Hekari FC president Vonnie Puia Nato unveils ambitious academy and elite football vision for Solomon Islands
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
GHUPO Wantoks FC has declared its intention to help transform football development in Solomon Islands after officially launching its programme on Saturday night at the Monarch Bar and Grill in Honiara.
The newly established club, backed by Papua New Guinea football powerhouse Hekari FC, aims to compete in the Telekom S-League while also building football academies and pathways for young players across the country.
Club president Vonnie Puia Nato, who also serves as president and manager of Hekari FC, said the club’s vision goes beyond simply competing in local football.
“We are here to be part of developing football in our country.
“At the end, this is for our country. We are helping to develop more players for our national team,” Mrs Nato said.
Speaking during the launch, Nato shared her experience helping build Hekari FC into one of Oceania’s most successful football clubs.
She said discipline, commitment and hard work will become the foundation of Ghupo Wantoks FC.
“Discipline is paramount.
“There is no way you and I can succeed with bad habits while expecting success to come,” she stressed.
Nato revealed that Hekari FC, which competed at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010, will help guide the new club’s development.
“Ghupo FC is owned by Hekari,” she explained during a one-on-one interview after the launch.
“Now we call it Ghupo Wantoks FC so that we can have every part of the province to be part of it.”
She also outlined plans to establish football academies in Honiara and Renbel Province.
“I want to establish six academies in Renbel — two in West Rennell, two in East Rennell, and two in Bellona.
“We have to start somewhere,” Nato said.
Nato said her long-term goal is to create opportunities for local footballers to progress into elite competitions, including the professional environment at Hekari FC in PNG.
“PNG Hekari is now competing in the professional league, and I would love to see some of our people eventually become part of Hekari FC in PNG,” she said.
The club has already assembled a 25-player squad for the upcoming season, including PNG professional league player Nathaniel Eddy from Hekari FC.
Meanwhile, newly appointed head coach Joel Moffat Konofilia confirmed the club intends to compete in the Telekom S-League.
“I intend to participate in the S-League, which is the highest competition in the country.
“We’ve prepared for more than 14 years now. We are ready to go,” Konofilia said.
Konofilia added that the club intends to introduce its own football identity and philosophy.
“Omega football philosophy is our football.
“We are ready to display at Lawson Tama,” he said.
He also confirmed plans for football academies through future partnerships with Hekari FC and Solomon Kings.
Nato used the launch to call for unity and support from football stakeholders, stressing that Ghupo Wantoks FC is not only for Rennell and Bellona people, but for the entire country.
“Ghupo Wantoks is not only a Bellona or Rennell team.
“It is a team for the country,” she said.
Ghupo Wantoks FC is a newly established football club linked with PNG football powerhouse Hekari FC. The club plans to field senior men’s, women’s and Under-18 teams this season while targeting long-term football development through academies and elite competition pathways in Solomon Islands.
Photo credit: Richard Menanopo
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