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Crunch test for solo girls

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Layda-Samani

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE Solomon Islands national women’s soccer side is keen on extending their winning run at the OFC Women’s Nations Cup when they take on hosts Fiji this afternoon.

Dubbed as top of the table clash, Solomon Islands and Fiji have secured crucial wins in their opening matches on day one last Friday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

The match between Fiji and Solomon Islands will follow the opening match between Vanuatu and American Samoa, two sides chasing their first points at the tournament this week.

Solomon Islands overcame American Samoa 2-0 in the opening match of the qualifier, which serves as the first step for Oceania towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, following a difficult 90 minutes for both sides.

Although the Melanesians eventually managed to get the game under control, it took them a while to settle into the flow of the occasion.

Coach Diane Justus said the side were aided in part by their mental strength.

“Our strength is technique-wise, ball work and mental fitness as well, that’s our greatest strength,” she said.

However she also acknowledged her side has weaknesses across the park that they were able to manage in the opening match, but will need to work on for their match against a more organised and ruthless opponent.

“We have some weaknesses especially on our attack and finishing, but also on our defence,” Justus said.

“The weaknesses we were able to share with the players and they improved in the second half.

“It’s not going to be as easy against Fiji as we’re playing the host and we might have more spectators too. But despite that we will work on what we can to manage the game.

“We’re looking forward to that match.”

Following the declaration of their intent against Vanuatu, Fiji are ready to continue pushing for their place in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in November.

The side put five past Vanuatu, with three going to debutant 17-year-old Trina Davis, while conceding just one, a record they expect to continue going up against an equally ambitious Solomon Islands.

“We’ll take this next match as we took Vanuatu,” Fiji coach Marika Rodu said.

“As I’ve said, there’s no need to celebrate yet as we have further business to attend to.

“We’re on course. It’s a good start for us but we would like to continue building on our opening performance against Solomon Islands.”

Although his side scored five, Rodu said he expected them to be more prolific in front of goal given the opportunities which were created.

“We made a lot of mistakes, we could have utilised the chances we created. We went successfully behind the defensive line, but did not convert those chances into points.”

In the opening match Vanuatu and American Samoa have an opportunity to get their campaigns back on track after their respective opening losses.

After the highs of Pacific Mini Games gold, Vanuatu’s 5-1 loss to Fiji has brought the team back down to earth.

The side had periods during the match which showcased the squad’s talent, but they were too rare to inflict any damage to their opponents.

Coach George Kalo said concentration was a big factor in the performance and eventual result, which he hopes the players will remedy for Monday’s encounter.

“I respect American Samoa but I think my girls are good, I still trust them,” he stated.

“We will try to pick up on our weaknesses and also try to focus on that next game.”

Likewise American Samoa have some areas where improvement is needed if they really want to test their opponent.

While well organised most of the time, the team struggled with the pace of the Solomon Islands which eventually wore them down.

Coach Larry Mana’o said the side weren’t as effective in the offensive third as they should have been either.

“We had plenty of shots on frame – nothing the goalie had to do much about – but shots on frame and opportunities in the offensive third which was a vast improvement from the first half,” he said of the opening match.

“I think Solomon Islands counter attack game was pretty good in the first half so we made adjustments in the second half to slow that down. We were able to fix it, but each of the other teams might have something different.

“We need to look at how Vanuatu play and make some adjustments based on that because what we fix right now might ultimately not help us in the next game, but we’ll make adjustments as we see it.”

Meanwhile, the winner of the qualifiers will progress to the OFC Women’s Nations Cup happening in Noumea, New Caledonia in November.

TSL on a break

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Hadis Aengari (LEFT) of Solomon Warriors and Kenneth Watemae of KOSSA contesting for the ball during their game on Saturday. Warriors won 3 - 1.

To allow the refurbishment of Lawson Tama stadium ahead of next month’s OFC Under-16 World Cup qualifiers

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE Telekom S-League (TSL) will go on a one-month break until the last week of September.

This was confirmed yesterday by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), but could not reveal an actual resumption date.

The break is to allow the national governing football body to carry out some refurbishment work on the stadium’s turf and changing rooms as it prepares to host the Oceania Under-16 Championship due to be hosted in Honiara from September 9 to 22. The under-16 championship serves as the qualifiers for next year’s FIFA Under-17 world cup in Peru.

With four weeks gone since the start of the 2018/19 season of the TSL, Henderson Eels are leading the points table.

Eels are equal on seven points with Western United, Solomon Warriors, KOSSA and Real Kakamora, respectively, but gains the advantage to go to the top of the table due to goal calculations.

United climbs onto the second spot following a narrow 1-0 win over Marist on Saturday despite playing with a man down in the later stages of the match.

