The Our Telekom National Futsal Championship will kick off this morning after the official opening ceremony which was held yesterday at Lawson Tama Stadium.

Six (6) of the 10 teams in the competition participated in the brief opening ceremony. The other teams were not able to attend the ceremony after arriving late in Honiara. Malaita Football Association's second team, Auki Futsal Club, arrived late in the afternoon yesterday and consequently missed the opening ceremony.

The competition is expected to be even given that each team is only allowed to field up to 2 futsal national team players. This effectively balances out the level of strength amongst the teams and gives the provincial sides a much less steeper experience curve.

Makira Ulawa were a late inclusion after Isabel Frigates withdrew one of its teams from the competition. The reason for Isabel Frigates withdrawal of their second team was not stated. However, Makira Ulawa which has great interest and promise in futsal is expected to be one of the teams to watch.

A Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) appointed National Team Selection Panel will be scouting for potential national team players during the competition. Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Manager, Scott Gilligan, will be assisting the team.

Gilligan will also run coaching program after the tournament for the participating teams' coaches and other coaches who have registered with the SIFF office for the course.

The opening matches are between Guadalcanal Scorpion and KOSSA in Lawson Tama Stadium A (Eastern end) and Koloale and Afio in Lawson Tama Stadium B (Western end). Both matches will kick off at 9:00am. Other matches will follow at 10:00am and 3:00pm and 4:00pm in the afternoon.

Entrance fees:

Grandstand $5-00
Hillside Adults $3-00
Hillside Children $2-00

Competition matches will continue throughout the week except on Friday which is the competition rest day. The Our Telekom National Futsal Championship finals will be played on Saturday.