For the first time in history the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is holding its Congress in a province outside of the capital Honiara.
Gizo in the Western Province is the host of the 20th Congress (11-15 August) which involves delegates from SIFF and its provincial football associations as well as representatives from Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and FIFA.
SIFF President Martin Alufurai says that the change in venue fulfils the aim of decentralizing football events away from Honiara. All of the provinces are represented at this week’s congress.
The Congress got underway on Tuesday with the start of a long term development workshop where OFC staff gave a series of presentations. Participants were informed about OFC’s structure, funding and how the Solomon Islands relates to the regional football governing body.
Vairani Davio, Senior Project Manager for Win in Oceania, spoke about the new FIFA-funded development programme. Davio explained that Win in Oceania aims to assist OFC Member Associations (MAs) in boosting national competitions, improving infrastructure and medical procedures, strengthening administration and communications as well as developing futsal and beach soccer competitions.
Win In Oceania will feature greatly in the development landscape of football in Solomon Islands for the next three years.
On Friday 14 August, a special ceremony will be held to mark the groundbreaking ceremony of JFK 
Stadium – a FIFA Goal Project III. The stadium is owned by the Western Province and will be developed by SIFF through the FIFA Goal project funding.
The ceremony on Friday will expand to include the handing over of football equipment to schools affected by the devastating tsunami in 2007.
The sitting of the Congress Proper will take place on Saturday 15 August, 2009. This will include the election of the SIFF Executive.
Story courtesy of SIFF Media