Solomon Islands eagerly await another opportunity to see their Kurukuru heroes in action on home soil in the Wantok Futsal Challenge 2017, running from 8 to 15 April at Multipurpose Hall in Honiara.

Tournament Manager Thomas Kalola has invited the top teams from Honiara, Savo and Russell, Makira, Temotu and Malaita to participate in the annual competition, with some teams featuring former, current and prospective Solomon Islands national futsal team players.

“This competition will feature 16 teams, most of the teams are champions in various leagues organised in Honiara as well as in our provinces,” he said.

“A team from Vanuatu will also come and compete in this competition.”

Vanuatu hosted the inaugural competition in 2014 and again in 2015 before the competition was brought over to Solomon Islands for the first time in 2016.

With futsal growing more popular across the region, particularly in Melanesian countries, Kalola is considering different nations to host the 2018 edition.

“Our next host country is yet to be confirmed, but it’s between Vanuatu and New Caledonia,’’ he said.

The winner of this year’s challenge will automatically qualify to compete in the Futsal Wantok Challenge 2018, booking their tickets to the yet-to-be-decided host nation.