… Solomon Warriors FC Continue Winning Streak

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

TELEKOM Super League (TSL) table leaders Real Kakamora FC suffered their second defeat of the season, dropping to second place in the standings with 15 points earned from seven games.

They now trail defending champions Solomon Warriors FC, who leads the race by goal difference with also 15 points, earned from five games.

Real Kakamora’s slip came after a 5-1 loss to last season’s runner-up, Central Coast FC, at Lawson Tama Stadium yesterday.

Despite the setback, Coach Steven Aumanu Jr remains positive. “Falling to second place means nothing because there’s still a long way to go. Recovering from defeats and coming back stronger is crucial,” he stated.

Coach Aumanu congratulated Central Coast FC, acknowledging the valuable lessons from the match. “This season, Real Kakamora FC features a new look with many young talents seeking exposure in the top league. Competing against a team of seasoned national players is vital for our growth.”

He emphasized that the team is in a building phase, learning from each match. “There’s a lot to learn, especially for the young players. Falling back in the standings is insignificant; it’s about improving from defeats. The main focus is on our progress and hard work,” Aumanu added.

Solomon Warriors FC, coached by Franco Ne’e, remain undefeated. They returned from the Oceania Champions League 2024 and continued their winning streak with a 3-1 victory over SOSA FC in a midweek clash, followed by a 9-1 triumph over FC Juniper Tree on Saturday. The Warriors have won all five of their games this season.

Match Week 7 of the Telekom Super League concluded with six games over the weekend. Waneagu United FC secured a 2-1 win over Southern United FC, Marist FC and SOSA FC settled for a 1-1 draw, Honiara City FC earned a 2-1 win over Kossa FC, and Laugu United FC registered their first points by beating Henderson Eels FC 2-1.

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

THE Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation (SIVF) is calling on four Provincial Associations (PAs) to confirm their participation in the upcoming National Championship set for this month.

SIVF President Morris Maitaki urged all provincial teams to compete in the championship which is set for 21st to 25th this month at the Friendship Hall.

“I believe all Provincial teams are ready for the battle of Provincial of origin, the National championship volleyball tournament this month.

“So far, I have received expressions of interest from six Provincial teams, while the other four Provinces have yet to give us confirmation of their participation.

“We are still waiting for the four Provinces to express their interest, or they can contact the federation to discuss issues regarding their participation,” Maitaki said.

Provinces that expressed interest to participate are:

1. Central Province (One Men’s and Women’s team)

2. Renbel Province (Two Men’s and Women’s team)

3. Malaita Province (One Men’s and Women’s team)

4. Honiara City (Two Men’s and Women’s team)

5. Temotu Province (One Men’s team)

6 Guadalcanal Province (One Women’s team)

The four Provinces that yet to express interest their interests to participate are:

7. Western Province

8. Choiseul Province

9.  Makira Province

10. Isabel Province

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

FOUR national tennis athletes will represent the Solomon Islands at the Pacific Nations Cup 2024, hosted in American Samoa this week. The team departed on Saturday for the competition, which runs from June 5th to 10th in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

The Solomon Islands Tennis Association (SITA) confirmed the team’s departure and announced the names of the athletes who will compete in the week-long tournament.

Representing Team Solomon are Junior Michael Miki, Pyongil Justus, Zorika Morgan, and Prudence Bird.

SITA extended its best wishes to the team, stating, “All the best to our senior team traveling to American Samoa for the Nation’s Cup Tennis Competition. The team will transit via Fiji to Samoa and American Samoa.”

SITA also expressed gratitude to those who made the trip possible and encouraged the athletes to compete to their best abilities and make the country proud. Coach Doreen Ningalo added her support, saying, “Wishing the Solomon Islands Tennis team the best of luck in the Pacific Nations Cup 2024 in American Samoa. Go out there and give your best effort. Play your hearts out and enjoy the games. May the Lord bless you, keep you all safe, and give you strength during the week of the tournament.”

The Pacific Nations Cup will feature 60 athletes from 11 Pacific countries and territories, competing for supremacy in both men’s and women’s events at the ASTA Tennis Facility in Lions Park. This event is akin to the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, with Class C member nations competing in ties consisting of two singles rubbers and one doubles rubber.

The 11 participating countries and territories include host American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Team Tonga was the first to arrive for the competition yesterday.

