Head Hunters? Not Anymore - Football Hunters!

 At the end of last month I got interesting task to do by the football magazine I cooperate with – to write an article about football environment in Solomon Islands. And so I used that as a kick to get myself a bit more interested in the sport activities than before. Luckily there was that weekend first round of the Oceanic League, which is at the same time qualifier for the FIFA Club World Cup, between Koloale FC and Auckland City from New Zealand.



The stadium I was passing by every day on my way to work didn’t seem as big as FIFA declares on their website. Indeed, 20 000 “seats” seemed to be very generous number, considering that the whole stadium has around 1000 actual seats (for sitting). 

In front of the stadium I faced the problem of getting my ticket as in the crowd nobody seemed like selling tickets and I haven’t noticed any official selling place. After a while I decided to ask one of the guys where is possible to purchase the passage to thestadium. What a surprise when he pointed at the crowd around fence surrounding the stadium. Until then I thought the people there just don’t have money to get in so they enjoy the game from distance. Girls with tickets in their hands were on the other side, distributing them in exchange for 10 Solomon Dollars (CCA 1 EUR). So I joined the crowd and soon I walked away with this magic piece of paper in my hand.

On my way I passed by several ladies with green piece of fabric with “Go Koloale! Go!” letters. Considering that I was probably the only white guy at the stadium attracting attention I decided to buy one and show my sympathies with local team. Well equipped and ready for the game I was heading to find some place with a nice view. At that point I had no doubts about the information on FIFA webpage regarding the stadium capacity – over 15 000 people was there, that’s for sure.  The hill next to the pitch serves as natural stand. Its cascade structure makes possible to sit at some parts of the steep. I sat down right above the middle of the field with very nice view. At least that’s what I though. Unfortunately there was some kind of passage point for people to go back and forward just in front of me and I was sliding down on the back of man who was just below me. I can’t even express how much I did envy the guy next to me who got the chance to hold the roots of a tree and unless me had some stability.

People around were asking me whether I’m from New Zealand. I denied everything pointing at the signs of my sympathies around my neck with letters “Go Koloale! Go!”. “This defender was in our beach soccer team at the World Championship,” claims the guy in garbage collector suit next to me. I waggle my head with obvious sign of recognition in my face.

Half time whistle comes just in the right moment as I start to have cramps in my legs and hands from sitting on the hill. While I was stretching my legs one of the local supporters started to ram down the ground behind me so I can sit a bit more comfortable in the next half. I accept this nice gesture with polite smile. As I can see I might not even need such a help as from upper part of the hill other local guys made some space for me and so in the second half I can watch the game with new friends.

Koloale managed to play pretty well. At least much better than I would expect. Auckland was leading at half time only by the penalty kick and so the second half could be very interesting. Unfortunately for Koloale it wasn’t. Their lack of discipline, patience and tactical consistency lead to their defeat 4:1. Audience have been very quiet and who would expect some organized chants, would be very disappointed.

Solomon Warriors - my way to become professional football player

This experience reminded me that I could actually go and play some day. My colleague Colin offered me the chance to join one of next Sundays his friends on their weekend friendly game. I decided to give it a try. Waking up before 7 AM on Sundays isn’t my favourite activity, but I managed to move myself to the place. Everybody has chance to play, old, young, fat, slim, black, white, with or without shoes... One game is 2x15 minutes and then the next group of players moves in. I had big problems to realize who is in my team as everybody looks the same to me. And so sometimes it happens that I try to take the ball from my surprised team mate and sometimes I pass to player from the opposite team.

After the game I was sitting with some of the players and, as usual in here, I had to face many questions from surprised sportsman about how it happened that white man from Europe is playing with them. It turned out that one of the guys is assistant coach of one of the best local teams FC Solomon Warriors and I was offered to take part of their training.

The next day I was waiting for the players and coaches to come on the football pitch they were supposed to practice on. The players are brought every day on trunk of a truck and so they were this time. Solomon Warriors are divided into two teams according to players football abilities and practice separately. At the end of the training comes friendly game between both teams. I got my chance to play in attack and as soon as I enter to the game there is ball on my side. I can hear players along the line laughing and supporting my first touch with the ball: “White man! White man!”

After the training they all gather together in a circle, hold their hands and listen to the speech of the coach. After that there is a praying part. Missionaries did very good job over last centuries. The 1999 population census revealed that 41.9% of the Population is Roman Catholic, 23.1% Church of Melanesia (Anglican), 16% South Sea Evangelical Church, and 11.7% are Seventh Day Adventists (SDA). The remaining 7.3% is comprised of members of other denominations, and a small number of Pagans. In general churches have played a vital role in the development of Guadalcanal. Not only are they fulfilling their evangelism and Christianizing roles but they are active development agents as well. I usually don’t declare my atheism and rather say I’m catholic. That helps me to avoid further questions. Praying is very common activity at any occasion – meeting, common lunch, sport events...

Before I jump in to the truck with other players coaches invite me to watch game of their B-team next day. To my surprise they want to register me, so might even play. I guess it’s kind of question of prestige as they would be the only team with white player from !EUROPE!. I accept the invitation and the following day I enjoy the atmosphere from the bench with rest of Solomon Warriors.  At the Lawson Tama stadium for “20 000” people as this is the only stadium for official games in Solomon Islands.

Obviously my presence on the bench of Solomon Warriors confused some of the supporters. “My wantoks (meaning people from the same place/village) told me Solomon Warriors have a new white coach. He was on the bench with them in their last game. He has to be from overseas, probably American,” told me Collin the other day in the office with amusement in his face, knowing it was me.

Last Sunday I went to play the friendly weekend game again and some of the Solomon Warriors players have been there too. “Our coach registered you in our team, you can play with us now,” informs me one of the Solomon Warriors B defenders. Considering that I never told them my last name I would really like to know how, or under which name they managed to register me. Let’s just say Solomon Islands is the place where Matouš almost became professional football player.