Several of the nation’s top-level football players will be showing off their skills during the free Family Football Fun Day at Lawson Tama this Saturday, and five of Honiara’s most popular bands will be performing.

Members of the national men’s team that proudly took on World Cup finalists Australia will be taking the field, including international star Commins Menapi, Alick Mamae, Felix Ray, Benjamin Totori, and Gideon Omokirio. They will be part of a Honiara Select Side challenging the next generation of national stars, the National Under 20 team, starting at 11.30 AM.

Current national women’s team members Elizabeth Kalae, Lorina Hambalu, Prudence Fula, Noelyn Wagapu, Alsie Ringi, Betty Sade, Belinda Susan and Rose Boe will also be playing in the women’s match to follow, between a Honiara Select Side versus the recent Solomons Game champions, Malaita. Seven current members of the national under 20 women’s team will also be taking to the field in that match.

A final social and fun match will see a team made up of past and present Solomon Islands senior public officials, including six of the recently announced Permanent Secretaries, play against a mixed partnership team of Solomon Islands Members of Parliament and RAMSI personnel.

The MPs/RAMSI team, to be captained by Deputy Prime Minister Job Tausinga with assistance from the sidelines coming from the coach, RAMSI Special Coordinator James Batley, will include up to ten MPs as well as senior RAMSI personnel, members of the PPF, RAMSI military, and civilian advisors.

Top local bands Jah ‘n’ I, Litol Rastas, Plan B, T-Bone and True Colours will be performing throughout the day, between matches and at half-time breaks to keep the crowd entertained. A long-time favourite of the crowd, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Band will also be performing a routine to delight the public.

An under 13 Futsal competition will kick-start the programme of events at 8.00 AM, with the final to be played at 10.30 AM.

Lucky members of the public who attend will have a chance to win random prizes of footballs, netballs, volleyballs, and t-shirts throughout the day.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), in partnership with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), will host the Family Football Fun Day at Lawson Tama on Saturday 22 July, to mark the third anniversary of RAMSI’s arrival.

SIFF has also invited premier local sporting clubs to set up stalls selling food and drink inside Lawson Tama.