HONIARA – Solomon Islands and Waitakere United striker Benjamin Totori made a teary return to the town that launched him onto the international scene amid emotional scenes at Honiara International Airport this afternoon. The 22-year-old striker and his Waitakere United team-mates were welcomed by Totori’s parents and a crowd of just over 400 local supporters as the build-up to the 2008 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League gains momentum in the this football-mad country.
Waitakere United President Rex Dawkins was overwhelmed by the reponse of locals as Totori and veteran strike partner Commins Menapi were treated to a welcome usually reserved for celebrities. Neither Totori or Menapi have been home in just over 7 months but it was easy to see how much the pair’s exploits on the football pitch have meant to fans in Honiara.
"This is an amazing welcome. I won’t forget this for a very long time. I just wish we had brought someone with us from television back home – these were unforgettable images," Dawkins said upon arrival at the team’s hotel.
SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka said the emotional welcome was of no surprise to locals.
"Most of the fans are from Benjamin’s village but Commins Menapi is also highly regarded as he played for Makuru FC.
The fans love both players so Waitakere United will enjoy good support on the weekend," Pituvaka said.
Pituvaka said that a crowd of around 12-14000 was expected for the weekend quashing rumours that 20-25000 may have crammed into the stadium as it once did for the Solomon Islands 1-2 loss to the Socceroos in 2005.
With 400 fans gathered at the airport a RAMSI escort to the Mendana Hotel saw Honiara come to almost complete standstill as workers left their shops and offices to watch the team bus and a lengthy covoy of fans led through the city centre with horns blasting and a what is sure to be familiar chant come Saturday of "Go Benji go!".
Between the airport and Mendana Hotel a throng of fans followed the Waitakere United team with the split between well-wishers and Kossa FC fans clearly in favour of the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) winners.
Local football observers claim that the crowd on Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium will be split 50-50 with fans of Makuru FC and Uncles FC – Menapi’s former club and a club based near the village where Totori grew up – likely to be punting for the team featuring two Solomon Islanders.
However Kossa FC fans will be out in force – 13,000 of them fronted for the match against Ba here two months ago – and it looks likely they will form the majority of the crowd this time.
Security plans are in place with local police, security companies and the RAMSI forces supplying back-up in the unlikely event of there being any trouble.
Waitakere United and Kossa FC attended a press conference at the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) this afternoon and OFC Media and Communications brings you the best of the images from Honiara.
READY TO GO: Royal Solomon Islands Police Officers and the Waitakere United Team Liaison Officer prepare for the touchdown of Waitakere United at Honiara International Airport
SECURITY BRIEF: Waitakere United listen in as security forces brief the players before departing the terminal
SAFE AND SECURE: Darren Bazeley watches on with a Royal Solomon Islands Police Officer in the background
WELCOME HOME SON: Benjamin Totori receives an emotional welcome from his mother as the singing crowd watches on
MILICICH ON THE MARCH: Waitakere United coach gives a pensive look upon arrival in Honiara
GO BENJI GO!: Fans of Makuru FC and Uncles FC arrived en masse to welcome Totori and Menapi and Waitakere United
"WESTIES": Waitakere United fans head for the Mendana Hotel behind the United team bus
CONVOY: Truckloads of fans sporting fern t-shirts follow Waitakere United to the team hotel
WARM WELCOME: Neil Emblen and Jonathon Perry enjoy the local welcome
WAITAKERE SMILES: Danny Hay, Benjamin Totori, Jason Rowley and Neil Sykes
HONIARA AT A STANDSTILL: Fans outside the Central Magistrates Court watch on as the team bus passes by
MEDIA OUT IN FORCE: Thirty journalists from radio, television and print gather for the official press conference
UNITED WE STAND: Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich with Benjamin Totori and Danny Hay
HIGH HOPES: OFC Media Officer with Kossa FC and Solomon Islands coach Jacob Moli and striker Reggie Davani
STRIKE RIVALS: Kossa FC and Papua New Guinea striker Reggie Davani with Waitakere United and Solomon Islands striker Benjamin Totori