BY MIKE TUA
THE Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Chris Laore, has reaffirmed the Democratic Coalition for Change’s (DCC) government’s commitment to deliver the newly constructed Solomon Islands Football Federation Academy (SIFF), a significant piece of football infrastructure that will elevate the Solomon Islands’ football status on a regional and global scale.
“The government has invested in the new SIFF Academy, and very soon we will have one of the top football academies in the Pacific Region. Football seems to have more potential for our country.
“This academy will undoubtedly improve our nation’s football standards and discipline. And our goal is to improve our ability to compete at the highest level, develop our football players to the highest international level, and market future players for our nation.
“I have faith that one day we will succeed in all of these endeavors,” Hon. Chris Laore said at the SIFF-hosted celebratory dinner on October 19 at the Pacific Crown Hotel’s Paradise Ocean Crown Restaurant in Honiara.
This Thursday, October 26, 2023, will go down in football history as the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) officially receives its new “Home of Football”—the SIFF Academy administration building and facilities—from the national government through the Sol2023 National Hosting Authority (NHA). This is in advance of the XVII Pacific Games 2023, which will begin in November.
The SIFF Football Academy project includes a beach soccer pitch, an outdoor futsal court, two football fields that comply with FIFA regulations, an office building, and a two-story housing (dormitory) complex.
An estimated SBD73 million (£6.6 million/$9 million/€7.9 million) will be spent on the academy. The governments of Japan and Papua New Guinea have each made financial contributions to the project.
In the meantime, he mentioned that the Pacific Games 2023 will take place in a few weeks in November, when our athletes will compete against their Pacific-region counterparts.
“We know you have the potential to win gold; we believe you can accomplish it, which is why we are already so thrilled and believe in our national soccer team.
“We will never undervalue our national team’s historic victory. Hon. Laore stated, “It is a time for national introspection, one that aims to bolster our unity as a people, diversity, one future, and one destiny.”
The local joint venture construction companies JED Enterprises and JQY constructed the facilities and made sure they complied with FIFA regulations after consulting with SIFF.
