The Solomon Islands Government has pledged to build a proper facility for futsal development in the country.
The Solomon Islands Futsal team celebrate the 5-0 victory over Fiji and a 2016 OFC Championship. Photo: OFC
The announcement was made by the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, on Monday, at a lunch hosted to welcome the national futsal team, the Kurukuru, back to Honiara after winning the Oceania Championship at the weekend.
Mr Sogavare said it was the Government's desire to build proper sporting facilities, including for futsal, as the country intends to host the Pacific Games in 2023.
He said the Government would partner with the Solomon Islands Football Federation to identify a suitable location for the Futsal complex.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare. Photo: UN
The Federation's Deputy CEO, Joseph Boso, said the facility was long overdue.
"What this win will mean is that there will be a renewed focus for the development of futsal in Solomon Islands and we need to move forward with our programme. Especially, still we are without any international standard futsal pitch in the country - that's even after two World Cups and qualifying for a third, and then after five Oceania titles.
"We are now working very hard with FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation to make sure that we have a futsal pitch that the boys could use to train and prepare for such competitions in the future but I think this renewed focus and momentum will make sure that we will put together plans that will help us to remain competitive for many years to come."
Solomon Islands have now won five consecutive Oceania futsal titles and will represent the region at September's World Cup in Colombia.
