The nationwide rollout of the Iumi Play Grassroots Football Development programme was successfully completed this week in Western Province for coordinators in Western and Honiara for coordinators from Makira Ulawa, Central Islands, Honiara, and Renbel province.
SIFF Technical Director, Moses Toata conducted a MA Grassroots coaching course, Iumi Play rollout and equipment in Gizo at the JF Kennedy Stadium on Tuesday 12 July and completed with a festival and handing over equipment to Western Football Association (WFA) on Thursday 14 July 2022.
Nineteen (19) coordinators and assistant coordinators from eight constituency development centres in Western province attended the three-days training and workshop.
Western Football head coach speaks highly of the Iumi Play programme as the right pathway for football development in the county.
Toata stated that developing our children at an early age will produce good footballers and leaders in the future.
The former Solomon Islands reminded all the participants that success of the implementation lies in their hands and SIFF with its sponsor Solomon Power believes that the trained coordinators will deliver the main aim of the programme.
North Vela la Vela coordinator, Itiae Waelasi believes that after attending the training he will help children in his community with basic football skills and he can’t wait to start the implementation of the programme as a teacher at Jones Adventist College.
In a busy week for Iumi Play, coordinators from Makira Ulawa, Central Province, Honiara and Renbel convened in the capital to undergo training to prepare them for the implementation phase.
Speaking on behalf of the major sponsor, Marketing Manager of Solomon Power, Stanley Teahohonoa stated that the State-owned enterprises is proud to contribute towards nation building through the Iumi Play programme.
“Solomon Power as a sponsor we are so proud to sponsor this Iumi Play Grassroots Football Development programme and we want to see the impact in our constituencies around the country, especially on the lives of our children in the rural areas, “he said.
“To all the coordinators I believe what you’ve learned over the past three days will equip you to deliver this programme. As sponsors, we believe in you that we going to make an impact and we are looking forward to the successful implementation of the Iumi Play programme.
“We want to show the country that this programme will penetrate into our community and that’s the aim of Solomon Power”.
The only province left for the rollout is Temotu which will take place later this month in Lata.
However, the other nine provinces’ coordinators will start the implementation phase after successfully undergo the rollout and receiving of equipment from SIFF Technical department.
