No time for celebrations

I never quite read the editorial today on the Solomon Star but I did skim through to see that the gist of the article was a congratulatory message aimed at Koloale for their achievement in Auckland.  But let me throw caution to the wind and spend a few moments to share my thoughts.

Another year, another missed opportunity and yet the football fraternity is ever so quiet about what it hopes to achieve for the Solomon fan.  Oh yes, today the back page of the Solomon Star was littered with high praises but the harsh reality is Solomon Islands is nowhere near attaining anything grand in Oceania.  The finer achievements have been Tahiti's qualification to the U20 World Cup and their near miss at the recent U17 championship in New Zealand.  And what cause do we have to celebrate?  A lousy insignificant draw at the O-League finals long after Auckland had ensured its passage to Dubai.  Its sad Solomon Islands fans do not see that.  We are proud of our exploits in futsal, beach soccer and the O-League but we fail miserably at the 'real' game;  it is time we all say it is enough; quit the high fives and SIFF get some serious programs on the ground to ensure that we succeed at the highest level possible.

How do we do that?  The first step is really to allow clubs to move towards semi-professionalism.  I have heard of business people who are willing to spend money and some who are already spending money.  The wave for change has reached unprecedented levels and yet SIFF sings the same monotonous tune 'it cannot be done!'.  I say it can be done - it just takes creativity and commitment.  The football fraternity has become complacent, self-indulgent and lacking imagination so change is long overdue.

My dear brother had an interesting concept which I am very supportive of.  He said why not commercialize the game?  How about inviting investors to buy into soccer?  Selling all rights to a business venture that will actively market, organize and run the league; it is a workable idea and I believe it may be the way forward.  If not a business perhaps an affiliate of the Queensland State League but which is wholly administered and run by them.  They will certainly bring new ideas and set new standards and goals for soccer in the country.  It is worth a shot.

I know this for sure; it is time we stopped congratulating ourselves and making a big deal over some insignificant achievement that will do nothing for football in this country.