An official groundbreaking ceremony has taken place in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands to mark the beginning of a FIFA Goal III Project that will see John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) Stadium redeveloped to meet international playing standards.
The ceremony in Gizo on Friday 14 August was attended by representatives from FIFA, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), the Western Province Government and the Solomon Island Government.
SIFF President Martin Alufurai addressed the crowd and said that the project will upgrade the JFK Stadium to match international requirements and also develop a technical development centre for football.
“This project fulfils an objective that SIFF set itself in 2005,” said President Alufurai. “I would like to acknowledge FIFA and OFC for their support and also thank the people of Western Province and their Government for allowing the land to be developed.”
FIFA Development Officer for Oceania Glenn Turner, who is in Gizo for the groundbreaking, says that while JFK has been the best playing field in the Western province for many years it still falls short of the international standards at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara. Through the FIFA-funded Goal Project, JFK Stadium will undergo an extensive facelift.
OFC Deputy General Secretary Greg Larsen, who spoke on behalf of OFC, said that the project will help to boost soccer development in the Western and Choiseul regions.
After the speeches, Larsen and the Western Province Premier George Lilo performed the ceremonial groundbreaking. This was followed by the unveiling of the project plaque that will be placed at the stadium. The two symbolic actions signalled a new era for football in the Western Province and for the Solomon Islands.
Story and photos courtesy of SIFF Media
