HONIARA – For a country that has graced the sand at three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup tournaments it is little wonder Solomon Islands is about to celebrate the launch of its own Beach Soccer League.
The Honiara Beach Soccer League is commencing soon in the capital, Honiara, and about 20 teams are expected to register for the inaugural competition.
The committee overseeing the beach soccer competition said in a statement that two venues have been earmarked for matches. They are the Ranadi Beach and DC Park at Henderson.
It said all the Bilikiki players will be evenly distributed between the participating clubs making for an interesting and open competition.
Solomon Islands recent success in beach soccer has attracted huge following in Honiara thus the interest to play the shorter version of football has also increased.
With the recent formation of a Honiara Beach Soccer Committee – established under Article 50 of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Statutes it is hoped that the league will grow rapidly.
The committee is a non-profit entity committed to developing male and female beach soccer players, with exceptional soccer skills.
It is hoped that the league, once up and running at both DC Park and RBC, will provide exposure to the best possible coaching, leadership, competition, and organization which can realize maximum success in club, high school, collegiate, and professional soccer programs as well as individual growth and community involvement.
Meanwhile, the Beach Soccer Committee is searching for sponsorship for the league and will work closely with interested businesses in the city to secure funds to run the proposed beach soccer league.
Those businesses that agreed to enter into partnership with the new beach soccer league will receive maximum promotions for their products as one of the conditions for this partnership.
DJ Graphics sponsored the ‘Road to France’ Beach Soccer Cup competition at Henderson earlier this year to help the Bilikiki Boys prepare for their trip to Marseille.
The four team tournament saw players from Solomon Islands previous Beach Soccer squads drawn randomly into each team with the competition played in a round-robin with a play-off and finals.
One News Television (SOL) captured the action for broadcast locally and then did the same for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Marseille 2008 matches involving Solomon Islands including the historic win over El Salvador.
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro 2006
Solomon Islands in action against Portugal
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro 2007
Gideon Omokirio tries to halt another Brazil attack on goal
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Marseille 2008
Solomon Islands sing the national anthem with pride in Marseille earlier this year