New President for Royals

Joel Konofilia steps down

By Alfred Pagapitu

New Royals FC Academy President Jessy Konofilia (R) with her brother and Royals FC founder Moffat Joel Konofilia. PICTURE SUPPLIED.

ROYALS football club and academy has a new president. She is Jessie Konofilia, the sister of club founder Mr Moffat Puia Konofilia. Ms Konofilia told SunSPORTS her brother has decided to step aside from playing an active role in the club and academy until his football ban ends in July 2020.

“My brother Moffat Puia Konofilia who founded the club and academy decided to step down from playing an active role in Royals,” the new president said.

“He’s handing over the presidency to me. My responsibility will simply be to look after administration, public relations, promotions and marketing.

“On the field we have a technical director Alick Collins. It is a full time job so he has to be on the field everyday working with our academy kids.

“We have kids aged 4 to 19 and on top of that we have a squad of 25 players going to England next month so Alick trains them on a daily basis.

“I believe in maintaining, enhancing and creating new relationships, sustaining old ones and ensuring that Royals is running efficiently administrative wise.

“Not only that it’s also effective for the kids involved that we can achieve our goals by always being positive and letting everyone know that Royals is all about believing in these kids and taking them to another level in soccer,” she said.

Ms Konofilia said the academy will be sending a squad to England in September to see and experience a new football environment.

“This trip is going to be trials with professional clubs and an opportunity for our boys to study in England”

“Our team consists of players from different provinces of the Solomon Islands as we believe in equal opportunity for our diverse players.

“We have been very fortunate to have Sol Rice and Sol Tuna respond positively to our humble request.

“We got from Sol Rice T-shirts and rice” “Sol Rice has always been a supporter right from the start of our Academy and we are truly grateful for the positive partnership we have with them”.

“Sol Tuna thank you for the cartons of tuna. “ We look forward to more positive partnership with you. The sponsored goods will go towards the Royals squad who are currently in camp.

“Our 25 man squad will be accompanied by our Technical Director and Konofilia to England in September for two weeks.

“The trip will be an exciting and worthwhile football trip and experience for the boys and academy,” she adds. Exciting times ahead for Royals Football Academy.

The president further adds Royals will be organizing fundraising drives soon to help raise funds for the trip to England next month.

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