The Solomon Islands Football Federation and local organising committee has paid tribute to the Solomon Islands Police and the 17,000 football fans who were out in force for the O-League clash between Marist FC and Ba FC on Tuesday afternoon.

Honiara was buzzing with O-League fever days leading into the Group B fixture and there were concerns prior to the game about suitable security measures being implemented. However Solomon Islands football fans were extremely well-behaved throughout the match against Ba FC as the game passed off without incident.

Solomon Islands football reputation was left tainted two years ago after a match at the 2005 OFC U20 Men’s Youth Championship between Australia and Solomon Islands was abandoned with 15 minutes remaining due to crowd trouble.

On Tuesday there were no reports of crowd trouble despite the home club Marist FC losing 2-0 to the visiting Fijian champions. Laisenia Tuba and Osea Vakatalesau both scored for Ba FC as the Fijian club took pole position in O-League Group B. Marist FC’s next home match will be against AS Temanava of Tahiti on Thursday 22nd March, 2007.

The next O-League Group B fixture will see Tahitian champions AS Temanava host Ba FC on Friday 23rd February, 2007, kickoff 8pm French-Polynesia time. Also on Friday in Group A, Auckland City face struggling New Caledonia champions AS Mont Dore at Kiwitea Street, Auckland, kickoff at 6pm.