This is how we do it

Solomon Islands National Futsal Team Kurukuru have won the Oceania Futsal Tournament in Fiji qualifying them to go to Brazil for the Futsal World Cup Champions in September! See here for the news coverage and some rather nasty comments.

While I am happy for the team and its hardwork to put little known Solomon Islands on the FIFA map, I am realistic about the great challenges and teams that they are going to meet in the World Cup. For futsal history in Solomon Islands is relatively infant in comparison to the rest of  Europea, Asia and South America. I remember quite clearly when futsal was introduced in Honiara around 2002 most of the team members of the now Kurukuru were the pioneers of the game. I think most of them joined in first for the fun, but later found the fire for their passion of the game in Futsal. Now they are representing the country in a prominent FIFA Tournament coming up. It won’t be an easy task and more pressure for the boys to continue practice after their celebration will be called for. Even trial games won’t be a bad idea before september.

While I am typing out this blog the Kurukuru team are being paraded around town. As is the tradition of welcoming back soccer heroes the traffic in Honiara is temporarily disrupted and shouting are tolerated for the moment. A pick up truck has picked the boys along with families, supporters and fans ( some of them leaving work to go celebrate for a while) and shouting up and down the towns one way main road. Everyone is happy. So should they be. This country have very little to celebrate about so we are making noises today. This is how we do it.

Of course in the back of our minds we are aware of the scale of the coming events, but for now lets just be happy. Last words. Oceania unite in support of Kurukuru.

 

For Queen, soccer and country

Apart from the current food price hike there are other things buzzing Honiara at the moment. Soccer, Soccer and Soccer.

Yep with the National Club Championship Final between Makuru and Koloale coming into an controversial end. There is talking and shouting on how the referree handled that intesive game. This is still a touchy subject but lets just say for this blogs sake and as a KOSSA fan, I really dont care… CongratuIations Koloale.. I am mad with dissapointment because KOSSA did not even get a medal for third place ( losing out of the bronze game). SO I will leave it just like that. For the record and gameship: …FAIR PLAY… :0)

On the other corner, the Kurukuru National Futsal team currently participating in the Oceania Futsal Tournament in Suva, Fiji, just seem to be making headlines everyday with their continuing winning streaks. Beating New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji already is a major achievement! They have 3 more games with Vanuatu, Tahiti and Tuvalu and the trip to Brazil for the Futsal World cup tournament will be closer. God bless Kurukuru and may they be the light in this nations darkest hour.

By the way its officially declared a public holiday this Friday 13th June 2008 ( yes Friday 13th!!!) to mark the celebration of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeths II Birthday. It is beyond me apart from the fact that She is the Head of State of Solomon Islands- know more about Monarch of Solomon Islands and get confused-and because of some Colonial Empire Kingdom that exist in history that we should put resources and time to celebrate this Birthday. I took this event as casually as possible, almost like watching a satirical play by life on us ordinary human beings. But I don’t mind a public holiday. You guessed it, this weekend just might start a bit too early for some. So its not too bad. A couple of bands marching, a governor general host function, wine, drinks…not to forget the Queens Speech…the lady is not that bad..its not her fault shes head of state of some rusty old sovereign nation smack in the middle of the ocean…oh well..God Save the Queen.