United coach Jacob Moli uttered his team came into the encounter needing a victory.

“I am very pleased with my players for getting us another important three points”, he said.

“We needed to win because a defeat would leave us play catchup to the top four teams.

“It’s our second win in the league so it will help us go into the remaining match of round one with huge confidence.”

Defending champions Solomon Warriors handed another title contender KOSSA their first defeat of the season on Saturday.

KOSSA who needed a win to go top held the champions 1-1 at the break.

Leading by example, Captain Harddis Aengari headed home in the 48th minute to put the Warriors back in front.

Solomon Islands international Jerry Donga puts the icing on the cake to make it 3-1 and seal the victory.

The win enabled Warriors to settle on third position.

Warriors coach Moses Toata insisted that he was not fully satisfied with his team’s overall performance.

“Overall I think we still need to improve in some areas of our game,” he said.

“However, it was a very important win for us because KOSSA were a good side.

“Our position in the league gives us a bit of confidence heading into the break.”

Meanwhile, Sunday’s only clash saw Real Kakamora continue its impressive run this season.

Real overcome Malaita Kingz 4-2 to move up to 5th position on the table with 7 points after four matches.

Papua New Guinea import Michael Foster and Solomon Islands U-19 defender Absalom Wawane levelled the score 2-2 at half-time.

Solomon Islands international Adrian Mara scored a brace either side of goals from Marlon Nonone and Willy Ngao to hand Real their second win of the season.

See TSL update table tally below as at Sunday August 26, 2018

Position

Team

P

W

D

L

G F

G A

G D

Pnts

1

Henderson Eels FC

3

2

1

0

13

4

9

7

2

Western United FC

3

2

1

0

8

1

7

7

3

Solomon Warriors FC

3

2

1

0

6

2

4

7

4

KOSSA FC

4

2

1

1

7

6

1

7

5

Real Kakamora FC

4

2

1

1

8

10

-2

7

6

Marist FC

3

1

0

2

3

4

-1

3

7

FC Guadalcanal

2

0

1

1

2

4

-2

1

8

Malaita Kingz FC

4

0

0

4

5

16

-11

0

Micah, Donga ruled out

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Micah Lea’alafa will miss the first leg of the clash between Solomon Islands and the New Zealand All Whites in Auckland tomorrow evening

Soccer squad jet off today for Macau international friendly

ATTACKING midfielders Micah Lea’alafa and Jerry Donga has been ruled out of the one-off international friendly tour to Macau this week.

The international friendly will be played away tomorrow at the Estádio Campo Desportivo in Macau.

The national soccer squad will fly out of the country today.

Caretaker national soccer head coach Moses Toata confirms that New Zealand-based Lea’alafa will not be available due to club commitment while Donga’s name was scrapped off the list due to disciplinary reasons.

Toata is looking forward to put up a good contest against Macau and will be travelling with a total of 15 players.

“Benjamin Totori will join us on the Air Niugini flight from Nadi to Port Moresby via Honiara in the morning.

“Micah is unable to join us although we have already paid for his ticket. Its last minute and we have no replacement for him.

“Jerry is out from the travelling list as well due to disciplinary reasons,” Toata told SunSPORTS last night.

The Macau senior men’s team known as the ‘Greens’ is a member of the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) and they represent the Chinese special administrative region of Macau in international association football.

Globally, they are one of the lowest ranked teams on the FIFA Coca Cola ranking where they are currently sitting at the 185th position having moved one spot up the ladder since the June release.

Their highest position on the ranking ever recorded was in September 1997 when they were placed on the 156th spot with their lowest position being a 204th recorded July 2014.

The Macau national team has never qualified for the AFC Asian Cup or the East Asian Championship. The team qualified for the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup, where they got one draw and two losses.

Macau’s last two international matches were held in March this year where they succumbed to 1-0 losses in each of the matches against Mauritas (ranked 155th) and Myanmar (ranked 138th), respectively.

After playing Solomon Islands tomorrow, next up on their list is Guam.

Solomon Islands travelling squad for Macau friendly below.

Goal Keepers:

Philip Mango and Desmond Tutu

Defenders:

Richard Hiromana, Haddis Aengari, Emmanuel Poila, Robert Laua, Allan Peter and Bonny Pride

Midfielders:

Atkin Kaua, Timothy Bakale and Judd Molea

Forwards:

Joses Nawo, Alwin Hou, Atana Faarodo Jnr and Benjamin Totori

Dala Catholic Secondary to go into F6 soon

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Head of Science Department at Dala Catholic Secondary School, Mr Matthew Wa’i taking a photo with the school science lab.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Head of Science Department at Dala Catholic Secondary School, Mr Matthew Wa’i taking a photo with the school science lab.

