The last international played in Honiara was the Bonitos national team’s draw with Vanuatu in August as part of its preparations for the XIV Pacific Games and, with the Telekom S-League having started just last weekend, the fans have been starved of top-class football.
The build-up to Koloale’s opening O-League game began weeks ago but the fans’ excitement reached fever pitch yesterday when defending champions Auckland arrived from New Zealand.
The visitors held their first training session later in the day at the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) academy grounds and did their best to garner a bit of local support by handing out posters to members of the public who had turned out to watch the practice.
Local support is something that their opponents will certainly have no problem in receiving. The club has built up a strong fan base after its success in recent years and the ‘Army of Green’ is expected to swarm Lawson Tama on Saturday, possibly reaching the 20,000 capacity mark.
The Koloale squad is equipped with some of the country’s biggest footballing names and the likes of Benjamin Totori, Henry Fa’arodo and James Naka are massive draw cards in local competitions.
But it is international fixtures such as the Auckland game that draw the most interest and there is sure to be plenty of passionate support on show tomorrow.
Football nut Sammy Mokia is in no doubt about who he will be cheering for come kick-off time and is urging others to put aside local club allegiances and back the Men in Green.
“I have my own local club but when it comes to the O-League I will be backing Koloale,” the Honiara resident says. “They are playing for the whole of the Solomon Islands and they deserve all the support they can get.”
But there are others, such as secondary school student Brian Baeto’o, who will be there to be involved in the fun and will cheer any side that plays good football.
“I know there will be great goals in the game and that is what I am going for,” he says. “I don’t really support either of the teams, I’m only interested in watching good football and I know there will be plenty of that in this game.”
The day is expected to be trouble-free but local authorities are taking no chances and over a hundred security officers will be on guard to ensure the safety of spectators, match officials and both teams.
Tickets are available from the SIFF headquarters and fans can also buy tickets at the stadium on Saturday.
2012 O-League Match Day 1
Koloale vs. Auckland City
Saturday 29 October
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Assistant referee 1: Jackson NAMO [SOL]
Assistant referee 2: Noel BERRY [SOL]
Fourth official: Nelson SOGO [SOL]
Koloale: 1. Eddie RAMO [GK], 2. Isreal KOTE FANAI, 3. Freddie KINI, 4. Cecil BURU, 5. Samson TAKAYAMA, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Ezra SALE, 11. Ian PAIA, 13. Lency SAENI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. James NAKA, 18. Henry FA’ARODO, 19. Joses NAWO, 23. Steven ANISI, 24. Willy DAUDAU, 25. Francis LAFAI, 26. Molis GAGAME, 20. Shadrack RAMONI [GK]
Coach: Peter EKE
Auckland City: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. Chad COOMBES, 8. David MULLIGAN, 9. Manel EXPOSITO, 10. Luis CORRALES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 12. Liam LITTLE [GK], 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Adam DICKINSON, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Albert RIERA, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Andreu GUERAO, 22. Andrew MILNE
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb

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