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Double victory for Toata

Beating Tahiti in front of a packed Lawson Tama stadium on Sunday was more than just a victory for Solomon Islands’ national football coach Moses Toata.
It was the perfect send-off.
In what was his last game in charge, the former national striker, Toata, has also won back the support of the home crowd that helped steer the home side to a 1-0 win over Tahiti in their second leg match in stage three of Oceania World Cup qualifying.
The home crowd seemed to have turned against the national team during last month’s friendly series when Solomon Islands lost twice at Lawson Tama to the visiting New Caledonia side.
And despite going down by the same goal margin in the first leg away in Tahiti last week, on Sunday the national side has finally produced the sort of result football mad Solomon Islands has been longing for.
Fans inside Lawson Tama stadium exploded into wild celebrations when defender Emmanuel Poila blasted in Solomon Islands’ winning goal at stoppage time at end of 90 minutes.
“I know perfectly well what the crowd wants in order to give their national team their full support,” Toata said after the win.
“They (crowd) want good results and good performances and I’m happy we were able to give them that today (Sunday),” he added.
Toata confirmed after Sunday’s victory he will not be in charge as coach for the rest of the national team’s world cup qualifying campaign.
“A new coach will arrive [from overseas] in the new year to take over when Solomon Islands plays Papua New Guinea next year and for the rest of the world cup qualifiers.
“But I will always be available to help out with the national team,” he said.
Toata has been looking after the national team on an interim basis since stepping down as head coach after the 2016 OFC Nations Cup in June earlier this year.
“I have spent a lot of time with the boys and the team so that is why I’m still in charge preparing them for these important matches while waiting for my replacement to arrive.
“Bringing in an overseas coach is quite expensive and takes time but hopefully he will arrive soon,” Toata said.
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is yet to announce the identity of the new coach and where he’s from.
SIFF President William Lai hinted the federation will step up its effort in preparing the national team for their final group match series in stage three against Papua New Guinea in June next year.
Meanwhile Mr Lai said as SIFF President he was proud of Solomon Islands’ 1-0 home win over Tahiti at Lawson Tama on Sunday.

Lata set to host U20 Netball championship

Lata Township in Temotu Province is set to host the 2016 Our Telekom National Under-20 Netball Championship.

The Solomon Islands Netball Federation (SINFED) has confirmed to all provincial netball associations the championship is proceeding as scheduled and will be hosted in Lata from 28 November to 2 December 2016.

SINFED will update provincial associations in the coming week on boat arrangements and date of departure from Honiara for Lata.

SINFED President, Noelyn Luahiti said all teams should budget for their return fares from their respective provinces to Honiara to Lata and return.

“All Teams should meet their own sea fares to Lata and return. For your information, the normal fare from Honiara to Lata per person is $450 x return, it is $900.

“The official team list is 12 players and three officials and that is 15 in all. You may take more but that is the official number per team for prize presentation,” Luahiti informed the provincial associations.

Luahiti said SINFED will accept to register only players that will turn 20-years-old in January 2017.

“That means those that are born after December 1997 will be eligible to participate at the Championship in Lata,” she said.

Major sponsors Our Telekom will soon finalize the sponsorship for prizes and trophies.

TAHITI RISING IN WORLD BEACH SOCCER

Tiny Pacific island’s beach soccer skipper recaps their move to prominence on the international stage

Dubai: The meteoric rise of Tahiti on the world beach soccer stage is nothing short of a miracle. The highest and largest island in French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, Tahiti is located 5,700km from Australia. The island is 45km across at its widest point and covers an area of 1,045 square km.

It is from such humble beginnings that Tahiti has risen since the past few years to nearly rule the world at last year’s Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup. Perhaps making a difference, more due to his absence than presence, was Tahiti skipper Naea Bennett. Led by his belief of Sunday being strictly a day of rest and worship, Bennett refrained from taking the field against Portugal in the final, and the Europeans fully exploited the rival skipper’s absence to win 5-3 for their second crown on the international stage.

Bennett was crucial to the team’s success. Till then, he the second-leading scorer, having hit the back of the net five times in just four matches, including two goals in Tahiti’s win over Italy in the semi-finals, and another two goals in their 5-4 win over Iran earlier in the quarter-finals.

Tahiti currently hold the number 7 ranking on the Fifa roster after finishing the 2015 season in an all-high No.3 after Portugal and Russia. Tahiti’s other neighbours in the South Pacific Ocean such as Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Cook Islands, are all ranked a distant No. 84 - all with zero points against their names.

Nothing really unusual in such a surge perhaps. But when one considers that the island of less than 184,000 made their foray into beach soccer less than ten years back – in 2010 to be precise - one may tend to see the achievement in a proper perspective.

