Mataks leads the race

By Crofton Utukana

Mataks Futsal Club has moved to the top of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Super Futsal League standings after securing a 5-2 victory over Dawn FC in a thrilling encounter at the SIFF Futsal Court yesterday.

The highly anticipated match drew a large crowd, with fans and supporters eager to witness the exciting showdown. 

Both teams boasted a mix of experienced Kurukuru players and emerging young talent.

Mataks featured key players such as Elis Mana, Clifford Misitana, Marlon Sia, Billy Afi and Owen Bunabo, while Dawn FC fielded stars like Charlie Otainao, Alwin Hou, Moffat Kiriau and Jayroll Patty, alongside several promising newcomers.

Mataks started the match on the front foot, creating several chances, but Dawn’s goalkeeper, Cliff Sasau Jr., stood firm, denying them with some exceptional one-on-one saves.

However, it was Dawn who struck first, taking a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. 

Mataks quickly equalized, and with the first half winding down, they took the lead with a second goal, going into the break 2-1 ahead.

The second half kicked off at a high tempo, with both sides pushing forward. Dawn’s Charlie Otainao leveled the score at 2-2, but as the game became increasingly physical, the referee was forced to issue yellow cards to several players.

Dawn suffered a significant setback when Alwin Hou was sent off after receiving a red card for a foul on Sammy Laui, who was also shown a yellow card for his role in the incident. 

This red card proved costly for Dawn, as they conceded three more goals, allowing Mataks to finish with a 5-2 victory.

Mataks head coach Francis Lafai credited his players’ concentration and composure for the win. 

“First and foremost, I thank the Almighty for giving us the strength to secure this important victory.

“I also want to commend my players for their focus throughout the match. It was a tough contest, and Dawn gave us a strong challenge, which will help in our preparation for the upcoming OFC Futsal Champions League,” Lafai said.

Despite the impressive result, Lafai acknowledged that there is still room for improvement. “We know there are areas we can work on as we prepare for round five of the league,” he added.

While Mataks now lead the league with 10 points, Lafai remained cautious. “It’s still early in the competition—just round four. We can’t take this lead for granted,” he explained. “As the league progresses, teams are finding their rhythm, and the level of play is improving. But yes, I am happy that we are leading.”

Dawn FC’s defeat dropped them to second place, with 9 points, followed by FC Salt and Koa Hill with 9 points as well.

These are the top four teams in the league after round four.

Meanwhile, results of the other matches played over the weekend, FC Salt defeated Futsal GC 9-4, Strides triumphed over Haura 6-1, Kukstaon thrashed Real Lights 8-0, and Koa Hill edged out Dunamis 4-1.

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