group matches. In the summer of 2018 he transferred to the Solomon Warriors.
International career
Beach Soccer
Robert Laua has started his playing career as a beach soccer player. He was part of the Solomon Islands national beach soccer team, commonly known as the ‘Bilikiki’ from 2009 to 2013. At the age of just 17 in 2009, Robert Laua has his beach soccer career whole ahead of him where he has proved his incredible talent at the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai. It was a memorable World Cup debut for the 17 year old as his stunning hat trick helped Solomon Islands upset the South American giants Uruguay 7-6. The 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was yet another milestone in his career. He played a key role in a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the group stages and also managed to score against Argentina and El Salvador.
Futsal
After the 2011 Oceanian Futsal Championship in Fiji, Laua decided to put his focus on futsal. He attended the Kurukuru futsal trainings who were preparing for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup at that time. He was one of those new players who joined the training squad, competing with the star studded Kurukuru side for a spot in the final team. However, after months of World Cup build up, Laua unfortunately didn't make the final cut, he was included in the non-travelling list. Laua then turned his focus on the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia. He trained with the team under the guidance of new Brazilian coach Juliano Schmeling who was also his coach with Marist. Laua was in the Kurukuru team that successfully won the 2016 OFC Futsal Championship. Laua was included in the Kurukuru's World Cup team, who went on to play warm-up matches against the futsalroos and against Brazil, however while in Brazil just weeks before world cup, Laua had a serious injury which ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. Laua called this moment 'the saddest moment in my life'
Football
Laua's inclusion to the national team came as a surprise to many including previous managers who led the national team as no one expected him to be head coach Felipe Vera-Arango first choice. Laua made his debut on May 25, 2017 in a 1-1 draw against Fiji. So far Laua has played five games for the Solomon Islands national team against the national teams of Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu[2]
References
- http://www.espnfc.com/player/257314/robert-laua
- "Marist stars on national duty". Maristfootball.com. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.