The Belaha Community in Central Guadalcanal brought the Christmas spirit to life through sport, hosting a Christmas Futsal Knockout tournament.
This was aimed at keeping youths positively engaged and away from illegal activities during the festive season.
The community-driven tournament, held over the Christmas period and concluding on Monday, attracted ten teams made up largely of youths from Belaha and neighbouring communities.
One of the organisers, Riley Joe, said the initiative was designed to bring the community together while steering young people away from alcohol abuse, substance use and other unlawful activities that often increase during the holiday season.
“The competition was organised by myself and another brother, Carlos Tevi, who sponsored the cash prizes and the trophy.
“Our community had not host a Christmas event for quite some time, so we wanted to bring something positive back,” Joe said.
He explained that the idea was not just about competition, but about creating a safe and enjoyable space for youths during the holiday break.
“The main goal was to bring everyone together to enjoy Christmas and to keep our youths busy with sports instead of getting involved in bad activities,” he added.
With Belaha also having a futsal team competing in the country’s domestic leagues, Joe noted that the tournament provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect players and rebuild momentum ahead of the 2026 season.
“Because it was organised on short notice, we only had 10 teams, but we were fortunate to have teams from surrounding communities join us,” he said.
Beyond the action on the court, the Christmas Futsal Knockout also became a social gathering point, drawing families, supporters and community members together in a peaceful and united atmosphere.
“Over the past few days, we could really see that the event achieved its aims. Youths came out in big numbers to support their teams, and it was a completely alcohol and smoke-free event, which everyone enjoyed,” Joe added.
Joe said feedback from youths had been positive, with many expressing interest in organising more community events in the future.
He also expressed hope that the Christmas Futsal Knockout will become an annual event, continuing to inspire youths and strengthen unity within the Belaha community for years to come.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
