A National Easter Soccer 7s championship has been set for this coming Easter.

The championship which was organized by West Honiara Football Club is proposed to start on the 14 April ending 18 April 2017.

Event Manager Mr Joel Puia Konofilia in an interview with SunSPORTS yesterday said the championship is an open category which means any interested clubs are welcome.

He said as the competition will be a national championship, participating teams are expected from the provinces as well as clubs from TSL and HFA are eligible to participate.

Mr Konofilia said his idea behind this is to revive soccer 7 code in the country and to carry it beyond national level to international level.

He said under his guidance there was a soccer 7s competition was hosted in 2015 for White River Community proceed with a provincial soccer 7s competition later held.

“It never ends here as I have said that the top four teams reaching semi-finals will directly qualify for the Melanesian 7s next year here in Honiara.

“That will be a regional competition where other champions from the Melanesian countries in the region expect to participate in the championship next year, 2018.

“And there was a negotiation with the organizers of the Hong Kong 7s for a placing for our champions to participate in the competition.

“This is where I’m looking at carrying this soccer 7s code towards, and also the reason for this upcoming Easter soccer 7s championship,” Mr Konofilia said.

However, he said interested clubs are urged to give in their registration before 10 April 2017 as the championship will be from 14 to18 April.

Mr Konofilia said registration fee is $1, 000 for each participating teams.

He adds that many clubs are now giving in their registrations, and he is hoping for more teams to register for the competition.

Winner of the championship will awarded with a first prize of SBD$20,000 followed by SBD$15,000 for the second prize, $10,000 for the third and $5000 for the fourth prize.

Mr Konofilia said they are waiting for SIFF to confirm upon their request to host this national 7s competition at Lawson Tama.

“Otherwise, we have home ground Rove Soccer Field as the venue for the competition,” he said.