Kurukuru Takes on Cuba Today

With just a few hours before their first taste of World Cup representation, the Solomon Islands Kurukuru boys are relaxed and highly motivated.

Kurukuru will take on Cuba today at 12:30pm Brazil Time, which is 2:30am Solomon Time.Solomon Times was informed that Coach Victor Wai'ia, Technical Advisor Scott Gilligan and the team captain Elliot Ragomo are having discussions for the forthcoming match against Cuba today.Coach Wai'ia informed Solomon Times that the line up will most possibly be: Elliot Ragomo, James, Jack Whitney, Stanley Puirana and Junoir Lioka. The reserve list will be Moffat, Micah, Lenson, Philip, Jenan Kapu, Samuel and Kogua.The Kurukuru team is said to be confident as they train hard for what is expected to be a tough FIFA Futsal World Cup Campaign.The Kurukuru team will be playing their matches at the Nilson Nelson Sports Hall, where they have also been training in the past few days.

Source: Solomon Times

PM Promises Free Education in 2009.

The C-NURA government has promised to introduce free education by next year.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua made the statement while addressing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals meeting. Dr Sikua impressed to leaders present in the meeting that Solomon Islands would appreciate a share of an eleven billion US dollar funding earmarked for the education sector worldwide.Prime Minister Sikua says a number of Solomon Islands development partners have indicated willingness to assist his government offer free primary education in 2009.Partners include the Republic of China, New Zealand, the European Union, Japan and Australia.Dr Sikua says the change in policy will exert huge pressure on the country's struggling economy but the government must ensure education to all children moves beyond primary, secondary and tertiary levels.He also said young Solomon Islanders get pushed off the education system too early because of a shortage in secondary and community-based schools.He says that while churches have contributed greatly to the education sector, with the establishment of primary and secondary schools, as well as informal and vocational training - students will still drop out of schools in the thousands each year and prematurely.

Source: Solomon Times

Kurukuru Team: Excited And Determined.

If the Solomon Islands Futsal team needed any further reminding that they had reached the big time, then it came early last Friday when four police officers on motorcycles arrived at their hotel to accompany the team bus from Goiania to Brasilia.

The road through Goiania's city centre was cleared by the officers, who were constantly buzzing around the bus and blocking other vehicles from hindering the team's path.

For the humble boys from Honiara - such is their excitement about participating in the FIFA Futsal World Cup that they would have gladly walked to Brasilia - it was a real thrill to be given such treatment.On arriving in Brasilia the team checked-in to their hotel - which is also hosting the other team's in its group (Brazil, Cuba, Japan and Russia) - and then got straight back to work with a light training session at the practice court adjacent to the main stadium, the Nilson Nelson Sports Hall.

The venue itself, a dome-like structure, is very impressive and seats over 16,000 people.The three players nursing injuries, Elliot Ragomo, Jenan Kapu and Junior Kogua have been assessed today by a medical officer and given the all-clear to play for Kurukuru in their first game against Cuba on Tuesday.

Two further training sessions will take place on Sunday and Monday and will give coach Victor Wai'ia a further opportunity to assess the squad and make a final selection of the team. Cuba finished second in their qualifying tournament (losing to Guatemala on penalties in the final) and will be a tough opponent.

All 14 Kurukuru players are proud to represent their country and are determined to raise the profile of Solomon Islands through a strong showing at the World Cup.Anyone wanting to wish the team well or provide some words of encouragement and inspiration are encouraged to send an email to kurukuru@mail.org.

Source : Solomon times

Sean Kingston, KatchaFire to Launch Digicel in Fiji

Reggae singer and rapper, Sean Kingston, and New Zealand reggae band, KatchaFire, will be part of the free concert to be held in Suva, Fiji, marking the official launch of Digicel in the country.

As reported by Fijilive, Digicel made the announcement yesterday and preparations are underway at Suva's Albert Park 'with the construction of what one local producer of the show describes as Fiji's first Rock & Roll stage'.Kingston, who was born in the USA but was raised in Jamaica, is well-known for his hit "Beautiful Girls" and other hits include "Take You There", "Me Love" and the collaboration with Natasha Bedingfield "Love Like This".KathcaFire's music is known throughout the region with hits like "Giddy Up", "Seriously" and "Rude Girl" to name a few.

