Oceania's reigning Futsal champions the Solomon Kurukuru made a brilliant second half come-back from a 2-3 deficit at half-time, to thrash New Caledonia 8-3 in the second match of the OFC Futsal Qualifiers at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, last night.



Backed by a strong vocal support from the Solomon Islands community in Suva, the Kurukuru boys lived up to expectations with their outstanding performance and constant display of skills that continuously mesmerised fans out of their seats.

In a match that followed the upset of Day 1 when hosts Fiji beat favourites Vanuatu 2-1, Solomon Kurukuru hit the net through captain Elliot Ragomo within the first few seconds of play which caught everyone by surprise including the time keepers who forgot to start the clock at kick-off.

The scoreline was extended to 2-0 in the 14th minute with a goal from Francis Lafai. Just as the crowd were starting to roar, New Caledonia bounced back with three quick goals in the 14th, 17th and 18th minute to lead 3-2 at half-time.

At the start of the second-half, the Kurukuru boys fired up presumably from a team talk at half-time from coach Dickson Daudau.

This eventuated with five unanswered goals in the second half through goals from Elliot Ragomo (37th min); Micah Lea'alafa (22nd, 22nd min); Moffat Sikwa'ae (26th min); James Egata (31st min); and Jack Wetney (37th min).

Solomon Kurukuru's second match tonight at 8pm (Fj time) will be against hosts Fiji who are also sitting at three points after one win but lagging behind the Kurukuru due to goals scored.

The controlling body of world amateur boxing, AIBA, has confirmed six Oceania boxers, including a Solomon Islander, to represent the Oceania Boxing Confederation (OCBC) in a programme called “Road to Milan” in Italy later this year.

Flyweight (51kg) Benedict Televai of the Solomon Islands will join Light flyweight (48kg) Lui Magaiva of Papua New Guinea, bantamweight (54kg) Sinapapa Leao of Samoa, lightweight (60kg) Lacalevu Mitieli of Fiji, middleweight (75kg) Alema Vaele of American Samoa and Naruan heavyweight (91kg) Jake Ageidu for the trip to Italy for the two-week training programme in Italy.

When endorsing the Oceania reps, AIBA chairman Dr Chin Kuo Wu said the programme targeted the less developed countries in terms of training facilities, funds, high-level competitions, coaching and other technical aspects in their boxing development.

“In this regard, AIBA will cover their economy class airline tickets, full coverage during the two weeks of training camp in Assisi, Italy, coverage of hotel rooms and meals for the period of the World AIBA Boxing Championships from Aug 27-Sept 13 in Milan, and supply of Adidas boxing competition uniforms and boxing gear (gloves and head gear),” Dr Wu said.

The six boxers will be accompanied by coaches Vitale Ah Chong of Samoa and Ratu Paulisa of Fiji.

The coaches’ attendance was also endorsed by AIBA to accompany Oceania’s boxers.

The eight-man contingent from Oceania was selected by the OCBC president and current PNG Amateur Boxing Union stalwart Lohial Nuau, and forwarded to Dr Wu for his final approval.

Source: The National

Our Telekom has now extended its Breeze GSM mobile service to Malu'u, North Malaita and will be launching its Breeze GSM Mobile Service on the 29th and 30th June 2009.

To mark this occasion, Our Telekom has been offering special sales on mobile handsets, SIM cards and other accessories.

The work on mobile installation at the Malu'u IP-GSM site was carried out by a team of Telekom engineers and was successfully completed on the 4th of June 2009.

The mobile coverage tests done by the engineers produced satisfactory results with very good reception for Malu'u station, the eastern side of Malu'u - (Takewind, Raubabate, Bubutarake, Diula, Gwaidingale, Ngongora, Mathaua, Su'uboko, Ruagao, Arabia Primary, Asia and Adaua School), the Western side of Malu'u - (Gwaunataerau, A'ama, Mana'abu, Kwene, Darawara'au, Ngalifasi, Manakwai, Gwa'ako, Galali and Basakana Island), and as far as Suava Bay and Suava Bay passage.

According to the Our Telekom Chief Executive, Mr. Loyley Ngira, this development has eased the load experienced by the fixed line service and brought about better means of communication access to and from one of the populous and commercial sites of Malaita province. People there have been very grateful for the service provided.

Our Telekom remains committed to developing and improving communication access in rural Solomons using its Breeze IPGSM Network as a solution. The next site confirmed to be launched is Tingoa in RENBEL province on the 20th of July 2009.

Source: Solomon Times

The Te’ekwali Land and Resource Owners Association in Malu’u, North Malaita, have agreed to the re-opening of the hydro electrification in Malu’u.

This was confirmed by the Administrator of the Association Daniel Angisiramo after a five months period of negotiations between the Association, the Provincial and National Governments.

In a document made between the Association and the Governments, a goodwill payment was assured by the Governments to be paid.

Mr Angisiramo said although the payment is yet to be made, his Association is now allowing the source to be re-opened, as a sign of respect and honour to the Government’s assurance.

Mr. Angisiramo said, he believed that the Government will also respect the document.

He said the closure of the source from the hydro power was just a result of misunderstandings.

Mr Angisiramo is now calling on all members of the tribe and Association to respect the document because any disruptions made after the signing of this document, would be illegal.

Philip Irobeni of SIEA Malu’u said, they don't have problems with any other party.

Source: SIBC

A Solomon Islander has been selected as one of the two finalists for the Norway-Pacific Islands Scholarship Program (NPISP) which is coordinated by the East-West Center in Hawai'i.

She is Ms Tammy Tabe, who will be pursuing a Masters program in Pacific Islands Studies. The other finalist is Ms Dorah Wilson from Vanuatu who will be undertaking a Master program in Political Science.

Ms Tabe and Ms Wilson are expected to begin their studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and the East-West Center in August 2009.

The Norway-Pacific Islands Scholarship Program (NPISP), funded by the Research Council of Norway, is a competitive, merit-based scholarship that will provide funding to two finalists from Solomon Islands and Vanuatu for graduate study at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

The scholarship is part of the Pacific Alternatives: Cultural Heritage and Political Innovation in Oceania project, which is administered by the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen in Norway, and includes institutions and scholars from the U.S., Australia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands.

The NPISP is a partnership between the University of Bergen in Norway, the East-West Center, and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa to offer two competitive, merit based scholarships with funding for master's degree study in fields that are directly relevant to cultural heritage and political innovation.

Source: East-West Center