CATCH UP MATCHES FOR SANTOS FC NOW DOUBLES

With the postponement of this afternoon's scheduled match against Kolei United FC, the number of catch up matches for Santos FC has now doubled to two(2). The first catch up match will be against Island Brothers FC. The reason for postponing the Santos FC/Kolei United FC Division 1 match today being Tuesday 25th September 2007 was due to the non-availability of the match venue. The HFA has failed to secure or negotiate the SICHE Panatina field with the concerned institution's administration for its league matches. Therefore, it now seems very likely that all Division 1 and 2 matches will be played at the KGVI School two fields which means that a few more match postponements are likely to happen again particularly the matches previously earmarked for the SICHE Panatina field.

The catch up matches will be played after all matches in the fixture for the two KGVI fields are completed. Otherwise, HFA will have to find other alternative days during the week apart from Tuesdays and Thursdays for the catch up matches.

Despite this sudden change at very short notice, Santos FC players have been encouraged and urged by the managment to continue on with their normal trainings under the guidance of the Club's coach Mr. Chris Asipara who has now come back to the training ground after 3 months of absence from the boys.

Santos FC's next fixture match will be against Las United FC, a relegated team from the Super League Division last season. The match will be played on Saturday 6th October 2007 at 9.30am KGVI School south field. The boys are looking forward to this Las United FC match and the coach Chris Asipara having watched the Las United FC - LS Kuma FC match on Saturday22nd September 2007 confidently said that, his Santos FC boys are capable of beating Las United FC. Just keep on looking out for the result of the Santos FC/Las United FC match on 06/10/07.

SANTOS / JUNIOR FLAMENGO LEAGUE MATCH

SANTOS FC 1 – JUNIOR FLAMENGO FC 1

Santos FC played its first match against Junior Flamengo FC in Division 1 of the HFA 2007-2008 DJ League Season at KGVI School’s north field on Thursday 20th September 2007 at 4.00 pm.

Playing without its first 11 players and training without the coach for the last 2 months, Santos FC managed to hold the Junior Flamengo FC to a scoreless first half. Junior Flamengo FC is a team from Fishing Village (Fishery) settlement in Honiara which comprises mostly players from the National Under 17 and Under 20 Squads. Junior Flamengo FC did most of the attacking during the first half of the match when Santos FC midfield could not effectively take control of the ball or its players could not find their game rhythm and were forced back to do more defending.

About 10 minutes in the second half, Junior Flamengo FC scored the first goal by its unmarked left flanker collecting the ball on the left hand blind side behind the Santos FC’s defence line through a well timed cross from the right flanks, which he made no mistake in quickly blasting the ball past the left-hand far side of the Santos FC goal keeper and into the net. Prior to this score, Junior Flamengo FC has been using the same crosses on 2-3 occasions from its right flank to the left flank capitalizing on Santos FC backline’s and midfield’s failure in not switching their passes either upfront or to their right flanks.

With a goal behind, Santos FC quickly made a few changes in the midfield and left flank. Brown Akoeasi and Mike Hui came in for Santos FC’s midfield and Malachi Hina’i moved to the left flank replacing the injured Sammy Wara. This changed the momentum and tone of the game as Santos FC’s midfield quickly took control of the ball and settled down the game for Santos FC. The Santos FC midfield then created attacking football against Junior Flamengo FC switching the ball both to its left and right flanks, making crosses from the blind sides, creating through-ball breakthroughs and looked more to be in control of the game with Junior Flamengo FC players retreating to their half to do more defending.

Santos FC’s attacking and search for an equalizer finally materialized about 30 minutes in the second half when Santos FC’s right flanker Guyllard Kaotara, well timing a corner kick to be taken from the left hand side, positioned himself behind the Junior Flamengo defence unmarked and quickly headed the ball into Junior Flamengo FC’s open goal.

Locked at 1-1 about the 80th minute of the match, Santos FC posed some real threats to Junior Flamengo FC as it kept on its attacking game looking for the winning goal. The Junior Flamengo FC however did well in defending their goal for the remainder of the match which eventually ended in a 1-1 draw at the end of full time.

The match should have gone Santos FC’s way had the referee allowed Santos FC’s first goal when defender Michael Tahi made a solo attempt in the first half of the match, by running onto a 50-50 ball in the penalty area against the Junior Flamengo goal keeper, touched the ball into the open net and colliding with the diving keeper just about the same time. The referee on the other hand wrongly awarded a free kick against Santos FC’s Michael Tahi. Some of the Junior Flamengo FC players displayed unclean football and committed foul play against some of the Santos FC players in the match which resulted in one Junior Flamengo player picking up a yellow card. No cards were picked up by any Santos FC player during this match as the players displayed fair play and clean football as expected.

The Santos FC’s critical goal scorer in this match Mr. Guyllard Kaotara was awarded the critical goal award by the Club Management on Friday 21st September 2007 at the Club’s training ground at KGVI School. Mr. Kaotara received the prize from the Club President Mr. Henry Kausimae and witnessed by the players and the Club Treasurer Mr. John Keniapisia. The Critical Goal Award is an initiative taken and personally sponsored by the Club Treasurer Mr. John Keniapisia with the primary aim of cultivating a winning team mentality and spirit both in an individual player and the whole team as well. Mr. Keniapisia has vowed to keep on sponsoring this award out from his own pockets this season for matches’ goals scored in favour of Santos FC that are deemed critical to the Club either for winning the match or drawing the match. This initiative is indeed a moral booster for the boys and a step in the right direction for Santos FC.

