19 goals is perhaps a fair assessment of our quality against a team like New Zealand, especially in an OFC U19 World Cup qualifier. But it shouldn’t take 19 years to recognise the way forward!
Despite Satish Narain’s enthusiasm for the so-oft-misused “Brazilians of the Pacific” slogan, I was not convinced. I had seen the cracks against Tahiti and Cook Islands. Skills? Yes. Speed? Yes. Technical ability? Very little. Required coaching acumen? Not enough for this level.
Within 22 minutes we were down by 6! By half time New Zealand was up by a dozen. Then for the rest of the match either New Zealand was wasteful or took their foot off the gas. We tried to crowd the goalmouth to little effect. They still scored 7 more after the break.
It was painful to watch. Absolutely guttered. Why?
Simply because I am also a father of a teenage daughter finding her way in football. My heart broke for those U19 girls. I know the feeling all too well. I know about sacrifices. I understand the sense of bewilderment, the pain of losing – let alone conceding 19 unanswered goals!
We are a family who invested time, effort and money in both our children, especially our daughter, guiding her through years of personal growth and development. Guaranteed, it is not easy.
When the final whistle was blown, I reflected on our own journey.
I’ve seen my daughter resolute in defeat then lose it in the privacy of our car. I’ve heard her lone voice as she marshalled her teammates then that same voice asking, why dad? I’ve seen those same hands that hugged her goalkeeper cover her own face, hiding tears of defeat! Deflated! Heard that silence on those long rides home.
I remember that shy 6 year old who couldn’t kick a ball but went to football training anyway! That 9 year old who suddenly discovered dribbling. That 10 year old who started her first match as a striker but who sat miles away from her new teammates – she had just joined a real club! That 12 year old promoted to the first team in FF15 (Under 15) but despite diligently training the whole season, played only 2 games. Unselected on most weekends in a team of more experienced players, she questioned if she was good enough? I saw a 13 year old who reinvented herself as a left winger and found her scoring feet. Then the excitement of her first overseas football trip to compete in the Barcelona Cup in Spain. That 14 year old who became captain of an all girls team playing against boys in the Junior C Championship (Under 15)! That 15 year old who seamlessly fit into the women’s 4th division team (Canton Vaud, Switzerland) without their regulars as the 2023 season ended.
All. Those. Years. We persisted. We drove. We invested. We encouraged. We never gave up on her!
6 months of the year, football is outdoors. Rain, snow or sunshine we drive, train or bus for practise and games every day! 3 months of the year we are indoors playing the abbreviated code, 5 a-side! We’ve spent cold wintery nights waiting for the bus then trudging home in the snow, it is already 9PM!
The cycle never stops. School and football.
We’ve had more “almost there stories” then victories. But through it all, we’ve also seen her love for the game grow. She, more then anyone else understands the value of hard work and persistence.
“I cannot imagine my world without football! Football is my safe place.”
I am naturally biased to my own children but I believe in earning your way on merit. As much as I am forever grateful to everyone who has had a hand in my success, I know I’ve earned my place on merit! I expect no less of my children. If they are to play for Solomon Islands, they must earn it. So if SIFF, like Cook Islands, is willing to cast the search far and wide then our family is ready to volunteer our children for such an honour. Even if it were for a trial.
But the critical point is, we – the country, SIFF, fans, parents and our communities, must understand that there are huge sacrifices that must be made for Solomon Islands, especially our girls, to become competitive.
You see, I am sure our daughter’s story is very similar to most, if not all, of the Kiwi girls who ran riot against our girls that day! No part of their story is by accident, it was and is by design.
Our experience taught us that you do not necessarily start by searching for a Messi, Mia Hamm, Marta, Michael Jordan, Maradona, Pele or Usain Bolt. These are once in a lifetime, generational talents who are a rarity. But we can start and easily identify those with potential. Potential is the basic building block which can be unlocked through patient, carefully crafted football development programs and time. Commitment, investment and infrastructure are other potent ingredients to building this potential.
To achieve new milestones in her young career, our daughter has dedicated 9 years of her life. We’ve matched that in time, effort, money and lots of car talks! Our family will face the grind again after summer but we are guiding her to achieve her football goals – one step at a time.
So the challenge for Solomon Islands is to create that same story, that same environment, that same investment for every girl who wants to play football.
If we can do this for our daughters then we will kick some arse! Hell yeah!