The latest FIFA rankings saw no gains for the Oceania nations with only Tonga and American Samoa consolidating their rankings from last month.

Australia and Fiji dropped the furthest slipping three rankings. New Zealand slid out of the top 50 after a dream ride and is now placed at 52. Good results from some upcoming exciting fixtures can help return to the top fifty. Australia continues to lead the way at 48.

OFC RELEASE/RAROTONGA - A spectacular ground breaking ceremony was held yesterday at Matavera celebrating the commencement of construction on the FIFA Goal Project for the Cook Islands.

It was another big step in the development of football on the small island nation of just over 14,000 inhabitants. An array of dignitaries turned out amongst the throe of officials and special guests that joined the Cook Islands Football Association and local soccer fraternity for its most momentous occasion since becoming members of FIFA.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Robert Woonton, partook in the official ground-breaking, driving a small digger and shovelling out the first layer of dirt symbolising the commencement of construction. The last of the clearing and pegging will now take place before the main construction phase gets underway. According to FIFA Development Officer, Glenn Turner, if everything goes to schedule, the National Football Academy and two international standard playing pitches should be ready by Christmas and launched officially sometime in the New Year.

At the ceremony proper, speeches were made by Hon Woonten, Mr Turner, the Oceania Football Confederation Senior Vice President, Tautulu Roebeck of Samoa who made an address on behalf of the OFC, Cook Islands Football Association President, Lee Harmon and Mrs Akaiti Ama representing the Land Owners. Also present at the ceremony was the Queens Representative, His Excellency, Fredrick Goodwin. Providing the benediction and blessing was Reverend Teiho Maireriki, while the hymns were beautifully sung by members of the Matavera Catholic Church.

An ecstatic CIFA President, Lee Harmon, described the events today as "historic" and "a significant advance for the development of soccer in the Cook Islands." He was also thankful to FIFA for their initiative in setting up the Goal Programme.

Now that everything is underway, we're obviously delighted and at the same time very excited about the future of the game here," he remarked.

It was a proud occasion after waiting nearly two years to get started. The National Academy will have a huge impact here as it's the first of its kind in the Cook Islands and no doubt the profile of the game will lift for sure because of it.

The proposed National Academy when completed will become a hub for football development. The CIFA will relocate to new offices within the Academy in Matavera. The Academy will include two international standard pitches, one of which will be sand carpeted with underground irrigation, fully drained. Facilities will include an administration office for the CIFA, an education centre for seminars and conferences, a national training centre and accommodation quarters capable of hosting up to 30 players and officials.

Photo: Cook Islands Prime Minister, Robert Woonton, shaking hands with CIFA President, Lee Harmon (standing) during the ground breaking ceremony.

By Peter Rees - OFC Media Officer

14 April, CANBERRA - The 2003 OFC Women's World Cup Qualifiers concluded on Sunday 13 April with the effervescent Australia Matildas emerging convincing winners having gone through the round robin tournament unbeaten, scoring a mammoth total of 45 goals along the way while not conceding a single goal.

A young, but talented New Zealand outfit were the only team that on paper were seen as a threat to the experienced Matildas and it was appropriate that the two giants of Oceania met last Sunday in the final round of the tournament. Both teams came into the match undefeated with Australia enjoying a slight advantage in goal differential. This meant a draw was good enough for them to qualify and playing on home soil at the Belconnen Soccer Centre was supposed to be another huge advantage.

As expected, the match turned out to be a physical encounter with New Zealand providing a stern challenge matching it with the Australians in the first quarter. But midway in the half the potent Matildas attack began to make inroads working the ball wide to utilise their speed on the flanks to get behind the New Zealand. A clash of bodies saw Fijian referee Rajendra Singh wave play on and Joanne Peters following through collecting the loose ball and dribbling past two defenders to score past New Zealand goal keeper, Yvonne Vale, even though her shot was miscued.

New Zealand was awarded a free kick not long after but Nicola Smith's shot went over the crossbar. New Zealand made an early substitution with defender Terry McCahill coming off for youngster Hayley Moorwood. But the Matildas sustained this pressure and finished the stronger team at the half coming close to scoring again from two free kicks.

The Matildas carried this momentum into the second half and were rewarded when Danielle Small blasted in a 25 metre shot from the left side just four minutes after the restart to give her team a comfortable 2-0 lead. Staring down the barrel of defeat, but with ample time remaining, the confidence of the young New Zealand outfit seemed to fade in contrast to the Matildas who began to dominate the crunch round five fixture which had everything hinging on the result.

Both teams made substitutions midway through the half. The Matildas continued to control the tempo of the game with New Zealand's only real scoring chance coming in the 79th minute when substitute Wendi Henderson found Simone Ferrara in the box but Matildas defender Dianne Alagich was able snuff out that chance. Small came close to scoring her second goal to put the match beyond doubt but her diving header from Foster's cross went wide. Soon after Fijian referee, Rajendra Singh, blew the whistle for time Australia winning the match and a trip to China. While Australia were worthy winners, New Zealand deserved praise for their brave performance with a young team. They gained some consolation with their star player, Maia Jackman, finishing the tournament as the leading scorer with ten goals.

