SIFF RELEASE: Thousands of Solomon Islanders turned up to welcome their soccer heroes in Honiara, who returned from a successful campaign in Adelaide, Australia on Tuesday, 8 June.
It was a fitting gesture for the Alan Gillett coached side as they did their country proud by qualifying for the third stage playoff alongside Australia.
The warm reception given to the team upon their arrival at Henderson Airport was a sight never seen before by locals, used to scenes of violence which rocked the tiny Melanesian nation of just under half a million for years, until outside intervention finally restored peace last year.
The well travelled Gillett, who has coached all around the world, marvelled at the number of people that had turned up at the airport. He was lost for words at the reception, especially the attention he recieved.
Locals from all walks of life, young and old, filled the streets as the motorcade carrying the team & officials made its way from the airport into central Honiara.
Never before was this kind of welcome given to any soccer team. Even the Parliament session has had to be suspended just to allow the Prime Minister Sir Alan Kemakesa and members of Parliament to welcome the team home.
There were cheers and cries of jubilation everywhere with some even shedding tears. The motocade which took the boys on the victory parade from Henderson to White River took almost three hours to complete the route.