By Taromane Martin
THE Makira Ulawa Football Association (MUFA) has kicked off preparations to select provincial players to represent the province in this year’s Solomon Games.
MUFA on Tuesday kicked off the 2018 Kakamora Football Zone championship with the official opening ceremony and teams’ parade at the Manita Sports Ground in Arosi One.
MUFA Vice President Mr Roxley Tara told SunSPORTS yesterday that a total of 11 teams are taking part in the competition.
Mr Tara said the competition is expected to take two weeks to complete with MUFA expected to announce a Real Kakamora provisional training squad after the completion of the tournament.
“Grand opening took place on Tuesday at the Manita Sports Ground in Makira Province,” he said.
“A total of 11 teams are taking part in the competition which MUFA will use to select players from to represent the province in this year’s Solomon Games in Rennell and Bellona.
“Competition is played in two pools, Pool A and Pool B. Format for the finals will see the top team in Pool A taking on the runner up of Pool B and vice-versa.
“Looking at the pool games it will take us two weeks to complete the competition. Four matches will be played per day.
“Pool matches will kick off today (yesterday) with the semi-finals and grand final match likely to take place next weekend,” he adds.
Tara said with this being the highest football competition in the province he hopes MUFA will select the best crop of players for Real Kakamora for the Solomon Games.
“This is the highest football tournament hosted by MUFA in the province. This year we have agreed to send an U-23 football team for the Solomon Games.
“This year’s competition will be interesting because the selection for the provincial Real Kakamora squad for the Solomon Games will also be done during the tournament.
“As soon as the tournament ends names for the Real Kakamora U-13 man training squad for the Solomon Games will be made known public.
Meanwhile football zones who are taking part in the 2018 Kakamora Football Zone Championship are Ulawa Football zone (two teams), Arosi football zone (two teams), Bauro Football Zones (two teams), Star Harbour Football Zone (one team), Owa Football Zone (two teams) and Haura Football Zone (two teams).
Ugi and Kahua Football Zones are the only two zones who were unable to attend the tournament.
