Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and Critics

Football is officially recognized as the national sport in the Solomon Islands. With numerous competitions running year-round, the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has a busy time ensuring the game continues to grow and develop.

The Solomon Islands has been labeled as one of the soccer mad nation in the pacific when it comes to sports.

Just like other countries in the pacific, soccer is one of the sports that always makes headline in Solomon Islands. For Fiji, Rugby is the sports that people always pay more attention to.

This is one popular sport in schools and communities in Honiara and also the provinces.

SIFF has come under so many criticisms since the current executive takes control. Until today, this is their second term in office, nothing positive has been done as far as the public is concerned.

Public criticisms are usually pointed at bad performance of the National soccer team in both local and professional arena. This has always been pin pointed to the SIFF executive.

Social network like Facebook is where critics voice out their concern.

But the SIFF General Secretary, Eddie Ngava responded to the critics that the call to remove the current executive of SIFF should be made through the member of SIFF.

Concern public has been targeting the poor world ranking of Soccer in the Solomon Islands.

                                                                                                          Source: Forum Solomon Islands facebook page.

                                               The graph shows the FIFA World Ranking of Solomon Islands Since 1993 until today.

Ernest Mae, a Solomon Islands students studying at the University of South Pacific (USP) Laucala campus said the Solomon Islands National team haven't played many International games to step up the FIFA World Ranking.

SIFF hasn't been doing much in terms of organizing friendly matches. From the analysis of the graph, the decline has been for a period of 4 - 5 years. I believe we have potential players but father of soccer in the nation SIFF need to take initiative and creative ideas that will encourage our local talents to have vision and passion for football. If we don't make a change, our other pacific Island countries will beat us in terms of ranking and the passion for the sport we normally take pride of and even called it our number one sport.

   

In just few weeks times, Solomon Islands will enjoy a rare moment in the spotlight when the Melanesian country hosts Round Two of the Oceania qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil 2014. The eight teams tournament will be the biggest ever football event in the Solomons, a soccer mad nation and also referred to as the Brazil of the Pacific when it comes to soccer.