HONIARA – ‘Our Telekom’ Cup National Under 23 soccer championships got underway in Honiara at the weekend following an float parade from Town
Ground to Lawson Tama on Friday afternoon.
The late afternoon showers did little to dampen the spirits of all those who participated in the official opening programme.
The parade ended at Lawson Tama where the teams had waited for the final part of the opening ceremony – a declaration by the Honiara City
Mayor Cr. Alfred Maetia.
Speaking before be officially declared the competiton open, the City Mayor sent a message to the participants that highlighted that youths
make up the majority of population of the country and are under utilized and have a crucial role to play in future of the Solomon Islands.
Maetia said ‘Our Telekom’ leads the way in ensuring Solomon Islands youths are utilized by engaging them in a national soccer
competition.
“Sports build bridges between people of all backgrounds and this competition will help promote friendship and understanding amongst the
participants,” he adds.
‘Our Telekom’ CEO Martyn Robinson could not hide his feelings saying it was a great for him to witness the opening of Our Telekom Cup
competiton.
He reminded all the participating teams to play in through spirit of sportsmanship adding ‘May the best team wins.”
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) President Martin Alufurai says football continues to unite the country despite the current
political situation.
Alufurai said in the face of all the civil unrest of recent years, football continues to build bridges bringing people from Temotu in the east
to Choiseul in the West to participate in the ‘Our Telekom’ Cup soccer competition.
Alufurai told the players that the competition provided them with lifetime opportunity to be seen and perhaps selected to represent Solomon
Islands in the OFC Olympic qualifiers in Fiji early next year.
He urges all the players to give their best in the competition.
Our Telekom provided more than SBD$200,000 for the hosting of the competiton.
Meanwhile, on the football pitch, Kakamora, Central Shields and Guadalcanal Hornets won their opening encounters on Match Day One of the ‘Our
Telekom’ Cup competition on Saturday.
Our Kakamora from Makira Ulawa Provinces defeated Central Honiara Eels 3-1, Central Shields humbled Avaiki Chiefs of Renbel Province 4-2
and Guadalcanal Hornets brushed aside West Honiara to cap off a successful day one of competition for all provincial teams over city teams.
