The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is in talks with Guangdong province in China on a potential football exchange programme between SIFF and Football Association of Guangdong through the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (GPAFFC) who already has a mutual relationship with the Guadalcanal Friendship Association with Guangdong (GFAG).
The parties discussed the likely partnership via a virtual zoom meeting this week as SIFF and Football Association of Guangdong had talks on areas of exchange once all formalities are done.
The exchange programme will see SIFF send referees, coaches, administrators, national teams and players to Guangdong to enhance their skills by learning from their friends in China.
In his brief remarks in the online meeting, SIFF President William Lai thanks Member of Parliament (MP) for West Guadalcanal Anthony Veke for striking the relationship with Guangdong province during his time as the Premier of Guadalcanal province.
“I would like to thank Hon. Minister, Hon. Anthony Veke the then Premier of Guadalcanal for initiated the idea of football development as part and partial his policies in 2017 to sign the relationship with Guangdong province,” he said.
“It is right to include SIFF in this process as the rightful organization or legitimate body to lead football in this country.
“We thank Hon. Anthony Veke for his initial work and SIFF will put priority on some projects in the partner agreement”.
The SIFF president stressed that at the moment both parties are still in dialogue to materialized the relationship.
“While it is at an infant stage of discussion, we believe if any partnership will definitely help in social, economic and football development in our beloved country as it will be a plus for everyone,” Lai added.
Despite Guadalcanal’s ties with Guangdong, SIFF target is to extend its support nationally to its other provincial member associations.
Member of Parliament (MP) for West Guadalcanal Anthony Veke said he is delighted SIFF has come on board to strengthen the relationship with Guadalcanal Friendship Association with Guangdong (GFAG).
“From the Guadalcanal context my team and I have worked so hard for this moment we break grounds and even taken risks to get to where we are today,” he said.
“In 2017 I led a delegation to Guangdong province and football is one of our major agenda items discussed in our number of meetings. The outcome of the meetings we agreed on the possibility of football exchanges on academic and professional levels.
“I acknowledge the willingness of SIFF to be part of this relationship because they are the FIFA recognized body of football in the Solomon Islands. However, I would like to ask SIFF to support our effort and allow Guadalcanal province through the Guadalcanal Football Association an affiliate to SIFF to be the first beneficiary of any football exchange with Guangdong province.”
A football fan himself, The People’s Republic of China’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Mr Li Ming in his official remarks in the virtual meeting said the dialogue is a history in the past two years since the China and Solomon Islands bilateral ties.
“The virtual meeting is the first time that we engaged directly between two football associations and I think we are now creating a history of our bilateral relationship between China and Solomon Islands in the past two years,” he said.
“I want to acknowledge my colleagues at the GPAFFC, GFA, SIFF and the GPFA for your outstanding introduction about the football association and the development imitative and some ideas shared with all of us.
“This dialogue is the first step to promote our mutual understanding of the in house friendship between our friends in sport.”
Joining the video conference from the Embassy of the P.R.C in Solomon Islanders were His Excellency Mr Li Ming, Hon. Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for West Guadalcanal Anthony Veke, SIFF CEO Leonard Paia, SIFF Vice President Marlon Houkawara, Technical Director Moses Toata, Head Coach Felipe Vega-Arango and William Lai was joining from the GBR quarantine site via zoom.
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