Saturday 16th January, 2010

The first ever football stakeholders meeting for the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) was a complete success with participants highlighting a number of options for bringing the game forward. It was a day of realizations as FIFA and OFC representatives outlined their respective positions and relationships both have with SIFF in regards to finance and administration, and has left the participants with confidence that SIFF is on the right track but needs a lot of assistance from stakeholders to contribute to the development of football.

The meeting had the simple objective of getting stakeholders to understand the environment within which SIFF is operating and according to SIFF and the overseas delegates so much was achieved towards this aim in just one day.

Glenn Turner (FIFA Development Officer for Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)) and Greg Larsen (OFC Deputy General Secretary) who chaired the workshop both expressed satisfaction with what was gained from the workshop.

About 30 participants including representatives from the Government, National Sports Council, National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands and the private sector attended the workshop. Also present, were members of the media.

The first presentation in the workshop covered how FIFA funding is implemented in Solomon Islands. Amongst other things presented by Glenn Turner, he explained that FIFA Goal projects in Solomon Islands are implemented by a FIFA Contractor with any appointed local contractor. SIFF receives the completed project be it a playing field or building. SIFF, therefore, has never received any FIFA Goal Project finance but only recipient of a complete FIFA funded Goal Project item.

The presentation from Greg Larsen described the funds that SIFF is receiving from OFC and how SIFF has to abide by stringent regulations in order to continue receiving it.

One of the most important outcomes of the workshop was the realization that SIFF by itself is not able to meet all the development demands such as facility and technical development projects and the participation in all annual FIFA sanctioned competitions because the funding it receives is limited. Discussions also expanded into the roles that other stakeholders can and should participate in to achieve higher expectations of the Game.

SIFF President Martin Alufurai said that he is very happy with workshop and that the objectives for the day were achieved. Alufurai thanked all the participants who took the time to attend the workshop and also thanked the FIFA and OFC representatives for answering SIFF’s request for assistance in the workshop. ‘I believe that the participants are satisfied and this meeting will set the pace for further advancement throughout this year and the future,’ Alufuria said.

Greg Larsen said that it was an honour for him to attend the workshop and that the pressure on SIFF by the public and the media to continuously perform is something to be appreciated. He also thanked the stakeholders for the support they expressed for football in the workshop.

Participants of the workshop all agreed that a proposal should be made based on the outcomes of the workshop for submission to relevant and appropriate bodies including the Government.