Benjamin Totori's break into the United States soccer market has been described as milestone by SIFF President Martin Alufurai.
An elated Alufurai could not hide his feelings saying Totori's achievement was befitting for someone who works hard for it."We have been waiting for this for a long time, and it took Totori to help Solomon Islands go global. It has always been my federation's intention to get our players break into other confederations," he adds.
The Solomon Islands and Waitakere striker signed with Portland Timbers for their 2008 season recently and will travel for the United States after the O' league matches.
Alufurai says Totori has finally broken the hoodoo by becoming the first Solomon Islander to leave the shores of Oceania to ply his football trade in another confederation of FIFA.
"It took Solomon nearly 20 years to realize this and I on behalf of SIFF and the football family would like to congratulate Totori for this fine achievement," he adds.
The SIFF president says Totori's achievement is a challenge for aspiring young Solomon Islanders that with patience and individual hardwork they can follow his footsteps.
He reveals that under his federation's policy - that is exactly what they want to achieve, to be able to get its players to play abroad. For Totori he will be getting more attention in the US where the emphasis is on raising football popularity to same level with basketball or baseball.
"Surely Totori has entered at the right time when soccer's attention is on the lucrative US market. Even the European countries are looking to America as a country with huge potential to become a leader in the soccer market - an example of course is David Beckham's move to US to ply his trade."