The Duke of Cambridge, who is president of the English Football Association and an Aston Villa supporter, spent time with the children following an official engagement at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Pacific Centre in Honiara and showed his support for Just Play by displaying his football skills.
The prince was presented with a football by Patrick Junior, an eight-year-old pupil from Naha Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, and also received a Just Play polo shirt and cap before joining in on the fun.
He took on student Philemon Fatai in a mock penalty shoot-out but did not emerge triumphant, seeing the excited youngster save two of his three efforts.
“He’s good – but not as good as me,” Philemon quipped afterwards.
The occasion was organised by OFC Head of Social Responsibility and International Relations Franck Castillo in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and Castillo was pleased to see Just Play receive the royal stamp of approval.
“This is a blessing for the Just Play programme,” Castillo said.
“Prince William enjoyed his time with the Solomon Islands’ children and it was an outstanding moment. The meeting with the prince has given us great exposure to the world in order to show that football is not only a game but also an important social development tool.”
SIFF general secretary Eddie Ngava was grateful to the authorities concerned for supporting Prince William’s meeting with the Just Play children and believes the memorable visit was a great success.
“SIFF thanks the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, the Commonwealth Youth Programme and those that also assisted in making the day such a successful one for Just Play,” he said. “I am sure that it has been an inspiring day for the children.”
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play is designed for children aged six to 12 and promotes physical activity while encouraging community involvement, healthy living, gender equality and disability development.
OFC has worked closely with UEFA, the Australian Government – through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – and Football Federation Australia to implement the programme across the Pacific over a three-year period between 2009 and 2012. It was launched in Tonga and is now also running in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
The confederation has also been working in New Zealand with Special Olympics on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities and has launched the same initiative in Samoa and Fiji.
Just Play has reached over 100,000 children – 43 per cent of whom are female – across the Pacific and trained over 2,000 teachers and volunteers.

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