Hawke's Bay soccer player Joachim Rande has been called up to represent his country this weekend.
The 23-year-old former Maycenvale United striker will be making his debut for the Solomon Islands elite team against Tahiti in their World Cup qualifying match in Papeete.
The Eastern Institute of Technology sports and
recreation student from Hastings has played for his country's age-group international team before arriving to New Zealand on a scholarship to study.
Rande, who didn't get on the park much last year while recovering from knee surgery, has been playing futsal to ease back into soccer.
The former Hawke's Bay United and Youngheart Manawatu player hasn't indicated yet if he is playing this winter for any club.