East Central Guadalcanal Football Club has successfully defended their title, emerging as the champions of the Guadalcanal Soccer Cup 2024.
In a hard-fought grand final at Lawson Tama Stadium on Thursday, they narrowly defeated Davua FC 1 nil before a packed crowd.
The match remained scoreless in the first half, with both teams evenly matched. However, East Central Guadalcanal capitalized on their speed to outmaneuver the slower, taller players of Davua FC, scoring the decisive goal in the 25th minute of the second half.
Despite Davua FC’s efforts to equalize, East Central held firm until the final whistle.
Speaking to Star Sports, East Central FC Head Coach Jackson Namo expressed his joy over the victory.
He praised his players for their hard work and credited them for retaining the Guadalcanal Soccer Cup title.
“For the boys, it wasn’t easy, but through God, everything is possible. First and foremost, I want to thank God for this win,” Namo said.
“I also want to praise the boys for their hard work and commitment throughout the tournament.”
When asked about his winning strategy, Namo explained that he instructed his fast players to press hard, exploiting Davua’s slower pace.
“Going into the second half, after the scoreless first half, I realized our opponents had tall, strong defenders. I told my players to press hard because they were slower, and the boys executed the game plan perfectly,” Namo explained.
The midfield and attacking players were key in securing the victory, and Namo was pleased with how well his team followed the plan.
“As defending champions, we know we’ll have to work hard over the next two years to keep our title, especially since many of our players are young and this was their first big tournament,” Namo added.
“There’s always room for improvement, but what makes me happy is that these boys are coachable. It’s crucial we stay united to defend this title in the future.”
Star Sports could not get comments from the losing side.
The Guadalcanal Soccer Cup is held every two years, meaning the next tournament will take place in 2026.
For now, East Central Guadalcanal FC remains the reigning champion of 2024.
By RAYMOND HULANGA
Solomon Star, Honiara
