Ten women’s national team players from various clubs in the Solrais Women’s Premier League received PG2023 Legacy Scholarship awards from SIFF after a thorough selection process.
The PG2023 Legacy Scholarships is an initiative by SIFF to create a positive legacy with football athletes that will contribute to their ability to be productive citizens of Solomon Islands. This is based on a desire for football to impact up positively on the lives of athletes empowering them not only in sports but in fields of work that will lead them to broader roles for nation-building in Solomon Islands.
Former Solomon Islands women’s player Crystal Bakolo made the announcement today in a press conference alongside SIFF President William Lai and two of the recipients Claudia Votu and Corina Roatava.
SIFF President William said the scholarship was made possible from a pledge by football’s stakeholders and partners at a recent Football Gala night held at Pacific Casino which raised more than half a million dollars.
“As you have known we have raised money for these scholarships which the federation wants to give to national team players both male and female,” he said.
“We decided to start with the women’s players. We believe that most of the awards recipients will feature in the 2023 Pacific Games.
“Also we want to empower women in our society by giving them good education and a platform to become role models to their peers through playing football.”
The PG2023 Legacy Scholarships shall be a special fund set up for the purpose of providing academic and other training for football athletes. This includes education programmes with local institutions in the areas of computing, carpentry, auto-mechanics, nursing, and administration etc. ranging from certificate courses to degree level qualification.
With a key focus on sports, the PG2023 scholarship is also to offer opportunities for football athletes to access special training with overseas football institutions that will serve to extend their careers. This will bring a net benefit back to our performance in the 2023 Pacific Games.
The scholarships shall be presented to twenty football athletes equally shared between males and females. Astringent selection process shall be established with a body to consider applications for suitable candidates who are key players in national teams but with the potential to benefit from academic
Haura FC and current national team trainee Claudia Votu a recipient of the award said the scholarship will help financially with her tertiary studies at the University of the South Pacific Honiara campus.
“I am thrilled to be named among ten of the recipients and I believe it will lessen financial strains,” she said.
“It will help us continue our education and help us in our future as well.”
The scholarship award covers tuition fees and a stipend.