In 2013, Tahiti had displayed their capacity to impress after becoming the first Pacific nation to qualify for the knockout stages of an international Fifa tournament during the Beach Soccer World Cup. Then in 2015, Tahiti beat Italy in a penalty shootout and become the first country from the Pacific Ocean zone to make it to the final of a Fifa competition.

However, the final resulted in a 5-3 heartbreak for the Tahitians, making legends like Bennett mull a few things and dream big.

“For sure, winning a World Cup will always be at the top of our priorities. We nearly created history last year, and if we continue the same way we can win a World Cup at least before I retire,” Bennett told Gulf News during the course of the Sixth Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup that concludes with the final on Saturday.

“Last year’s World Cup brings me bitter-sweet memories. At some point I thought we had our best chance to win a World Cup. But at the same time there was no way I was going to compromise with my beliefs. I am sure our moment will come. Maybe Fifa needs to re-think its tournament strategy and stop playing finals on a Sunday,” the Mormon suggested.

But that aside, the ambitions for something really big on the biggest stage are always burning in all of the team. “We’ve been through a lot together as a team. And we’ve shown our power as a unit, perhaps even as one family. We are brothers, on and off the pitch. We may be a tiny island, but we have a huge heart that keeps telling us we can do better each time we go out,” Bennett revealed.

The Tahitian captain is one of the oldest-serving beach soccer players. He has seen the evolution and witnessed the growth. And he also knows that this surge is far from over. “Since 2010 we have been working, and working really hard to be where we are today. But each one of us in the squad also knows that this journey is just about started. We have just begun and there is a long way still to go if we are to pursue our dream of being world champions one day,” he asserted.

“This entire thing has been an amazing experience so far. Six years has been a long time for us as a team, but a short time to witness moments of near glory. We’ve always given our best, and nearly achieved this awesome feeling of being crowned world champions. We are not finished as yet. We are a work in motion, and one day we will be there,” Bennett added.

The Pacific islanders’ best showing at this annual tournament in Dubai has been a runners-up place as they lost 5-2 to Russia in last year’s final. But later on Friday, Tahiti geared up to battle Asian powerhouse Iran in the second semi-final.

“This tournament is always a tough one merely because only the best are invited to play here. We love such challenges. We did well here last year and beating one of the big teams won’t really harm our confidence,” he smiled.

“Thankfully, at least the final here in Dubai won’t be on a Sunday,” Bennett added.

Source: UAE FOOTBALL

Women's sevens enjoying victory of a different kind

Solomons women's rugby sevens tackling traditions The Solomon Islands Women's Sevens Rugby team is counting down to the Oceania Championships and while they are unlikely to defeat newly-crowned Olympic champions Australia, Australian Aid is helping them enjoy victory of a different kind.

Dropped after a decade as first choice


The days of Benjamin Totori being the number one striker for the Solomon Islands national football team are gone.

Interim coach, Moses Toata made what could prove to be the turning point in Totori’s reign as the country’s first choice striker by dropping the former Wellington Phoenix man for the World Cup qualifier against Tahiti on Monday.

Totori’s omission has presented the opportunity for fresh legs Jerry Donga of Solomon Warriors and Mathias Iani of Marist FC along with the experienced James Naka to be named as strikers in the 18-man squad that left the country yesterday for Tahiti.

Since making his debut for the national team as a 20-year-old in 2007 in a World Cup qualifier against American Samoa, Totori has been an ever-present figure in national colours for almost a decade scoring 16 goals in 30 games for Solomon Islands.

Despite his omission, Totori, 30, remains arguably one of the country’s best strikers and has been the first choice in important matches for the last 10 years or so.

Totori’s Western United striking partner, James Naka is likely to start in the starting eleven against Tahiti on Monday while Jerry Donga is expected to play just behind the main striker just as he did in the last six international matches with Totori upfront.

Interim coach, Toata has said after the recent friendly matches against New Caledonia that scoring goals is a concern for the national team and this might justify why the coach has opted for the scoring ability of Naka instead of the pace and speed of Totori.

Naka has netted 15 goals as Western United’s main striker this season while teammate Totori has dropped back in mid-field playing what seems to be a playmaker’s role where he has scored five goals this season.

Totori caught the eyes as a teenager playing for his High School team and boyhood club Uncles FC in Honiara.

He made his name known in the region when he joined New Zealand club YoungHeart Manawatu before moving to Richmond Athletic and then onto Waitakere United in 2007.

In 2008 he moved abroad signing with Portland Timbers in the United States after impressing coaches in New Zealand but returned to Waitakere United after injury cut short his career in the USA.

