PacificAus Sports International Futsal Series 2024
As part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to the Pacific, the ‘PacificAus Sports’ initiative was launched in 2018.
Managed by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, its aim is to support opportunities for Australian and Pacific athletes, coaches and administrators to train, play and grow together.
Football Australia delivered a range of successful activities under the PacificAus Sports program from 2019 to 2023, and finalised a larger longer term deal with the program at the end of 2023 that would underpin activities in the region moving forward.
An early initiative, building off a series that was hosted by Australia in June 2023, was a second edition of the PacificAus Sports International Futsal Series, seeing three matches being played between Australia’s Men’s National Futsal Team, the Futsalroos, and the Solomon Islands Men’s National Futsal Team, Kurukuru - a team that is the pride and joy of the nation, owing to its status of routinely qualifying for FIFA Futsal World Cups.
The second edition, hosted in Honiara, saw Australia become the opponent for the first ever international futsal match in the history of Solomon Islands, played in the newly constructed facility for the Pacific Games, Friendship Hall.
In addition to the historical three matches, the Futsalroos joined Kurukuru for several community activities in the territories of Guadacanal and Honiara, as well as a welcome dinner attended by various government and football stakeholders, and a strong focus on driving domestic media coverage.
High performance outcomes were also front and centre as the Futsalroos prepared for their involvement in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024, which doubles as Asia’s qualification pathway for the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
I project managed the tour and served as the Head of Delegation for the traveling party - take a look at the journey below!
Arrival
The Futsalroos’ arrival in Honiara marked the first time that international futsal matches were hosted in the Solomon Islands, owing to the construction of a FIFA-regulation sized futsal court during the Pacific Games.
Hear from Futsalroos Goalkeeper Dom Badolato about first impressions in Honiara, and the new venue - Friendship Hall.
Community Engagement
The Futsalroos joined with Kurukuru, the Solomon Islands Men’s National Futsal Team, to conduct a meet and greet with students attending a Guadacanal elementary school in Gilbert Camp.
A number of Kurukuru players, including experienced team member Calvin D’Oro, had graduated from that same school.
Hear from several people involved in the day about the experience.
Gameday One
Match action and interviews with members of the Futsalroos and Kurukuru from Gameday One in the PacificAus Sports Futsal Series.
Gameday Two
Match action and interviews with members of the Futsalroos and Kurukuru from Gameday Two in the PacificAus Sports Futsal Series.
Community Engagement
The Futsalroos again joined with Kurukuru, this time to conduct a clinic for teenagers and children participating in a church organised futsal program, on the grounds of the Solomon Islands Football Federation Academy.
Hear from several people involved in the day about the experience.
Gameday Three
Match action and interviews with members of the Futsalroos and Kurukuru from Gameday Three in the PacificAus Sports Futsal Series.
