Football fever has gripped Honiara as an army of fans in the Solomon Islands await the arrival of Fijian champions Ba FC for the mouthwatering O-League Group B match against Marist FC.
A capacity crowd is expected to swell Lawson Tama Stadium with the O-League dominating newspapers, radio and local television. O-League banners advertising the match hang draped above the bridge leading into the city centre and Lawson Tama Stadium itself.
The last international match played in Honiara saw the Solomon Islands take on the might of Australia for a place at the FIFA World Cup – Germany 2006 in front of a capacity crowd with thousands locked outside unable to obtain tickets taking to the hills and trees in an effort to catch a glimpse of the match any way they could.
A highly charged air of excitement and anticipation has been boosted by the presence of OFC president and FIFA vice-president Reynald Temarii.
Flights into Honiara have been booked out and with a huge influx of fans expected from the outer islands today and tommorrow.
Now Solomon Islands will host the glamour Fiji club Ba FC in what is billed to be showdown between the two Melanesian football powerhouses. Ba FC has dominated Fiji’s Champion of Champion series almost totally winning 13 consecutive titles in a row. Only Labasa has secured a Champion of Champion title – back in 1993, ironically against Ba FC, during a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Planning and preparation for Marist FC’s home match began shortly after the OFC announced new match schedules for Group B.
Today, sale of merchandise goods for both Marist and Ba FC’s have started in a make-shift stall in the car park in front of the Lawson Tama ground.
All these activities plus the arrival of the OFC’s soccer boss – President Reynald Temarii adds prominence to the highly charged soccer atmosphere already felt in the city.
Honiara city with a population of more than 50,000 residents is experiencing an influx of people mostly from the nearby islands. Flights into Honiara have also been booked out with people flocking into Honiara for this one off international match.