High-flying Kurukuru captain, Elliot Ragomo, has added the Young Solomon Islander of the Year award to his growing tally of achievements.

Ragomo is the inspirational captain of the youthful national Solomon Islands Futsal team and won the admiration of the nation as he led the Kurukuru to their second successive victory at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship this July.

Elliot’s national recognition has seen him win the award for outstanding achievement and contribution to football and the sum of $10,000 (SBD) in prize money.

Ragomo was the first ever Solomon Islander to play Futsal as a professional when he played for Playas De Castellyon in the Nacinal Futsal Liga in Spain in 2007.

He graduated from the Playas De Castellyon juvenile development squad in 2006 to make his name in their senior squad. He has been a member of the national Futsal team right from his representative debut in the U-12 squad

He captained the team that won the OFC World Cup qualifiers in 2008 to qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil that same year. He then led the Kurukuru as they became the first Solomon Islands team to appear at a FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Ragomo will next lead his teammates this October when they participate in a private invitational Confederations tournament in Syria.

Domestically, Ragomo plays for the Brissolona Futsal Club and with Central Titans in the Honiara Beach Soccer League.

Ragomo’s runner-up was none other than national football star Benjamin Totori who was also nominated for achievements in football. Totori has been the key ingredient in the rise of Uncles Football Club in Honiara and also in Waitakere United’s twin O-League titles in 2007 and 2008. Totori is currently training with Marist Football Club.

Former Women’s National Player and Assistant Coach of Koloale Women’s Soccer Club, Noelyn Wagapu, won the female Young Solomon Islander of the Year award.

She won the award for outstanding leadership and achievements in community development.

Noelyn also played in the Women’s U-19 squad which toured Papua New Guinea in 2004. She is currently in Wellington, New Zealand, on a scholarship to study radio broadcasting.

The awards were initiated by the Ministry of Youth, Women and Children’s Affairs to recognise the achievements of young people who made a significant contribution to development in Solomon Islands.

The wins underline football as an important contributor in developing and shaping the youth of the country. They come as SIFF starts to highlight the importance of social responsibility as an important aspect of football in the 21st Century.

Courtesy of SIFF Media