According to the report, organizers of the concert 'are expecting close to 60,000 people to show up for the four hour show, starting at 5pm'. The launch and the concert will be held on October 1st.When Digicel launched in Tonga early this year, artist Shaggy was brought in for the concert marking the launch.The Carribean-based mobile company was awarded its mobile license in Fiji in July this year and is already present in Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu and has an experimental license in the Solomon Islands.The concert will also feature top local artists.

Source : Solomon Times.

Kurukuru Visits Futsal World Cup Venue

The Solomon Islands Kurukuru, in less than a day, will be propelled onto the global stage as the Futsal World Cup gets underway.

As excitement and expectation builds in Brazil, many are putting their money on Spain. Pundits say that whoever overcome Spain, winners of the last two events, will definitely walk away with the trophy. The team posing the biggest threat to Spain is Brazil, although its coach has downplayed its prospects. "Spain are the team to beat at this World Cup.

They are a group that has had everything planned out for years now. They may have changed coach, but they've continued their work just as before," the Brazilian coach Oliveira tells FIFA.com. "Nowadays, it's much harder to win a World Cup than four years ago, because every country is investing in Futsal now we're seeing rapid improvements. That's something we've been aware of and why we deemed it necessary to professionalise our technical committee, build our own training academy and do all the work we've done over the last four years.

That's the only way to prepare a team capable of winning the world title, while at the same time paving the way for the next generation." The young Kurukuru lads have their work cut out for them, what they need to do is to stay focused and play their natural game. As a young team the boys should soak in as much as they can from this tournament, and show to the rest of the World that, although young, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Source : Solomon Times

Authorities Warn of Tainted Milk from China

The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Dr George Malefoasi and the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Jeffrey Wickham has advised the public against the infant formula, Sanlu.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services with WHO has alerted health authorities on the formula and milk-based sweets imported from China.

The Sanlu brand milk powder and White Rabbit Creamy Candies have been confirmed to contain an industrial chemical - Melamine.

Melamine is an ingredient for fertilizers and also used in plastic production.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Ministry of Commerce together with the Honiara City Council will be conducting inspections of food importers and shops in Honiara and Provincial towns.

Government authorities are appealing to importers, particularly those importing from China, to take all necessary steps in ensuring their imported products are free of this brand.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Commerce encourages everyone to check labels on baby food products and sweets for such brand prior to purchasing.

The World Health Organization will continue to share information through its International Food Safety Authorities Network to help national authorities to remain informed and to assist in monitoring the situation.

The food authorities will ensure business houses comply with legal requirements to import food that are safe.

The poisoned milk scandal in China is becoming much bigger than anyone first imagined.

The health ministry in China has revealed that 13,000 children have had to go to hospital after drinking the milk. Overall, up to 53,000 children have become ill. Four have died.

The World Health Organization says the Chinese authorities have been acting appropriately, but the crisis is spreading beyond mainland China.

source : Solomon Times

Three Kurukurus receive treatment.

THREE Solomon Kurukuru players Eilliot Ragomo, Jenan Kagu and Junior Kogua received treatment for injuries yesterday at the Goias Sports Club, Brazil.

The boys are in Brazil for next week’s FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Reports reaching Star Sports said all three have ankle complaints and received sonar and heat therapy.
They were taken care of by Goias’ physiotherapist, who took the boys to the pool for further treatment and exercises.

All are expected to be fully fit for Kurukuru’s first game against Cuba on Tuesday, September 30.

However, a cautious approach is being taken and the trio will be rested from training for the next few days.
The rest of the squad continue to train twice daily and will leave Goiania today to travel to the venue of the World Cup, and capital of Brazil, Brasilia.

Source: Solomon Star

Bonito fail to impress - Wolves hold local side to a draw.

THE visiting Brisbane Wolves held Solomon Bonitos to a 1-1 draw in their second friendly match at Lawson Tama yesterday.

Wolves took the lead in the first half from Jason Sevasta, after receiving an accurate pass from Ryan Campbell.

Gideon Omokirio and James Naka almost got an equalizer straight after but the shot went off the mark.
The Bonito duo continued their attack with support from Alick Mamae, Commins Menapi, Ezra Sale and Gibson Hosea.

But their ball coordination was always disrupted by Wolves defenders led by captain Paul Mikula.
It was not until the second half that Gibson Daudau got the chance to hammer home the equaliser from a Naka cross.

Wolves, with their entertaining striker Kado Aoci from Congo, provided beautiful soccer to the crowd’s enjoyment.

The visitors side will take on Koloale FC again in the final friendly on Saturday.
Koloale beat them 3-1 in their first friendly on Wednesday.

Source: Solomon star