With the hosting of the Sol2023 XVII Pacific Games now becoming a successful distant memory, there’s a team behind football for men and women at the games that leaves a legacy.
Sol2023 Pacific Games -Football Technical Officials acknowledge OFC and SIFF for the mandate to manage and organize Men’s and women’s football events in the PG 2023 here in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
“It was not easy to organize such an International tournament when we had twelve men’s and ten women’s teams competing for Gold. We should acknowledge the Games Organizing Committee (GOC) for the confidence in SIFF to manage the two-week football tournament. Three-match venues were certified for all matches that meet the required FIFA standard pitch markings of 105m x 68m.
Lawson Tama – host group matches for both men and women; semi-finals and the bronze medal matches for men and women. Due to floodlighting issues, Lawson Tama can only host daylight matches at 12h00 and 15h00.
SIFF 1 & 2 – Host men and women group matches as well as the extra matches for ranking points. SIFF 1 also hosts night matches at 19h00 for both men and women.
Sports City, National Stadium – The National Stadium can only host the Gold Medal matches due to the scheduling for other events in the same venue. Both gold medal matches were packed with supporters of the finalist. All tickets were sold.
Through GOC functional areas, teams had access to good food, accommodation, transport, training, water, ice, and accreditation to watch other matches.
“There were a few challenges but were rectified and resolved on time.
“Organizing such a huge tournament needs energy, sacrifice, patience, and tolerance to ensure matches are kicked off on time, better communication with ground staff, teams’ preparation for matches, match officials’ appointments from instructors, and Broadcasting is essential to live telecast matches to the world.
With the confidence OFC has in SIFF to manage the PG Football event in two weeks, SIFF and OFC deliver a successful tournament for GOC.
The PG Football tournament was managed and coordinated by;
OFC appointed Technical Official – Emma Salzke
GOC Competition Manager – Ashley Romwane
SIFF Competition Director – Gerald Oiaka
Assistant Competition Manager (SIFF Academy) – Antoinette Miniti
Assistant Competition Manager (Lawson Tama) – Paul Baekalia
General Coordinator (SIFF Academy) – Gabriel Riotarau
General Coordinator (Lawson Tama) – Josphine Wale
General Coordinator (SIFF Academy) – Diane Kiko
Match officials Coordinator – Hamilton Siau
On the pitch, OFC recommended to GOC a total of 24 FIFA referees and Assistant referees, 2 Referee Instructors, and 1 fitness instructor.
Kavitesh Behari Fiji
Avinesh Narayan Fiji
Torika Delai Fiji
Miriama Frances Baleisasa (Physio) Fiji
Calvin Berg New Zealand
Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh New Zealand
Isaac Trevis New Zealand
David YAREBOINEN Papua New Guinea
Stephanie MINAN Papua New Guinea
Noah KUSUNAN Papua New Guinea
Maria SALAMASINA Samoa
Malaetala SALANOA Samoa
Norbert HAUATA Tahiti
Vaihina TEURA Tahiti
Tevita Vea (Instructor) Tonga
Folio Moeaki Tonga
Lata Kaumatule Tonga
JEREMY GARAE Vanuatu
Hilmon SESE Vanuatu
Ben AUKWAI Solomon Islands
Bernard MUTUKERA Solomon Islands
Jeffrey SOLODIA Solomon Islands
Natalia LUMUKANA Solomon Islands
Shama MAEMAE (OFC Referee) Solomon Islands
Timothy NIU (OFC Referee) Solomon Islands
Nehemiah Neil POLOSO (Instructor) Solomon Islands
Hugo Hebala PADO (Fitness Instructor) Solomon Islands
Besides the FIFA referees are also a few OFC referees and assistant referees who were appointed based on performance.
A total of 45 matches were played over 2 weeks, 24 matches for the men’s category and 21 matches for the women’s category. Matches were played over 4,050 minutes without any extra time during the semi-finals and finals. Total goals scored in the men’s competition- 53 goals and in women’s competition- 48 goals, 8 Red Cards were flashed in the men’s competition whilst 2 Red Cards were flashed in the women’s competition.
The next host for the Pacific Games in 2027 will be Tahiti.
