THE highly anticipated Gizo Capital League kicked off on Friday, marking the beginning of a thrilling football season at the province capital, Gizo Western Province.
Ten teams from within Gizo came together to showcase their skills and compete for glory in the tournament.
The opening ceremony was filled with enthusiasm as football fans gathered to witness the spectacle.
The Capital leagues commenced with parade through Gizo town all the way to JFK Stadium.
The Western Football Association (WFA) Vice President, Adrian Masa emphasized the significance of the league in promoting football development in the region.
In his speech, Masa highlighted the importance of such tournaments in nurturing young talent and fostering a spirit of healthy competition through unity of football.
Masa said unfortunately this League cannot gather all the Zones Football Association (ZFA) under WFA due to logistics and expenses to call all the teams in around western province to participate.
He said only teams within the capital town were able to participate in the capital league.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Jim Ben also addressed the crowd, expressing his gratitude to the participating teams and sponsors for their support.
He said the league’s aim is to provide a platform for local talent to shine and encouraged fans to come out and support their favorite teams throughout the season.
The first match of the Gizo Capital Leagues was between Tophill FC and Daffet FC (Vella ), and it did not disappoint the eager spectators.
The first half of the game proved to be a tough battle as both teams displayed impressive defensive skills, resulting in a goalless draw at halftime.
However, the second half witnessed an exhilarating turn of events. Inside the last 20 minutes of the game, Vella United stepped up their game and demonstrated their attacking prowess.
With a series of well-executed plays, Daffet FC managed to score four goals, leaving Tophill FC stunned and unable to respond.
The final score stood at 4-0 in favor of Daffet FC securing them a convincing victory in their opening match.
The tournament will run from June until August, providing ample opportunities for teams to showcase their skills and fight for the coveted championship title.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
