BY CHRIS ALEX
SOLOMON Islands Football Federation (SIFF) President Donald Marahare has expressed confidence about the development plans for the future of football in the country.
Marahare expressed his enthusiasm for the sport’s development and assured the public that football was in safe hands under the new executive.
“I want to assure the members of the public that football is still in safe hands as the new executive takes up the responsibility as President of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, taking football seriously in terms of activity and development aspects of football,” said the president in a media press conference held on Monday, October 23, at the SIFF conference room.
While the SIFF President seized the opportunity to update football enthusiasts on the federation’s strategies for the upcoming year, 2024, he emphasized the commitment of his new executive to the growth of football in the Solomon Islands.
He also highlighted several key areas of focus, including the continuous restructuring of the organization to cater to the evolving needs of football in the country.
One of the major initiatives outlined by President Marahare is the comprehensive infrastructure development plan.
“Plans are underway to refurbish football fields such as JF Kennedy Stadium in Western Province and Aligegeo Football Field in Malaita Province, with a focus on ensuring that every province in the country benefits from improved facilities.
“Additionally, funds have been allocated for projects in the Makira Ulawa Association and later in Isabel and Renbel Province, which reflects the federation’s dedication to nationwide development,” the SIFF President said.
SIFF president Donald Marahare and his executives were elected in 2022 following an elective congress held at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara. A new rebirth in the affairs of the organization is expected to make positive progress.
“To develop infrastructure in Provincial Football Association (PFA) levels throughout every province, so far, there are plans put in place for next year, 2024, like to refurbish JF Kennedy and Aligegeo Field. A project was already issued to the Makira Ulawa Football Association under the infrastructure development in PPA levels, and we’re looking into two or three more in the coming years to ensure the development in terms of infrastructure is continued. In principle, we will look at Isabel and Renbel Province; these are projects yet to come, and funds will be secured at any time,” he said.
President Marahare said youth football is also a top priority for the SIFF, with the establishment of a football academy for both boys and girls.
“The academy is ready to launch, complemented by ongoing projects such as the talent identification system funded by FIFA. These initiatives are set to nurture young talents and strengthen the country’s football landscape,” he said.
Addressing the issue of governance, President Marahare emphasized the importance of good governance within the organization. He assured that efforts in this area would continue unabated to maintain transparency and integrity in football administration.
Furthermore, significant progress has been made in securing support for women’s football. President Marahare revealed that discussions with the Solomon Islands government had led to an agreement in principle to provide a dedicated stadium facility for women’s football. This milestone achievement signifies a step forward in promoting gender equality in sports.
President Marahare also touched upon international games and high-performance training, assuring that the national teams would be thoroughly prepared for upcoming competitions.
He expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from FIFA and reiterated the federation’s commitment to programs like the IUMI Play Program.
President Marahare later revealed that the football academy, currently under the supervision of the Games Organising Committee (GOC) and National Hosting Authority (NHA), would soon be under the complete ownership of SIFF. Plans for various programs under the academy’s banner are set to commence early in 2024, promising a bright future for aspiring footballers in the Solomon Islands.
The nation eagerly anticipates these transformative changes as President Marahare and his executives steer Solomon Islands football into a new era of growth and excellence.
