Eastern Stars finding their feet in Southern Conference

Club name: Eastern Stars Football Club (ESFC)
Year of establishment: 2007
Motto: Stars never die
Franchise Owner: Eastern Stars Football Limited
Head Coach: Anthony Pakakota, (also the current Under-16 national coach)
Assistant coach: Taku Niebo (also the technical director)
Captain: Charlie Lepani
Vice-captain: Greg Togubai
Squad: 30 men
National Soccer League titles: Nil — Two-time runners-up to Hekari United
Minor premierships: Nil
Grand final appearances: Two
Background: The Eastern Stars started as a franchise focused on developing players from Milne Bay.
The Eastern Stars made their NSL debut in 2007, under the ownership of Joseph Ealedona.
But this season, the ownership is under Eastern Stars Football Limited — a company registered with the Investment Promotion Authority.
Paper work is being completed to bring in new board members.
The new board members are chairman Douglas Tomuriesa (Kiriwina-Goodenough MP), deputy chairman Ealedona, chief executive Andrew Lepani, deputy chief executive Frank Genaia, Xavier Victor, Niebo, Joshua Seriba, Ambrose Napolean and Nelson Kurina
Accomplishments: The Eastern Stars have established themselves as a club focused on Milne Bay.
They have signed a number of senior players. The Eastern Stars have helped identify, recruit and develop players who have made it into the national team.
The club had recruited a number of players from the Solomon Islands in the past.
This year, the Eastern Stars intend to strengthen their focus on developing players from the province and 90 per cent of the team now consist of Milne Bay players.
They intend to establish an academy in Alotau to serve as a pathway to the NSL.
Selection: The Eastern Stars identify players and call them in for trials before the team is confirmed. They have a 30-man train-on squad, with about 10 as development players.
Looking ahead: After a three-year absence, the Eastern Stars are rebuilding under Tomuriesa and Ealedona.
The club’s immediate focus is to find their feet in the Southern Conference, and establish a business arm and strengthen their development programme.