The weekly Tok Football programme was launched by the national broadcaster on Monday and will include 15 minutes of football, focusing mainly on national competition the Telekom S-League but also covering news from other football events throughout Solomon Islands, the rest of Oceania and the world.
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) media officer Joseph Boso is co-hosting the programme with locally-reknowned SIBC sports reporter Roland Ko’ofuli, who has become a popular commentator alongside the legendary Bart Bastia.
Boso says SIFF is continuing to expand its reach through the media and the Tok Football show is a project which has been in the pipeline since early last year.
“SIFF is pleased to give the public another avenue to access news about the biggest sport in the country,” he says. “This programme is for football fans across the nation and we aim to expand it over the coming months for the enjoyment of listeners.”
Funding for the programme comes from SIFF partner Our Telekom, who are also the sponsors of the recently-launched S-League, and Boso says the show would not have come to fruition without this support.
“SIFF thanks Our Telekom for continuing to support football in more ways than one. This radio show brings the game to an even bigger audience and Our Telekom is responsible for making it possible.”
The opening show included Koloale’s 2-1 win over Hekari United in the O-League and the Bilikiki’s runners-up placing at the OFC Beach Soccer Championship Tahiti 2011.
Boso says SIFF have chosen radio because it is the only medium in Solomon Islands that covers most of the country. Plans are in place for a television version of the programme to be launched but a date has not been confirmed at this stage.
“Eventually, SIFF aims to centralise the production of football news and information programmes which will be delivered through television, radio, print and the internet. This will make it possible for us to reach out to more people.”
The Tok Football show airs every Monday at 5.30pm local time.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb