By Eliza Kukutu
Heather Garriok, Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia, far left and Tom Engelhardt, International Partnership at Football Australia.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
The Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia, Heather Garriock, has described the Solomon Islands-Australia Sport Partnership as crucial to Australia’s regional engagement.
Speaking to eight Solomon Islands journalists at GIO Stadium in Canberra during the halftime of the women’s international match between the Matildas (Australia) and Argentina, Garriock emphasized on the the partnership’s significance.
“The Solomon Islands partnership is really important to Australia. It’s so important that we’ve had different teams involved,” she said.
The former Matildas’ player highlighted how Australia’s under-17 national team recently visited the Solomon Islands, with both sides gaining valuable experience from the exchange.
Tom Engelhardt, Head of International Partnerships at Football Australia, explained that the collaboration extends beyond the playing field to encompass both men’s and women’s football development.
“It’s built on real mutual benefit and respect, and we’re looking forward to the positive outcomes from the initiatives we’re implementing,” Engelhardt said.
The sport partnership extends beyond the Solomon Islands to include other Pacific nations, with the goal of bringing Pacific countries together through sport.
ENDS//
