The friendly games are against Koloale, the country’s 2011/12 O-League representative, and a selection side from Malaita respectively. They will be the final part of the Bonitos’ preparations for the Pacific Games, which take place in New Caledonia from August 27 to September 9.
The first match will be held at Koloale’s AE Oval home in Honiara on Saturday while the Bonitos will travel to Auki in Malaita for the second.
The Malaita game is significant as it the first time a national team has headed to any of the provinces and excitement is already starting to build in Auki ahead of Monday’s clash.
Bonitos team manager William Lai says the players are pleased to be visiting Malaita and will make good use of the opportunity.
“I think it is an important opportunity for the national team to play a match but, beyond this, it is good public relations for us,” Lai says.
“Building good community relations and links is important as this team belongs to the country and it is time for it to reach out into fans in the provines. Malaita is a good start.”
The match will take place at the FIFA Goal III Project-funded Aligegeo Stadium in Auki which is currently hosting the Malaita Cup, the province’s premier football tournament. The selection side set to face the Bonitos will be picked from the best-performed players in the cup, the grand final of which be played on Saturday.
The historic game has come about following a joint invitation from the Malaita provincial government and the Malaita Football Association (MFA), an affiliate of the Solomon Islands Football Federation. Their request was based on a desire to assist the national team with its preparations for the Pacific Games and also to give the provincial side a challenging match as it looks ahead to the Solomon Cup in November.
MFA president Derek Taka believes bringing the national team to Auki will be a big boost to football in the region and says the locals cannot wait to see their heroes in action.
“The fans here are always eager to witness big matches and since the Aligegeo Stadium has opened we have been able to bring some club sides out from Honiara,” Taka says.
“But the visit of the national team will be the biggest one yet and we are all looking forward to it.”
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb

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