This December, the Beiporo community will join the three existing beach soccer sites in Western Province namely Lea Beach in Ranonga Island, Simboro Beach in West Gizo, and Sirubai Beach in South Vella Island.
The tournament has been confirmed for 28th to 31st December 2020 and communities are invited to participate in this promotional tournament at Tutupalo (Beiporo village).
The development of this five-sided football code was first introduced by Sirubai Voko Tribe Association (SVTA) in Kubolia Beach Soccer site in December 2017 after a look and learn trip to the national Beach Soccer Championship 2016 held in Honiara. The community of Pusiju initiated the new sport with support from former National Bilikiki player, Mr. Benjamin Mela, and in-kind support from partners (Western Football Association, Solomon Islands Football Federation) sponsors (Solomon Telekom, Solrais Company), and individual donations.
The sport was well received by the youths and their participation was overwhelming over the past three years. The most active community to participate in the Annual Sirubai Beach Soccer Championship was Sieni Green FC from Beiporo. They showed their genuine interest in this sport since its establishment and never missed a single event.
A strategic development plan was made by SVTA for their youths to get more experience in this sport thus made a tour in the nearby island competition (Lea Beach Soccer Tournament). The Sinei Green FC youths were invited to join the SVTA team (Mudskipper FC) and that’s where the development of this sport started to grow.
This December, Chief Nelson Adovo has taken a lead to engage his youths from Beiporo to establish a new site for beach soccer in their community. This tournament aims to bring youths together and expose their God-given talents in this game. Also, it will allow them to take on a career in this sport in the future.
In an interview with Chief Nelson Adovo, he mentioned that as a leader of a tribe in the community, he has a heart for youths, children, and the vulnerable people in his society. He believes that by involving them in such activity it will minimize their involvement in other unacceptable social activities in the community.
The Sinei Green FC youth have shown their commitment by actively participating along with children, women, and men to prepare their new pitch. Chief Adovo also mentioned that he has given the youths leadership role and that has empowered them to do extraordinary work in preparation for the upcoming tournament.
Mr. Steneth Kaniki, Director of SVTA acknowledge Chief Adovo for allowing his community to be part of this development movement for Beach Soccer. He further mentioned that this opportunity will empower the youths, and create a pool of more potential players for this code. The partnership between Sirubai and Tutupalo Beach Soccer Tournaments shows a classic example of how we can develop this sport at the grass-root level. Consequently, the outcome of this bottom-up approach development will benefit the overall development of this sport at the national level. We also acknowledge that other communities are doing similar approach in their own region for instance; Lea Beach (Ranonga Island), Siboro (West Gizo) and Kwai Island (Malaita).
It is known that some of the potential players from both sites will join the Western Kikio Team for the National Beach Soccer Championship in Honiara next month.
In a brief history, the Tutupalo field was demarcated as a recreation area by late Chief David Qiuna (father of Chief Nelson Adovo) during a logging operation in Ruruvai in 2002. The pitch is measured approximately 100m by 100m thus a potential site to develop an international standard Beach Soccer in the future.
Chief Adovo, kindly invites nearby communities to come and join the historical event and participate in this promotional tournament. The Provincial and National Partners in football will be invited to this milestone to witness the development of this sport in the Vella region.
By Henry Kaniki
