“YOU ARE INSPIRATIONS TO ALL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SI”: Hon. NORI – UK High Commissioner hosts SI National Women’s Football Team

BY TAROMANE MARTIN

Minister for Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs, Honourable Cathy Nori says the recent title winning feat of the national women’s football team at the last month’s OFC Women’s Nations Cup is an inspiration to girls and women in the country.

Hon. Nori made the comments during a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner, His Excellency Paul Turner on Thursday at his official residence in Honiara.

Hon. Nori said the national government is committed and will continue to maintain strong support for women’s sport through increased funding and inclusive policies as these female athletes have shown that they can compete and succeed in regional level and the international arena.

“The leadership and dedication of the technical and medical staff, team management and the Solomon Islands Football Federation for the support rendered to our women’s champion,” Minister Nori said.

“This victory is for our girls, sisters, aunties, mothers, women and even boys and men of Solomon Islands. The hard-fought memories will linger and continue to inspire Solomon Island girls to engage football and other sports.

“To you, my Solomon Islands national women champion, I thank you very much for what you have shown to all of us to win the game.

“Also, on the top, I want to thank SIF, Solomon Islands Football Federation, under the leadership of President Mr. Donald and the CEO,” the Minister added.

With the Solomon Islands Football Federation planning for the first time, to host  a Women’s Solomon Islands Cup for Women next year, 2026, Hon. Nori said more is needed to involve and empower women and girls in all kinds of activities.

“You are now actually talking that you’re practicing and emphasizing gender equality in sport because that is our gender government policy with my ministry, which we always advocate to involve women in all responsibilities of life, whether it be in sport, employment, jobs opportunities, leadership, decision making.

“We need to involve and empower women and girls in all kinds of activities because women can do it or even better as we see. Classical example that we now see our women winning this first ever championship because it is all about working together and developing our countries in all spheres of life that we can move forward.”

“So let us enjoy and celebrate the win of our England Women’s Football Team European Champion 2025 for the second time and Solomon Islands Women’s Football Team Champion 2025 for the first time. May God bless you all in your future endeavor and thank you to everyone,” Hon. Nori adds.

Meanwhile, His Excellency Paul Turner  said it was fantastic to have the Oceania Football Confederation 2025 Women’s Nations Cup Champions at his residence in Honiara to thank them for creating history.

“Thank you to the team, SIFF CEO Leonard Paia, OFC and FIFA representatives, Minister of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Hon. Cathy Nori, and all who attended our reception this week.

“ It’s great to see women’s football taken off here in Solomon’s in the way that it has also taken off in England and in the UK.  Football in England, and I think in most of Europe, was a very male game.  I remember going with my uncle sometimes to see a team called Aston Villa, because that was the closest football team, and it was all men.”

“It has transformed in England and Scotland, Wales and Ireland over the last 20 years, perhaps. And what’s great is that when you guys won, I was happy to be in town that Sunday when you were coming back, and I saw all types of Solomon Islanders celebrating.

“It’s become mainstream, is my point. And we want it to become even more mainstream here and, for that matter, in the UK. Not least the fact that certainly English women footballers are much better at winning on penalties than England male footballers.

“You beat Papua New Guinea, who I think may have been favourites. Certainly, Spain were favourites when we won, and the Spanish press have been not hesitant in saying how lucky we were,” High Commissioner Turner adds.

The UK has been a proud supporter of women sports in Solomon Islands through sports diplomacy programmes, one of which was attended by the Captain of the Women’s National Football Team, Ileen Pegi, in July 2023.

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