HONIARA, 30 July: Martin Alufurai has been elected as the new President of the Solomon Island Football Federation in a secret ballot by the SIFF Congress at the Fortune Conference Room.
He polled 17 votes while Silas Milikada who is the only candidate who stood against him only received 8 votes.
Alufurai was a former CEO of the federation before he took up the General Secretary’s post with the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI). It is understood his contract with the Olympic organization will lapse at the end of August.
Outgoing SIFF President Adrian Wickham did not seek re-election due to work commitment. He had served as SIFF President for two consecutive terms.
Wickham achieved much during his term in office including the upgrading of the Lawson Tama turf to international standard and now the construction of the National Soccer Academy which is the Phase Two of the FIFA Goal Project.
Three former executive members Peter Shanel (Senior Vice President), Philip Ohoto’ona (General Secretary) and John Bosamata (ordinary Member) failed to retain their positions in an election which saw provincial football associations opting for new people to lead the federation in the next four years.
Shanel is replaced by the President of Lauru Football Association John Smith Pitabelama (Senior Vice President) and Ohoto’ona by Eddie Ngava for the General Secretary post.
Isabel Football Association president Stanley Siapu replaces Alufurai as Vice President while Treasurer Aloysio Ma’ahanoa retains his position.
As for the ordinary Executive Members, only Robert Riqeo retained his position. His colleague John Bosamata was replaced by the vice president of Makira Ulawa Football Association Tommy Mana.
SIFF Executive
President – Martin Alufurai
Senior Vice President – John Smith Pitabelama
Vice President – Stanley Siapu
General Secretary – Eddie Ngava
Treasurer – Aloysio Ma’ahanoa
Member – Robert Riqeo
Member – Tommy Mana