THE Tuasulia Christmas Sports Tournament in Ward 4 of the West Kwara’ae Constituency in Malaita Province has touched the hearts of many of the young people who participated in the two-week event held at the Dala North Playing Ground.
The tournament, which ran from 22 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, was a significant occasion for the community.
This historic Christmas tournament brought together 32 male football teams and 28 female volleyball teams from local communities from Kakalano to Fote.
For many, it was the first time such an event was held in the area.
The tournament, described as one of the most enjoyable events for local sports enthusiasts, provided a unique opportunity for young athletes who had never experienced a sporting competition of this scale in Ward 4.
Fully-funded by the Member of the Malaita Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 4 and Provincial Minister for Education, Leonard Tuasulia, the event was aimed at promoting sports and unity within the ward.
Minister Tuasulia, during the prize presentation, thanked all the participating teams in both football and volleyball for coming together to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festive season.
He emphasised the importance of supporting young people by uniting them through sports during the holiday season.
“By organising and supporting such events, we aim to unite Ward 4 as one family, allowing everyone to celebrate Christmas and the New Year in joy,” Minister Tuasulia said.
He hailed the tournament as having provided a valuable platform for talented players to showcase their skills.
The tournament cost approximately $40,000 to host and Minister Tuasulia explained that organising a league is an expensive undertaking, which is why he decided to host Christmas tournaments.
His goal is to keep young people engaged in positive activities to prevent them from involvement in undesirable activities in their communities.
Looking ahead, Minister Tuasulia promised to sponsor another Christmas tournament this year as he believes that events like this help young athletes develop their skills to become national players in the future.
He extended his gratitude to the organising committee, referees and everyone who contributed to the success of the tournament.
Chairman of the organising committee, Hendrick Aramao expressed his satisfaction with the event’s success.
“Despite the challenges and difficulties, we faced, the games continued smoothly and concluded successfully,” he said.
Mr Aramao thanked all team managers for their support which ensured the tournament was both exciting and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Tournament Results and Prizes;
Football:
1st Place: DN FC – Cash prize of $3,500 and a trophy
2nd Place: Kakara FC – Cash prize of $2,500
3rd Place: Fote FC – Cash prize of $1,500
4th Place: DN FC 3 – Cash prize of $1,500
Volleyball:
1st Place: DS1 – Cash prize of $1,500
2nd Place: Kakara – Cash prize of $1,000
3rd Place: Highlands – Cash prize of $800
4th Place: DS2 – Cash prize of $500
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