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

JAPANESE forward and defender Kohei Matsumoto begins his journey back home today after a notable stint with the Telekom Super League (TSL) champions, Solomon Warriors FC. His time with the club included participation in the TSL 2024 season and the recent Oceania Champions League (OCL24) in Tahiti.

Matsumoto joined Solomon Warriors FC in March, testing the intensity of the country’s top-flight football league in preparation for the OCL last month. The former Hamilton Wanderers FC defender is well-versed in Pacific football, having played for various clubs in the region.

Speaking to SunSPORTS on Saturday, Matsumoto confirmed his departure and expressed a strong interest in returning to Solomon Warriors FC next year. “Before joining Solomon Warriors FC, I played for clubs in New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. I joined Solomon Warriors FC for the OCL, which was a disappointing campaign for me and the team. However, I hope to return next year for the OCL 2025,” he said.

Matsumoto praised Solomon Warriors FC for their technical and individual abilities. “The team is good both technically and individually. We were unlucky in the OCL, but with better luck, we could have achieved good results. I believe the experience gained will help the team perform better in the next OCL if they win the TSL this season,” he added.

Despite the challenges, Matsumoto remains optimistic about his future. “Going back to Japan offers many choices. I might continue playing in the Japanese League or move to New Zealand when the transfer window opens. I would love to return to Solomon Warriors FC next year because I enjoy the football style in the Solomon Islands. It’s tough and competitive, and other players would benefit from experiencing it,” he stated.

During his stint in the TSL 2024, Matsumoto made significant contributions with several assists and goals, playing a total of five games. Although the team faced defeats and an early exit in the OCL in Tahiti, Matsumoto’s final appearance saw Solomon Warriors FC secure a 9-1 victory over FC Juniper Tree, propelling them to the top of the table.

Matsumoto’s football journey is extensive. Before joining Solomon Warriors FC, he played in the Japanese Professional League and had a short stint with Hamilton Wanderers FC in New Zealand. He also played for Ventforet Kofu FC and Catale Toyama FC in Japan.

His experience in Pacific football is vast, having played for clubs in Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. He featured in the 2017 OFC Champions League with Rewa FC and played for Hawke’s Bay and Auckland City in New Zealand. Matsumoto also represented Hienghène Sport in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup and played for Malampa Revivors FC in the 2019 OFC Champions League alongside fellow Japanese player Yuki Otsuka. His latest Pacific adventure included a stint with PNG Club Lae City FC in the 2022 OFC Champions League.

Matsumoto, originally from Osaka, Japan, has also played in important leagues in Japan and had a brief period with Brisbane Roar in Australia’s Hyundai A-League.

As Matsumoto departs from Honiara to Brisbane this afternoon, he leaves behind a legacy of resilience and dedication. His contributions to Solomon Warriors FC and his eagerness to return next year highlight his commitment to the sport and the teams he plays for.

… Solomon Warriors FC Continue Winning Streak

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

REAL Kakamora FC has suffered their second defeat of the season, dropping to second place in the standings with 15 points. They now trail defending champions Solomon Warriors FC, who lead with 16 points after returning from a challenging Oceania Champions League campaign in Tahiti.

Real Kakamora’s slip came after a 5-1 loss to last season’s runner-up, Central Coast FC, at Lawson Tama Stadium yesterday.

Despite the setback, Coach Steven Aumanu Jr remains positive. “Falling to second place means nothing because there’s still a long way to go. Recovering from defeats and coming back stronger is crucial,” he stated.

Coach Aumanu congratulated Central Coast FC, acknowledging the valuable lessons from the match. “This season, Real Kakamora FC features a new look with many young talents seeking exposure in the top league. Competing against a team of seasoned national players is vital for our growth.”

He emphasized that the team is in a building phase, learning from each match. “There’s a lot to learn, especially for the young players. Falling back in the standings is insignificant; it’s about improving from defeats. The main focus is on our progress and hard work,” Aumanu added.

Solomon Warriors FC, coached by Franco Ne’e, remain undefeated. They returned from the Oceania Champions League 2024 and continued their winning streak with a 3-1 victory over SOSA FC in a midweek clash, followed by a 9-1 triumph over FC Juniper Tree on Saturday. The Warriors have won all five of their games this season.