ST John Dala Catholic Secondary is soon to go into form six (F6).

Head of Science Department of Dala Secondary School, Mr Matthew Wa’i confirmed that when this paper visited the school last week.

He said among many developments the school is embarking, their proposal for the school to include form six is one of them.

Wa’i said currently the school is working the school science laboratory as one of the requirement to get the school with the dream.

He said the school continued to purchase equipment for the science lab and they are yet to get some more to complete the lab requirement.

Wa’i said if the school completes all the procurement for the lab this year, they will introduce form six science next year (2019).

He said they are working very close on the areas and if it’s not possible this year they will work towards 2020.

Wa’i said the school is optimistic on its plan to integrate the school into form six as support also on their side with on initiative.

He said integrating the school into form six will help students within the area and going down to north Malaita as most CHSs within the area only reached form five.

St John Dala School marks cultural day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Student girls dancing in their traditional outfit.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

ST John Dala Catholic Secondary School in West Kwara’ae held its 8th annual cultural festivity on Friday last week.

The school cultural event was celebrated with the theme, “Unity and diversity of cultures through singing and dancing”.

Chairman of the cultural festivity organising committee, Mr Lawrence Alufurai said the event ensures students learn, promote and showcase their cultural diversity.

“The aim of education is to help children to develop mentally, physically, morally, socially culturally and emotionally.

“The programme was part of it as we try to ensure students to learn on all these development aspects especially their cultures,” he said.

Student girls dancing in their traditional outfit.

Alufurai said the event is held annually and is a special day in which the school and its students showcase various cultural uniqueness they represent.

Guest of honour Fr James Anisia who was the administrator of the diocese of Malaita applauded the school for seeing the importance of culture and heritage.

He praised the initiative and assured the school to continue with the programme so that students going through the schools to learn and uphold their cultural identities.

On the same note, Anisia also appealed to parents of Dala School to set pride in their children by reminding them of their cultures.

He stressed that the kids won’t know their cultures if parents don’t take time to teach their children.

The day gathered more than 500 students of Dala secondary school, the primary division, staffs, parents and supporters to witness the cultural festivity.

Students made up 10 cultural groups namely East Road dancers, Dala North, Fote, Kakara, Kwaisuliniu & Highlands, Dala South, Bubuitolo, Southerners, North Malaita and Polynesian dancers.

Kwaisuliniu and highland dancers presenting their cultural dance.
Fote boys presenting a cultural dance during the show on Friday last week.

Students learn to plant trees

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Some of the students of St John primary school with JICA Volunteer. (INSERT) JICA Volunteer, Honami ready to show students how to plant seed in a cut-out bottle with soil

STUDENTS of St John Primary school this week had an opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge on how to plant tree using simple processes and method.

Honami Kanehori, a Volunteer under the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) who works with the National Herbarium and Botanical Garden Division of the Ministry of Forestry and Research leads the programme.

Ms Kanehori told the students ‘the importance of trees to us expressing it since the beginning; trees have furnished us with two of life’s essentials, food and oxygen’.

“As we evolved, they provided additional necessities such as shelter, medicine, and tools.

“Today, their value continues to increase and more benefits of trees are being discovered as their role expands to satisfy the needs created by our modern lifestyles,” she adds.

Some of the students of St John primary school with JICA Volunteer. (INSERT) JICA Volunteer, Honami ready to show students how to plant seed in a cut-out bottle with soil

She emphasises that as students at a very young age, “they are the generation with power in your thumb to make that change and help replace the trees that we have used”.

Students were also shown practically how to use waste water bottles or empty cup noodles, to grow seedlings and plant the seedlings in an open environment.

This simple process with the use of simple illustration of pictures drawn in the form of flow charts gave the students a good understanding of the tree planting process.

The awareness programme is a continuous effort of the Ministry of Forest and Research together with JICA in getting the basic tree planting skills and knowledge to the young age especially students who are future generations of this country.

–MOFR PRESS

Election awareness begins in west Fataleka

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

AWARENESS programs organised by the Fataleka Peoples’ Power committee is currently underway in West Fataleka for the 2019 national general election.

Chairman of the Fataleka People’s Power Mr Robinson Ratu said that a series of awareness programmes for West Fataleka communities for Phase 1 began yesterday, and will end next month.

Phase 1 is an awareness programme to remind the communities in West Fataleka to come up with the names of possible candidates for the preliminary election which will be carried out after the registration and after the voters list is finalised.

Ratu said, “The second Phase of the Programme is the Preliminary Election, and the third phase is the declaration of a one candidate for West Fataleka to contest in the upcoming national general election representing the people of West Fataleka in the Fataleka constituency.