Totori returned home in 2010 and joined Koloale FC for the inaugural Telekom S-League and ended the league’s top scorer, netting 23 goals in 19 matches.

During the 2012 OFC Nations Cup in Honiara, Totori impressed the then All Whites and Wellington Phoenix coach, Ricki Herbert with strings of brilliant performance with the Solomon Islands national team.

On 19 June 2012, it was announced Totori had signed a one-year deal with Wellington Phoenix to play professionally in the A-League, Australia’s top-flight league.

He left the Phoenix in 2013 and returned to the S-League, this time with Western United where he and his teammates are looking to win a second league title for the club this season.

Despite being dropped from the national team for the first time in almost 10 years, Totori is still available for selection for the national team’s return leg against Tahiti next Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium.

Other surprise omissions from the national team are Western United’s speedy right-flanker, Gagame Feni and Kossa FC mid-fielder, Charles Otainao.

Meanwhile, other key players for Solomon Islands at the 2016 OFC Nations Cup earlier this year who were not included are firm defender Nelson Sale, playmaker Judd Molea and the highly rated forward, Micah Lea’alafa.

Sale and Lea’alafa are both committed to their respective overseas clubs and were not part of the national training squad while Judd is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

With key players out, football mad Solomon Islands is hoping captain Henry Fa’arodo Junior will lead the new faces and what would seem to be the new generation of players to victories in the two match series against Tahiti next week.

Solomon Islands coach cries foul

THE Solomon Islands Women's team cried foul despite winning the second set and losing by three sets to the Fiji Blue Women's team 26-24, 24-26,25-23 and 25-20 yesterday at the Vodafone Arena, Laucala Bay, Suva, yesterday.

This was after a few decisions made by the officials during the first set of the game which was considered by Solomon Islands Women's team manager Norma Wopereis to be very unfair.

"This is not fair you know, we came all the way from the Solomon Islands to attend this game today (yesterday), this is so unfair," Wopereis said.

She said officials should not be biased.

"Our players are very upset and all I want to say is that next time please do it in a right way because we do not want to come all the way with our hearts and our trust to be officiated unfairly."

They also raised concerns as to why Fijian referees were being allowed to officiate Fiji's games.
When contacted on the issue Asian Referee Community secretary Dean Turner said in the first set, unfortunately the scorer made an error, but she corrected herself immediately.

"It was 25-24 and the Solomons had made a good serve and were playing and then unfortunately the scorer made the mistake," Turner said.

He said the timing of that mistake was unfortunate, but the rest of the officiating of the match went well.

He explained why some of Fiji's games were officiated by Fijian referees.

"That is because there are five Fijian teams and four or five other teams and it is very difficult refereeing a Fiji game without a Fijian referee because there are five Fiji teams and six Fiji referees," he said.

(PHOTO CAPTION): Fiji Blues Sally Aitchesons spikes against Solomon Islands during the Oceania Volleyball World Qualifying and Zonal Championship at the Vodafone Arena yesterday. Picture: JONA KONATACI (FIJI TIMES).

Fiji beats Solomon Islands easily in Oceania Volley

Height and fitness were the contributing factors for the Fiji White women's volleyball team as they beat Solomon Islands 3-0 in the opening round of the Oceania Zonal Competition at Vodafone Arena in Suva on Monday.

Fiji won all three sets with a convincing score line of 25-8, 25-8 and 25-15.

The Fiji players had height and fitness advantage over their Solomon Islands opponents.

"We need to focus on the remaining matches. Solomon Islands were a good side but they lacked fitness and we had height advantage,” Fiji’s assistant coach, Esava Tikoenavuli, said after Monday’s game.

In the men’s division, Fiji alongside New Zealand and Tonga will battle for the World Championship spot while Solomon Islands and Cook Islands compete for the zonal championship.

In the women’s division, the Fijians have qualified for the phase two of qualifiers of the world championship and will now battle their Pacific sisters Solomon Island and Cook Islands for the zonal championship.

PHOTO CAPTION: Fiji White's Katalina Vereivalu spikes against Solomon Islands during the Oceania Zonal Competition at the Vodafone Arena yesterday. Picture: JONA KONATACI (Fiji Times)

Oceania Football Confederation Article Details

Naka responded to Captain Fa’arodo’s call

James Naka has resumed training with the national team on Monday after been asked his captain for both club and country, Henry Fa’arodo Junior.

“I did ask him (Naka) to come to training this morning (Monday) after our game against Real Kakamora and he did turn up, so that's a good response I guess,” Fa’arodo said.

SIFF’s Competition Manager and member of the national team’s selection panel, Gideon Omokirio hinted Naka’s omission was due to his attitude towards attending training sessions with the national team.