Match Week 7 of the Telekom Super League concluded with six games over the weekend. Waneagu United FC secured a 2-1 win over Southern United FC, Marist FC and SOSA FC settled for a 1-1 draw, Honiara City FC earned a 2-1 win over Kossa FC, and Laugu United FC registered their first points by beating Henderson Eels FC 2-1.

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has commended Coach Jacob Moli for accepting the call to lead the senior men’s national team at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup 2024 in Vanuatu this month.

This appointment follows the federation’s ongoing search for a new coach to replace Spaniard Felipe Vega-Arango, who declined a two-year contract extension due to family reasons. In the interim, the federation offered the position to the Central Coast head coach, giving Moli the opportunity to lead the team at the Nations Cup 2024.

Moli accepted the position at the last minute and promptly began preparing the team for the tournament.

SIFF CEO Leonard Paia praised Moli for taking on the responsibility under challenging circumstances. “I would like to salute Coach Jacob Moli because I know it’s not easy to accept this responsibility at the last minute,” Paia said. “We always have high expectations when our national teams compete at such a level, so we expect the national team to win. It’s not an easy decision that Coach Moli made, and I appreciate his response.”

Paia also confirmed that the national team will depart on the 10th of this month, making it impossible to appoint a new permanent coach before then due to the ongoing selection process. “The federation highly appreciates the difficult decision made by Coach Moli and his assistant and fellow team management for accepting the responsibility to lead the team in the tournament,” he added.

SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata expressed his confidence in Moli’s ability to lead the team. “I have complete trust in Coach Moli because he is not new and has good experience leading a team in bigger tournaments like this, not only at the club level but also for the national team,” Toata said. “The SIFF Technical Department supports Moli in his appointment with the national team for the Nations Cup, and we hope to see him make a good representation at the tournament.”

Toata also admired Moli’s bravery in stepping up to lead the team.

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

THE Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has acknowledged the significant contributions of former national team head coach Felipe Vega-Arango to football development in the country.

SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata highlighted the Spaniard’s positive impact since he began his role with the national team in 2017.

“When Felipe took on the role in 2017, he significantly influenced football development in the Solomon Islands,” Toata said. “He greatly improved our ranking, and on behalf of the Technical Department, I would like to acknowledge his efforts.”

Initially serving as the Technical Director, Felipe later became the senior men’s national team coach. Toata noted that Felipe’s tenure provided valuable learning opportunities for the SIFF team.

“We learned a lot from Felipe. He is a trustworthy individual, especially regarding the processes and standards he aimed to establish in the country’s football scene,” Toata remarked. “The biggest challenge was how the local football community adapted to the high standards he set.”

Felipe was known for his dedication to player development both on and off the field. “He did an excellent job during his time with us,” Toata added.

Felipe’s departure has created a significant gap in the federation, one that will be challenging to fill. Toata expressed optimism that the next coach will identify key issues and implement effective long-term development plans to continue the progress made under Felipe’s leadership.

“We believe that once we find a new coach who can address the right problems and work on them with appropriate planning and training programs, we will maintain our status as a football force in the region,” Toata explained.

The former senior men’s national team coach returned home on Tuesday.

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

A total of six foreign coaches have been shortlisted for interviews for the position of national senior men’s team head coach for the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) began its search for a new head coach in March this year.

SIFF CEO Leonard Paia revealed that 100 applicants expressed interest in the role. “The process to recruit a new coach for the national team is based on specific procedures and will not be disclosed easily. It takes time,” Paia stated. “Currently, out of 100 applicants, we are in the shortlisting stage and have identified six candidates for interviews.”

Paia added, “We are currently focusing on the recruitment process for the FIFA TDS program this week and have interviews to finalize that. Once we complete the TDS National Academy process, we will proceed with recruiting the new national head coach.”

SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata noted that hiring a national team head coach is a complex process. “All applicants undergo a series of screening procedures. Initially, we screened down to 10 applicants. These 10 candidates then went through further evaluation, resulting in the current six shortlisted applicants awaiting interviews,” Toata explained. “The process includes thorough background research on all candidates.”

Toata emphasized the importance of transparency in the selection process, stating that they conduct rigorous interviews to ensure they choose the best candidate. “At the moment, I can confirm that all shortlisted applicants are foreign coaches,” he confirmed.