HONIARA – Enthusiasm and a passion to coach children are the qualities that distinguish Patrick and
Caroline Miniti. The husband and wife team arrive at Penatina Sports Ground at 6:45am to set up miniature playing pitches for local children in Honiara.
It’s a good thing they like starting early because a crowd of almost 200 children has already gathered under the trees by the driveway wearing
a multitude of football shirts from around the world.
Eyes stare intently, watching as the Miniti duo pace out the playing areas.
“I want to run this programme alongside the school term on a weekly basis.
But as you can see it’s difficult to actually do much coaching,” Miniti says, pointing to the hundreds already gathered, “I anticipate we will
have more children each week.”
The challenge according to Miniti is to find coaches that are able to fill the gap.
Caroline says that four or five players from Miniti’s Marist FC make themselves available to assist which helps alleviate the
workload.
“We sometimes get players from the Marist FC first team to help but mainly it is players from the club’s other teams.”
Miniti says local media helped promote the Marist FC Elite School of Excellence with regular advertisements in the Solomon Star and on
SIBC.
“We placed an ad in the local media and the response has been encouraging.
The children range in age from 7-16, so it is a wide gap.
The talent of the 7 year old age group is exciting – very exciting,” Miniti enthuses.
He’s right. Watching the seven-a-side matches unfold is akin to watching a miniature World Cup.
Team captains selected by Caroline have opted for the names of their heroes with “Italy”, “France”, “England” and “Brazil” (featuring two
‘Ronaldinhos’ in Barcelona shirts) play out an enjoyable four way tussle for Penatina Sports Ground supremacy.
It’s impossible not to be impressed by the technical ability of the players or their infectious enthusiasm for football.
The players take it upon themselves to critique peers in a constructive manner – for example, there were no foul throws amongst the 7 and 8
year olds after the correct technique was demonstrated by the captain of “Italy” to an opponent from “England”.
The other noticeable features, particularly to foreign eyes used to lush green surfaces, is the absence of football boots for most players,
cut grass, a flat playing surface, field markings, referees and goalposts.
“There is no funding but that’s understandable because resources are scarce for everyone.
I have approached Daltron with a sponsorship proposal and I am hopeful of hearing something positive in coming weeks,” Patrick Miniti
says.
Miniti – coach of former National Clubs Championship club Marist FC – says the long term aim is to select an elite squad from the various age
groups and train with them twice per week over the course of the coming year.
The Marist FC coach has every reason to look to the youth ranks for future stars after losing several senior players to the Papua New Guinea
National Soccer League Telikom Cup.
“Abraham Iniga, Jack Samani and Benjamin Mela have all joined a club in Papua New Guinea so it’s much tougher [for Marist FC] this
year.
Abraham was a real worker for us,” Miniti says.
Even so, Marist FC sit atop the DJ Graphics League but Miniti says other results will have to go their way if they are to win the Honiara
Football Association (HFA) competition.
“Makuru are in the strongest position.”
Miniti is right. Makuru are the only unbeaten team left in the DJ Graphics League and have three games in hand on Marist FC.
But right now Patrick and Caroline Miniti’s concern is far from the complications of the DJ League, National Clubs Championship or OFC
O-League.
The Miniti duo is involved in Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) ‘Learn and Play’ programme.
Miniti left behind an eleven year teaching career with Woodford School where he taught physical education.
Miniti says.
Woodford School’s loss has clearly been Solomon Islands gain.
DEDICATED: Caroline Miniti sets up the mini-pitches at Panatena Sports Ground
FUTURE STARS: Potential Marist FC and Solomon Island internationals in the making at “Learn and Play”
“CAPTAIN’S COMING!”: Head coach of Marist FC and SIFF ‘Learn and Play’ coach Patrick Miniti
‘LEARN AND PLAY’: The action gets underway at Panatena Sports Ground
“THE BOYS FROM “BRAZIL”: The “Brazil” team watch on tentatively during the Miniti selection draft
..AND ACTION!: The competition is fierce as the under 7 age group match gets underway
HAPI FACES: Just some of the happy children at the Marist FC School of Excellence showing their appreciation for the Miniti run course