But the moment definitely belonged to the classy Australians who will be a force to reckon with come September when they line up against fifteen other teams to vie for the 4th FIFA Women's World Cup which will be hosted in China. It will be Australia's third consecutive World Cup appearance after New Zealand qualified for the inaugural World Cup back in 1991. They displayed a fast-paced, tactical style of play in Canberra that was beautiful to watch. They also showed amazing mental toughness and depth in their squad, especially when their captain Cheryl Salisbury had to pull out of the final match against New Zealand because of a leg injury.

For the island nations there were some positives and further indications that the gap will close further provided more exposure to international competition comes their way. Papua New Guinea finished in third place winning two matches and was awarded the Fair Play award which was presented at the conclusion of the match between Australia and New Zealand.

Samoa improved from their last appearance in 1998, and also managed their first ever international win and goal against the Cook Islands in the Polynesian derby in round four. To see the smile on goal scorer Lynette Laumea's face and the expressions of combined relief and jubilation inscribed on the faces of her team-mates and officials on the sideline, brought everything into perspective and summed up the spirit of competition and what it can provide to the human spirit.

The Cook Islands appearing in their first World Cup qualifying tournament could also take a lot of positives away having scored their first international goal when Melanie Rakei found the back of the net against Papua New Guinea in the first round. Both Samoa and the Cook Islands fielded very young teams, many of them will be still around for the next two World Cup qualifiers at least. And by then, with a concerted effort from all to develop women's football in the Oceania region, we are sure to see the gaps closing in future.

For detailed reports and statistics on the 2003 OFC Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, visit the official website by clicking on the tournament icon on the OFC website home page (situated on the right) below the masthead.

RAROTONGA - The Cook Islands take another big step in its football development with the ground breaking ceremony for their goal project set for next Tuesday, 15 April (local time).

According to Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) chief executive, Va'inga Tonga, invited guests and dignitaries will join the soccer community in celebrating the auspicious occasion.

A five acre plot of land in Matavera on the main island of Rarotonga was selected for the goal project with Vuksich & Borich contracted to commence land clearing and pegging during the initial stage following the ground breaking ceremony.

According to FIFA Goal Development Officer, Glenn Turner, the goal project should be near completed by December this year. When it does, it will become a hub for football development with the CIFA office set to relocate to Matavera.

The Cook Islands goal project will include two international standard pitches, one of which will be sand carpeted with underground irrigation, fully drained. Facilities will include an administration office for the CIFA, an education centre for seminars and conferences, a national training centre and accommodation capable of hosting up to 30 players and officials.

Photo: The surrounding land in Matavera will soon be turned into a hub of football education that will accelerate development in the island nation

FIFA RELEASE - In the light of the health risks posed by the outbreak of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus in East Asia, FIFA and its President Joseph S. Blatter have decided to postpone the draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup China PR 2003, which was due to be held in Wuhan (China) on 24 May.

This preventive measure has been taken in the interests of the health of those taking part in the draw.

FIFA World Youth Championship 2003

Tournament to be played in UAE from 27 November - 19 December

In accordance with a decision taken by the Executive Committee at its last meeting on 6 - 7 March 2003, mandating the FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and his AFC counterpart Mohamed Bin Hammam to find suitable dates for the rescheduling of the FIFA World Youth Championship 2003, consultations have taken place in recent weeks with the United Arab Emirates Football Association and Jack A. Warner, chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Youth Championship.

Having taken everything into account, FIFA and the Local Organising Committee have decided to hold the FIFA World Youth Championship United Arab Emirates 2003 from 27 November - 19 December.

I am delighted that FIFA will be able to hold this major tournament in the UAE as originally planned. The Local Organising Committee has worked so hard to guarantee the success of the event that it would have been unfair to move it elsewhere. I would like to thank the United Arab Emirates Football Association and its President for the cooperation, understanding, trust and support in recent weeks," commented Joseph S. Blatter.

24 teams will take part in the event:

Group A

UAE

Slovakia

Panama

Burkina Faso

Group B

Argentina

Spain

Uzbekistan

Mali

Group C

Brazil

Canada

Czech Rep

Australia

Group D

Colombia

Egypt

Japan

England

Group E

Saudi Arabia

Ireland Rep.

Mexico

Cote D'Ivoire

Group F

Paraguay

USA

Korea Republic

Germany

name="City"/>

The 2003 OFC Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament has kicked off at the Belconnen Soccer Centre in Canberra, Australia.

Be sure to visit the official tournament website by clicking on the icon on the OFC website home page, to check for results and updates.

The tournament runs from 5-13 April with Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea, the participating countries.

The winner represents Oceania at the FIFA Women's World Cup in China later in the year.