BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Ministry of Forestry and Research (MOFR) has officially launched its participation in the ongoing Inter-Ministry Healthy Lifestyle and Sports Program, with both its men’s football and women’s netball teams making their competitive debuts this week.
The government-wide sporting initiative, which began on June 12, brings together ministries and agencies across seven sporting codes and is being staged at multiple venues in Honiara, including the DC Park sports field, Friendship Hall and the Multi-Purpose Sports Ground.
According to a statement posted on the ministry’s official Facebook page, the Forestry men’s football team opened their campaign with a narrow 1–0 defeat to Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), but walked away encouraged by their overall performance.
“The Forestry Men’s Soccer Team made their debut today… in what was an exciting first test for the team.
“For many of our players, this was their first time back on the field in years, making today’s match an important step in rebuilding fitness, teamwork, and competitive spirit,” the statement said.
Despite the result, the ministry noted that the team “gave their all and played with determination from start to finish,” adding that the narrow loss provided “valuable lessons and plenty of motivation to improve in the matches ahead.”
The statement also highlighted appreciation for the organisers of the Inter-Ministry Healthy Lifestyle Games 2026, commending the platform for promoting health, wellness, teamwork and camaraderie across the public service.
The ministry also confirmed the debut of its women’s netball team alongside the men’s futsal squad, describing the occasion as a positive step to strengthen staff wellbeing and workplace unity through sport.
“This occasion reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting staff wellbeing, teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle across the Ministry.
“It was encouraging to see our officers come together, represent Forestry with pride, and demonstrate strong team spirit both on and off the court,” the ministry said on its Facebook post.
While detailed match results for the netball and futsal fixtures were not included in the ministry’s update, the focus remained on participation, development and fostering a culture of active living within the workplace.
The ministry further noted that although this is only the beginning of their campaign, the experience is expected to build stronger cohesion among staff and encourage continued engagement in future fixtures.
The Inter-Ministry Healthy Lifestyle and Sports Program is a government-led initiative designed to encourage physical activity, teamwork and wellness among public servants through structured competition across multiple sporting disciplines.
With ministries fielding teams in football, netball, futsal and other codes, the program continues to grow as a key annual fixture on the public sector sporting calendar, promoting both fitness and inter-agency unity beyond the workplace.
Photo credit: MFR
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