“Whilst the fourth phase is the fundraising drive for the campaign and the fifth phase is the campaign.

“The declaration of Mr Rex Taude of Ata’a, East Fataleka by Mr Severino Maegwali (an individual not the People’s Power Committee) to represent West Fataleka People’s Power is illegal and does not represent the interest of the people of West Fataleka because it by passes the procedures and processes under the policies and the system of the People’s Power Network.

“The delegation led by Taude to East Fataleka last month in the name of People’s Power was propaganda which is false and not right.

“The move was to deceive the people of East Fataleka because the People’s Power is yet to go through the Preliminary Election for a one candidate sometimes in December, this year and not the false move initiated by Mr Rex Taude and Mr Maegwali.

“I call on the Fataleka people to follow what has been initiated by the Fataleka peoples’ power as we are now approaching the registration period for the national general election.”

CBRM training conducted in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

TWO days of Community Base Resource Management training (CBRM) has been conducted in Auki, ending on Friday last week.

The training was facilitated by the Fisheries department in collaboration with the environment department and World Fish.

Speaking to this paper, principal fisheries officer (PFO) of Malaita province Mr Martin Jasper said the aim of this training is to train trainers or facilitators concerning the marine resource management within their communities.

He said this training is also to develop the management plans in their communities’ aswel.

This is the first group of trainers to attend this very important training; the second group will undergo the same training.

“25 participants underwent the training last week where we will expect the number will be increasing on the second set of training starting today.

“After these trainings we will organise and do monitoring programmes whether these trainers are doing their works in their communities or not.”

Jasper added the basic idea of such training is to manage marine resources along the coastal areas where it has being mismanaged and unprotected.

At the moment the fisheries office in Auki have drafted Management plans for 11 communities around Malaita province.

“These drafts will be gazetted where we will be looking at creating ordinances or guidelines as an act and it will be become legal.”

Call on West gov’t to build culture centre

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A local carver from Ranonga Village with her carving in front of Gizo Hotel.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

A local carver from Ranonga Village with her carving in front of Gizo Hotel.

CARVERS from Marovo, Ranonga, Roviana and Vella la Vella are calling on the newly formed government led by Premier David Gina to build a centre for local carvers in Gizo.

This is to accommodate wood carvers, stone carvers and others, especially mothers while they vend their products in the province’s capital.

A spokesman Harold Pae said that when it comes to Cruise Ship visit to Island Capital Town, Gizo is without a proper cultural house for carvers to showcase their wood, stone carving and other traditional items.

“Western Province is the highest number of carvers but the government have fail to accommodate its people from Shortland Islands to Marovo lagoon who wish to showcase the carving during Cruise Ship visited Gizo.

“We are calling on the newly formed government to build one cultural house somewhere in Gizo to focus on capturing the attention of tourists and customers especially those who keep visiting Gizo Island.

“Carvers now seek fairness with those who run their own museum and private business in Gizo why not the government won’t prioritize local carvers to do daily promotion and marketing.”

He said past governments have failed to build a cultural site for local carvers.

“We hope that the current government will plan something special for all local carvers in the province.”

Taiwanese youth ambassadors for Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

HONIARA is expected to receive 28 Taiwanese youth ambassadors this week for an exchange programme.

The 2018 Youth Ambassadors of the Republic of China (Taiwan) comprises of 28-members youth group who will be visiting Solomon Islands from August 28—September 1 to engage in youth exchange programmes.

The Youth Ambassadors Exchange Programme is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROC (Taiwan) which is an important part of the government’s efforts to promote public diplomacy and help Taiwanese youth participate in international affairs.

This year’s programme has four main pillars such as seminars and forums, volunteer work, various visits, and cultural diplomacy, which will allow for an even more immersive experience than in previous years.

The youth ambassadors will also put on artistic performances.

The highlights of this year’s youth exchange program include the culture performance, joined with Betikama College, St Nicholas College and St Joseph’s Tenaru School, at Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Maranatha Hall.

According to the Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands, the event is free and open to the public on the principal of “first comes, first served” due to limited space.

Embassy said public is encouraged to arrive 20 minutes in advance of the scheduled time.

During their stay here, the ROC (Taiwan) youth group will also call in at the Prime Minister’s Office, and pay a visit to the Solomon Islands National Parliament.

It said their goodwill visit will further strengthen the long-standing friendship and diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Solomon Islands.

The Embassy adds, the Youth Ambassadors will get to know Solomon Islands and its political, cultural, academic, and development institutions.

There will also visit to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, JICA, Solomon Islands National University, Red Cross’s Special Development Centre, as well as the Taiwan Technical Mission.

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