NMSA Soccer Champions 2012

The Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) at the University of the South Pacific has organized a competition to mark the independence anniversary of Solomon Islands. The competition begins from 2nd to 6th of July 2012. This year's organized sports includes soccer, volley ball, netball and basket ball. Unlike previous years, this year SISA requested students to organise them selves in their respective provinces, however, for Malaita students they grouped them selves as Central Malaita, Ma'asina and Northern students association.

Soccer competition was the first sport to begin the festivity. It begins on Monday and ends with finals on Wednesday. There were two pools, pool A was  the pool of death which comprises of the mights of Ma'asina students, Central Malaita, Northern students, Renbel and Temotu. In pool B, it has the likes of Central Islands students, Western, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Makira and the favorites Isabel.

After the pool matches, Northern students topped pool A with 10 points runner up by Central Malaita with 7 points. The hot favorites Ma'asina was unable to make it through to semi finals after poor performance in pool games. In pool B, surprisingly Central Islands students topped the group followed by Guadalcanal. Isabel students was the favorites however, Guadalcanal denied their hopes for semi finals after beating them during their deciding match by 2 goals to nil.

In the first semi finals Northern students manage to beat Guadalcanal students after a very tough match by a goal to nil. The other semi final between the under dogs Central Islands students and Central Malaita students. Again this was a tough match and after the final whistle Central Islands defeated Central Malaita by a goal to nil.

In the grand final, Northern students takes on the under dogs Central Islands students. This was the most exciting match of the tournament. In first half, Northern students controlled the game professionally however, in the 6th minutes Billy Manetiva collected a re-bounced clearance by Northern defender and slotted the ball into the net after by passing a defender. The goal send the Central Islands students into wild celebration around the field.After the goal, Northern students kept the pressure on Central Islands defender yet they could not find the net. In the second half, the central clung to their one goal lead however, in the final minutes Northern students have equalized from a corner kick. The goal have enlightened the fans as they go wild in celebration. After full time both team draw one all. Another 14 minutes was given, and this time round Northern have gained much energy after the equalizer and dominated the game. The winning goal came in the second half of the 14 minutes when Michael Mae'eda breaks from the far right beating the defenders and sends a through ball to Lawrence who easily sends the ball into the net. The goal demolished the hopes of the Central Islands students as time moving closer to the end. After the final whistle, Northern students came from behind and beat the under dogs by 2 - 1.

Northern students became the first group to win the soccer competition organized in cultural groups.