The responsibility is now on the Santos FC Management to get the Club’s coach back in training to prepare the boys for their second match against Kolei United FC on Tuesday 25th September 2007 at 4.00pm.

HONIARA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (HFA) 2007-2008 DJ LEAGUE SEASON OPENS

The much awaited HFA 2007-2008 DJ League season finally and officially opened on Friday 14th September 2007 at the Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands. The highlight of the opening ceremony was the parade match by the HFA affiliated clubs in all three divisions namely: Super/Premier, Division 1 and Division 2.

The clubs’ parade line up started in front of the multi-purpose hall around mid-day before marching into the Lawson Tama Stadium. Santos FC also took part in the opening parade (refer to the photos below). About 2-3 Clubs did not take part in the opening ceremony. There should be a total of 36 teams this 2007-2008 season in the 3 divisions that is, 12 teams or clubs in each division.

Two Super Division matches followed the opening at Lawson Tama. The newly promoted Rangers FC met the Super Division reigning giant Makuru FC in their first encounter. Makuru FC beat Rangers FC 3-1. The second game was between Marist FC and Koloale FC. Koloale FC overran Marist FC by 2-1.

Division 1 matches should have started on Saturday 15th September 2007 with Santos FC playing its first match against Island Brothers FC at Lawson Tama at 10.00 am. The Santos FC boys had went into an overnight camp at the Treasurer’s (Mr. John Keniapisia) residence on the night of Friday 14th September 2007. However, upon the Santos FC’s team arrival at Lawson Tama Stadium on 15/09/07 for the match, the HFA Officials advised them that the Santos FC- Island Brothers FC match has been postponed to a later date during the season as a catch up match.

According to the Division 1 match fixtures previously supplied by HFA for the 2007-2008 DJ League season, Santos FC’s first match is against Island Brothers FC on a Saturday and the second game is against Junior Flamingo FC on the following Thursday. As such, Santos FC first match for this season is now very likely to be held on Thursday 20th September 2007 at 4.00 pm at KGVI School north field against Junior Flamengo FC but this yet to be confirmed by the HFA administration and management.

SANTOS' 30 PLAYERS FOR THE 2007-2008 HFA-DJ LEAGUE SEASON DIVISION 1 NAMED AND REGISTERED WITH THE HFA

On Friday 7th September 2007, the Santos FC President handed the HFA's Club Registration Form to the Administrator of HFA Mr. Barnabas Loloito at the HFA's Office, Lawson Tama. The said form contains the list of 30 Santos registered players who are eligible to play for the Club in Division 1 of the 2007-2008 HFA DJ League Season. The form also contains the names of the Santos FC Officials.

The thirty (30) registered players are: 1.Nanoka Juliano 2.Kionny Ronny 3.Leslie Haikau 4. Mike Hui 5.Augustine Rukarae 6.Sammy Wara 7.Guyllard Kaotara 8.Darwin Maeriua 9.Brown Akoeasi 10.Jimson Keni 11.Luke Ha'atarea 12.Dalton Maesia 13.Michael Suta 14.Michael Tahi 15.Mark Wate 16.Charles Houka 17.Johnson Lobo 18.James Wari'ia 19.Apollos Inasimae 20. Malachi Hina'i 21.Malachi Taumarisi 22.Chris Uhiaro 23.William Rahe 24.Berry Ramoitolo 25.Reginald Rahuria 26. Dave Hiba Riuta'a 27.Festus Torikeni 28. Alfred Waiaro 29. Charles Puani 30. Andrew Ai'apu

Other Santos FC players who are not part of the current 30 players but are on standy or reserve are: 1. Andison Soa'u'una 2.Stephen Apunauna 3.Jason Erewai 4.Jeff Henz Hanuara 5. Luke Namo'ara 6.Andrew To'iraena and 7.Absalom Awa Watemae

The Club Executive will be looking at devising some new rules to govern and regulate the qualification, selection, discipline and replacement of players in the 30 players list with new players if need be. More details on this will be made known to club members during the next general meeting proposed to be hosted at our Treasurer's residence on Sunday 16th September 2007 sometimes in the afternoon.

In the meantime, Santos FC is ready to take on its first opening match with whatever opponent it is drawn up with. The official opening, parade and speeches of the 2007-2008 HFA DJ League season has now been rescheduled to start on Friday 14th September 2007 and the league matches start on Saturday 15th September 2007. It is highly likely that, Santos FC will play its first league match on 15/09/07.

The elected Santos FC Management Committee (or Executive) for the 2007-2008 HFA-DJ League Season are: 1. President - Henry Kausimae 2. Vice-President - Eric Waruahoa 3. Secretary - Willie Waroka 4. Treasurer - John Keniapisia 5. Team Manager - Tome Aruhane 6.Coach - Chris Asipara (inactive) 7. Assistant- Coaches - Isaac Manaore/Augustine Rukarae (active), 8.Committe Member 1 - Michael Haukari'a 9.Committee Member 10.Apollos Inasimae 11. Willie Okekini and 12.Team physio & physical trainer - Paul Ratu

Everyone is looking forward to a colourful opening, enjoyable season and a successfull completion of the 2007-2008 HFA DJ League