FIFA DELEGATION RETURNS TO SI

A high powered FIFA delegation is in Honiara in a follow up visit following the successful Com-Unity Workshop held in November 2004.

The delegation includes Urs Zanitti who heads the FIFA Development Programme Service and FIFA Goal Development officer for Oceania region Glenn Turner.

Turner says Zanitti had decided to take this opportunity to visit the Solomon Islands after a hectic week of seminars and workshops in the Oceania region over the past three weeks to see the progress made following the FIFA Com-Unity workshop held in Honiara last year.

While here, they will meet with several groups including both government and the non-government organisations. They will also visit the national soccer academy at Panatina. “This is important for the development of soccer in Solomon Islands,” Turner adds.

Zanitti is optimistic about the development so far especially the construction of the national academy.

According to Turner, Zanitti’s enthusiastic observation of the academy is an ideal milestone for the development of football in Solomon Islands. He believes that the completion of the Goal National Academy will improve the grass roots programme for ages 6-12.

“It will greatly help the progress of youth and women football,” he adds.

Turner says Zanitti was particularly impressed that women soccer, particularly in Honiara is making strides as witnessed by the leagues being organized for women and school girls.

Meanwhile, Zanitti has assured the new SIFF leadership of FIFA’s commitment to ensure football here continues to progress.

ENTRANCE FEE WAIVED FOR WOMEN’S FINALS

On the eve of the Women’s soccer league grandfinal SIFF announced that there would be no charge for football fans and supporters.

The matches were due be held at the Lawson Tama Stadium on October 7 with the minor final at 4.30pm and the grand final at 6.15pm.

The match was set as a replay of the 2004 women’s soccer final with Rangers taking on Naha in the grand final and Marist against Flamingo in the minor final.

Naha won 3-1 against Junior Flamingo and Rangers overcame Marist 2-1 in the semi finals on Tuesday to qualify.

The semi final matches were of high standard and players are showing a great improvement in soccer. Both matches were witnessed by the head of FIFA Development Programme Service Urz Zanitti and FIFA Goal Development officer Glenn Turner.

SIFF recently announced that it is selecting an Under 20 women’s squad and a senior squad for upcoming regional competitions from the current league.

The senior women’s squad will also be preparing for the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa. With the Under 20’s preparing for the OFC qualifiers next year also in Samoa.

Draws for the SIFF women’s knockout will be made before the finals today. The knockout will be held after the Solomon Cup tournament which ends October 22.

SOLOMON CUP BRIEFS

Central Shields first to register

Central Football Association is the first to have paid their registration fee of $1,000 which qualifys their team to compete in the Solomon Cup tournament.

Organising committee chairman Noel Wagapu confirmed the payment saying other provincial football associations will have to pay their fees before the tournament starts in a week’s time.

Meanwhile, the Western Turtles is the first provincial side to arrive in the capital ahead of the Solomon Cup tournament which kicks off on Saturday 15th October at Lawson Tama stadium.

Capital-based players available for provinces

Provincial Football Associations are allowed to include five Honiara-based players in their final squad to compete in the Solomon Cup tournament.

SIFF agreed to provide this leeway because of previous experience where some provincial teams are tougher than the others.

To avoid a repeat of this scenario, it has agreed to give provincial football associations the liberty to pick any player of their choice to represent them.

It is understood a number of provinces have included Honiara-based players in their squads. Those that have named Honiara-based players include Malaita, Central, Temotu, Isabel and Lauru FA.

Students get in for free

Primary school students and the disabled persons will be able to watch the Solomon Cup tournament without paying entrance fee.

This was agreed on by the committee organising the competition to encourage young kids to come in numbers to watch the matches and inturn encourage them to play soccer while the disabled, a gesture extended to them by the federation.

SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava initiated the idea during the committee’s meeting on Wednesday this week.

The committee is confident that with the free-entry policy from primary schools students many will be able to share the joys of the World’s most spectacular game – soccer.

However, only primary school students wearing their school uniforms and are seen to be below 12 years will be eligible for free entry.

“Secondary school students and other youths who in the opinion of the organisers are over the age of 12 will still have to pay students fee at the gates,” the committee says in a statement.

Secondary school students are urged to wear their uniforms to qualify them for student’s fee otherwise they will have to pay the adult fee. The condition only applies to hillside area.

As for the grandstand and the adjacent hill, the organising committee has imposed $10 entrance fee across the board for adult and children alike.

Ticket for standing is $5.00 for adult while secondary school students in uniform $3.00.

Solomon Cup Pools drawn

The draw for the Solomon Cup soccer tournament was made yesterday (October 5, 2005) in Honiara with 10 provincial teams grouped into two pools.

Pool A features current champions Malaita Eagles, Honiara Warriors, Isabel Frigates, Real Kakamora (Makira Ulawa) and Renbel (Avaiki).

In Pool B are Temotu Arrows, Lauru (Choiseul), Central Shields, Guadalcanal and Western Turtles.

The finalists from the last Solomon Cup in 1999, Malaita Eagles and Temotu Arrows were drafted automatically into the two pools before teams were drawn based on lots picked during the draws.

Representatives from all provincial football associations with officials of the Solomon Islands Football Federation were present during the draws.

The Solomon Cup will be held at Lawson Tama Stadium between October 15 – 22. All provincial teams are expected to arrive in Honiara this week and next week.

All provincial teams have been training in their respective headquarters of Auki, Buala, Kirakira, Gizo, Tulagi and Taro in recent weeks.

The Solomon Cup was last held in 1999 in Gizo, Western Province.

—Francis Pituvaka – SIFF Media Officer