The national game

Thousands of young men (and women) have somewhere to spend their afternoon. Honiara is soccer capital of the Pacific for another two weeks.

The Oceania Under 20s have been playing it out on Lawson Tama's FIFA-class field.
Samoa is getting beaten every time, and Australia is looking to come away champion. Fiji surprised New Zealand 1-0, and Solo did the same to Fiji yesterday.

The crowds aren't as big as for last year's playoffs vs. Australia. There is probably less money around for the tickets. One look at the number of bags of rice going home in the ships last Christmas, and you know why.

There is less security too - just drive up Kola'a Ridge Cemetery road after a game. Yesterday there were so many guys leaping down the hillside bank there behind St. Barnabas'fence, it looked like those wildlife films with wildebeest crossing African rivers.

That would have been impossible last year. There were armed troops all up and down that hill. No chance to climb the hill and get a clear view of the game below. Now at least, the perpetually broke have a free diversion for 7 more days.

Then they have to face 2005.