The 25-man training squad:
1. Bird Izomo (Solomon Warriors)
2. Philip Mango (Marist)
3. Haddis A (Solomon Warriors)
4. Joachim Waroi (Western United)
5. Albert Junior (KOSSA)
6. Emmanuel Poila (Solomon Warriors)
7. Allan Pita (Solomon Warriors)
8. Fred Kini (Western United)
9. Henry Fa'arodo (Western United)
10. Tigi Molea (Solomon Warriors)
11. Micah Lea'afa (Auckland City)
12. Charlie Otainao (KOSSA)
13. Atkin Kaua (Marist)
14. Jerry Donga (Solomon Warriors)
15. Benjiman Totori (Western United)
16. Moffat Killifa (Western United)
17. Gagame Feni (Western United)
18. Mathias I (Marist)
19. Tutizama Tanito (Marist)
20. Joses Nawo (Western United)
21. Sira Michael (Marist)
22. Daudau Gibson (Solomon Warriors)
23. Michael Boso (Marist)
24. Lensly K (Malaita Kingz)
25. Richard Fono (Malaita Kingz)

G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run on track to be the biggest yet thanks to SolRice

The annual G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run is on again this Saturday 22 October and it’s expected to be the biggest yet with over 4,000 participants already registered.

Gold sponsor SolRice has made it all possible by providing 5,000 G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run t-shirts for the first 5,000 people to register.

Nick Ellis, General Manager of SolRice, said he was thrilled to be part of the event for the third consecutive year.

“The G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run sends an important message about how healthy living can help people feel better, live longer and achieve their goals,” said Mr Ellis.

“Good nutrition and a balanced diet is part of leading a healthy lifestyle and SolRice is proud to contribute to so many Solomon Islanders’ daily diets. We’re also proud to be working with the Solomon Islands Government, with support from Australia, to fortify our rice with extra nutrition in the future, improving the health and well-being of all of our customers,” he said.

In addition to the t-shirts, SolRice will provide 1,000 bags and one tonne of rice as prizes for 1,000 lucky race participants.

Miss SolRice, Camilla Grossmith will also be on hand at the event as well as G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run Ambassador Sharon Firisua, a home-grown track and field Olympian.

Fun Run participants will have the option of completing a 3km walk or 5km run and will be treated to a healthy breakfast at the conclusion of the event.

Registration for the event is free. Register as an individual, or get together with your workmates, family, friends or a sports group to register as a team.

Registration forms can be collected from the Australian High Commission in Mud Alley.

-Australian High Commission Press

PHOTO CAPTION: SolRice General Manager Nick Ellis and Miss SolRice Camilla Grossmith hand-over one of the 5,000 fun run t-shirts to G’Day Solomon Islands Fun Run Ambassador Sharon Firisua and Australian High Commission staff.

First ever ranking for Solomon Islands Hockey

It is one of the newly revived and fastest growing sports in the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands national men’s Hockey team has picked up its first ever ranking points according to the latest world rankings that were released by the world hockey governing body, FIH, earlier this month.
Solomon Islands picked up its first ranking points thanks to their participation at the Hockey World League (HWL) Round 1 last month.
The rankings were updated following the Hockey World League (HWL) Round 1.
In the men's world rankings, Australia sits at the top of the standings ahead of Olympic champion Argentina.
There are now 89 men's international teams with an official world ranking; the highest number in the sport's history.
The next update to the world rankings will be published following the completion of the HWL Round 2 in 2017.

PHOTO CAPTION: Solomon Islands national men's Hockey team at the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

Real Kakamora frustrates W/United

Western United missed the perfect opportunity to open up a four-point lead on top of the Telekom S-League table on Sunday after been frustrated to a 2-2 draw against Real Kakamora.

After slip ups by their closest rivals Solomon Warriors and Marist FC the previous day, United were expected to further extend their lead especially given the recent form of their opponent.

James Naka stroke twice to give United an early 2-0 lead. His first from the penalty spot before unleashing a long range shot with his assured left boot to extend his goals tally this season to 16.

The turning points in the match was when United was forced to make an early substitution, bringing off injured centre-back Joachim Waroi and interestingly replacing him with forward Gagame Feni while shifting Joses Nawo to do defensive duties and the sending off of Moffat Kilifa after receiving a straight red card.

Real Kakamora equalized before half time and were happy to play for a draw in the second half holding off the 10-man United who desperately searched for the winning goal through forwards Feni, Benjamin Totori and captain Henry Fa’arodo Junior.

In Sunday earlier match, Koloale FC moved up level on points on second spot with Marist FC after beating West Honiara FC 3-1.

Koloale FC and Marist FC are now just two points behind the leaders while the latter can go top if they beat Western United in a must see match this Saturday 4pm.