Solomon Island Football Federation yesterday officially received 200 soccer balls donated by the President of Taiwan Ma Ying-Jeou during his state visit to the country on last month.
President Ma presented the balls to Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua when adressing the country during the Taiwanese Navy Squandron Show at Lawson Tama which was then handed to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry through its statuary body the National Sports Council then delivered them to SIFF yesterday.
The balls were presented and passed through four different bodies before finally handed over to SIFF.
Taiwan Ambassador to Solomon Island George Chan presented the balls to Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs Fred Fakari’i in which Fakari’i then handed it over to National Sport Council Chief Executive officer David Ferisua before it was received by SIFF president Martin Alufurai.
Alufurai in response said the balls would be used to touch many lives of young players.
He said the balls would be given to kids in three SIFF’s ‘learn and play schools namely KGVI in Honiara, Goldie in the Western province and Aligegeo in Malaita.
He acknowledged the government of Taiwan, government of Solomon Islands and the National Sport Council for recognizing SIFF as the responsible body for soccer.
Ambassador Chan said it was a great honor for him to handover 200 footballs to the Solomon Islands on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan.
“Before the Navy show, President Ma told thousands of people that we are going to give some footballs to the people of Solomon Islands”, he said.
Later on President Ma handed over a symbolic foot ball to Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua and received huge applauds from the audiences.
“We were all there to witness that great moment. It was very touching. Today we are gathering here again for the actual handover the footballs mentioned by our President to the Government of Solomon Islands”, Chan said.
Permanent Secretary Home Affairs Fred Fakari’i on behalf of the government also thanked Taiwan for its continuous support.
“Taiwan has once again stretched its hands to our people and this time it has recognized football in our country”, Fakari’i said.
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