IN great news for Solomon Islands football, the Australian Government and Football Australia are partnering to support the development of elite football throughout the Pacific in a renewed partnership.
Delivered through Australia’s PacificAus Sports program, the four-year investment will facilitate regular international fixtures between Australian and Pacific national teams, including Solomon Islands, in addition to capacity-building initiatives aimed at supporting the development of players, match officials and administrators from throughout the region.
Set to feature women’s and men’s football across a range of age groups, as well as international futsal, this partnership will provide regular opportunities for Pacific national teams to train and compete with some of Australia’s brightest talents.
This partnership was announced by Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Honourable Pat Conroy MP, via video message at game two of the international friendly series between the Subway Joeys and Solomon Islands under-19 men’s national football team in Honiara on Sunday night (18 August 2024).
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, the Honourable Jeremiah Manele, was also present for the announcement alongside Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Rod Hilton.
“The Australian Government looks forward to this partnership developing more Pacific football superstars, leading to more Solomon Islanders playing in Australia’s A-League and in our Premier Leagues, and strengthening Australia’s close connections with Solomon Islands,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
Minister Conroy said Australia and the Pacific come together through a shared passion for sport and it’s exciting to see football’s continued growth and popularity throughout the region.
“The Australian Government is proud to build on the success of our partnership with Football Australia, through PacificAus Sports, to provide increased opportunities for Australian and Pacific football teams to compete together at the highest levels, and to strengthen connections between our nations,” Minister Conroy said.
The renewed partnership follows a number of successful initiatives involving Pacific nations, starting with the 2019 Pacific Tour to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga by Australia’s Junior Matildas, before expanding to include Australian age-group men’s and women’s national football teams.
This same partnership, along with the Solomon Islands Football Federation, has already brought Australia’s Futsalroos and Subway Joeys to Solomon Islands in 2024. During the Subway Joeys’ tour, officials from Football Australia ran a referee knowledge-sharing workshop with the Solomon Islands Football Federation on Friday 15 August 2024.
The partnership will continue to deepen people-to-people links and sporting connections, engaging with local communities, and bringing the region together through a shared love of football.
Currently playing in Australia with Adelaide City FC, homegrown Solomon Islands superstar Raphael Lea’i had this to say about the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for sport: “[The PacificAus Sports partnership] means a lot to the Solomon Islands. We need to play games against Australia. It gives us a good test to see and play against teams from Australia.”
“Football and futsal are the main sports in Solomon Islands. Everyone loves football and futsal. For us to go to Australia, or for Australia to play in the Solomons – in men’s football, women’s football, and futsal – it really helps us as players, and helps to make us partners.”
