Waitakere fly into warm welcome in Honiara

Solomon Islands and Waitakere United striker Benjamin Totori made a teary return to the town that launched him onto the international scene amid emotional scenes at Honiara International Airport this afternoon. The 22-year-old striker and his Waitakere United team-mates were welcomed by Totori's parents and a crowd of just over 400 local supporters as the build-up to the 2008 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League gains momentum in the this football-mad country.

Waitakere United Executive Chairman Rex Dawkins was overwhelmed by the response of locals as Totori and veteran strike partner Commins Menapi were treated to a welcome usually reserved for celebrities. Neither Totori or Menapi have been home in just over 7 months but it was easy to see how much the pair's exploits on the football pitch have meant to fans in Honiara.

"This is an amazing welcome. I won't forget this for a very long time. I just wish we had brought someone with us from television back home - these were unforgettable images," Dawkins said upon arrival at the team's hotel.

SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka said the emotional welcome was of no surprise to locals.

"Most of the fans are from Benjamin's village but Commins Menapi is also highly regarded as he played for Makuru FC.

The fans love both players so Waitakere United will enjoy good support on the weekend," Pituvaka said.

Pituvaka said that a crowd of around 12-14000 was expected for the weekend quashing rumours that 20-25000 may have crammed into the stadium as it once did for the Solomon Islands 1-2 loss to the Socceroos in 2005.

With 400 fans gathered at the airport a RAMSI escort to the Mendana Hotel saw Honiara come to almost complete standstill as workers left their shops and offices to watch the team bus and a lengthy convoy of fans led through the city centre with horns blasting and a what is sure to be familiar chant come Saturday of "Go Benji go!".

Between the airport and Mendana Hotel a throng of fans followed the Waitakere United team with the split between well-wishers and Kossa FC fans clearly in favour of the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) winners.

Local football observers claim that the crowd on Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium will be split 50-50 with fans of Makuru FC and Uncles FC - Menapi's former club and a club based near the village where Totori grew up - likely to be punting for the team featuring two Solomon Islanders.

However Kossa FC fans will be out in force - 13,000 of them fronted for the match against Ba here two months ago - and it looks likely they will form the majority of the crowd this time.

Security plans are in place with local police, security companies and the RAMSI forces supplying back-up in the unlikely event of there being any trouble.


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