BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
MALAITA Under-16 have won the third spot finals of the 2021 Youth Solomon Cup tournament, after a 3-1 win over rivals Honiara over the weekend at the Lawson Tama Stadium.
Despite a 0-2 loss to the grand finalist Choiseul in the semi-finals of this year’s Youth Cup, they managed to bounce back after a very impressive show of football talent against a tough Honiara side.
Malaita U-16 Head Coach, Charles Irobina told Raw Sports that despite going down in the semi-final playoff, nothing has changed or overshadowed their hopes to secure the third-place and bronze medal at the finals of this year’s Youth Solomon Cup tournament in Honiara.
“It’s been a remarkable effort to have secured our third spot title – and to bring back the pride of Malaita out of this 2021 Youth Solomon Cup tournament.
“Honiara had already defeated us in the initial group B matches of the tournament, however, my key message to my boys was to ensure we defeat Honiara to win this year’s Youth Solomon Cup tournament 3rd and 4th playoff title.
“As a head coach – I had to challenge my players and remind them that if they want to make history for themselves they have to win the bronze medal title of the tournament.
“Therefore, I would like to congratulate all the players on yet another remarkable achievement and to uphold the pride of Malaita football,” the Head coach told Raw Sports.
He later revealed that he will ensure the journey taken by his boys after this tournament will not stop but will continue from what they have started from this year’s competition in Honiara.
“I will make sure these young talented players are enrolled and continue with their football training under the Umi-Play Programme – a football development programme initiative that is facilitated by Malaita Football Association (MFA) through a partnership with Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) which aims to develop young talented footballers in Malaita province.
“The Malaita Football Association through SIFF’s ongoing football development support will soon establish football centres in various constituencies in Malaita province and it is from these centres that such football development program will prevail under,” he added.
