OFC News

AS Magenta the Club Champions from NEw Caledonia became the first team to qualify for the OFC 2005 Club Championship play-offs in Tahiti 30 May to 10 June 2005.

AS Magenta strolled to an easy two leg victory over the Cook Island Club Champions Nikao, winning on aggregate 9-1. Goals by Sinedo (2) Kaudre with 2 and Hmae chipping in with one goal were enough to clinch the tie. However the French territory team did not have it all their own way with the Nikao team playing with much determination and commitement especially in the first half.

The Nikao teams goal was scored from the penalty spot by Stephen Willis in the last minute of the first half ensuring the match still had much to play for.

Referees for the games were:

Referee Stephen Fletcher

Assitant referee 1 Pat Barrett

Assistant referee 2 Jan-Hendrik Hintz

the Fourth Official was Nick Waldron

all the officials were from New Zealand.

The OFC 2005 CLub Championships continue over the next 8 to 10 weeks with teams from around the region stiving to qualify for the Tahitian finals

In the first leg of the first qualifying match of the 2005 OFC Club Championships, AS Magenta (New Caledonia) were too strong for Nikao FC (Cook Islands) winning 4-0 after leading 3-0 at halftime.

The first international match to be played at the OFC Academy grounds was an exciting affair. Nikao FC dominated the much of the first half and nearly went to the lead in the 30th minute. But the experience of AS Magenta, who are French territory finalists, proved decisive. An error by Nikao FC goalkeeper, Tony Jamieson, saw Michael Hmae shoot at an open net to open the scoring. Then unfortunately for Nikao FC two clumsy penalties were awarded within 5 minutes of each other which gave Michaek Hmae his hat trick and a half-time lead of 3-0.

In the second half Nikao FC rallied and Paul Van Ekye and Tuka Tisam would occasionally test the AS Magenta defence but could not convert. Nikao FCs' defence was resolute in the second half only allowing one goal in the 62nd minute by Jules Wea.

"If you take the two penalties away it was an excellent result for us. We are a young side with half the team under 20, so the boys should be proud of the way they played considering the strength of AS Magenta side" said Nikao FC coach, Sean Willis

Jean Paul Cureau, coach of the AS Magenta side was also happy with the performance of his team. "We took a long time to settle but my team play very well. It was a good start but we have some improvements to make"

The second leg will be played on Saturday 12th February at the OFC Academy grounds at 14.00pm. The winner of the play-off series will advance to the final round of the 2005 OFC Club Championships in Tahiti from 30 May - 10 June 2005.

Teams Line-ups:

Nikao FC: Jamieson Tony, Jamieson Mark, Keu Romeo, Une Rouru, Oti Chambers, Joseph, Van Eyke Paul Luiz, Mateariki Teariki, Tisam Tuka, Willis Stephen, Bartillard John,

Subs: Anonga Tisam, Alan Martin, Chambers Tristram, Wearing Remi, Willis Roy, Robertson Cameron, Tisam Natham,

AS Magenta: Zohune Jeil, Ouka Nicolas, Kaudre Robert, Wiako Jacky, Longue Steevens, Wadriako Robert, Poatinda Paul, Wajoka Pierre, Hmae Michel, Wea Jules, Sinedo Andre

Subs: Hnageje Christophe, Jiako Albert, Kaudre Noel, Kaudre Elia, Sameke Louis, Magoenpawiro, Christian, Hne Police

Goals: AS Magenta: 11. Hmae Michel (38th, 41st, 45th) - 6. Wea Jules (62nd)

An extraordinary long-range goal from Scott Chipperfield has seen the Qantas Socceroos come from a goal down to draw 1-1 against South Africa in Durban and in the process extend Australia's unbeaten run to nine matches.

South Africa opened the scoring through Benni McCarthy however Australia came back strongly in the second half and deserved their 71st minute equaliser to deny the South Africans a reversal of Australia's 1-0 win in London last March.

Coach Frank Farina, missing as many as eight regular players, handed a debut to midfielder Jason Culina of Dutch club Twente Enschede.

The next outing for the Qantas Socceroos will be against Iraq on March 26 at Sydney's Telstra Stadium, to be followed three days later by a match against Indonesia in Perth with proceeds going towards victims of the Tsunami disaster.

SOUTH AFRICA 1 (Benni McCarthy 11')

AUSTRALIA 1 (Scott Chipperfield 71'))

Australian line-up:

Mark Schwarzer; Lucas Neill, Tony Vidmar, Tony Popovic, Craig Moore, Vince Grella (Luke Wilkshire 71'), Marco Bresciano (Jon McKain 74'), Jason Culina (Mile Sterjovski 57'), Danny Tiatto (Scott Chipperfield 57'), Brett Emerton (Archie Thompson 66'), Paul Agostino (Max Vieri 66')

Subs Not Used: Clint Bolton (gk); Stephen Laybutt

Cautions: Marco Bresciano 55'

Crowd: 25,000 approx

Venue: ABSA Stadium, Durban

The crucial World Cup qualifying match between the Socceroos and the Solomon Islands will still take place in Honiara in September provided the security measures imposed by OFC are implemented.

The OFC Emergency Committee met on Saturday to consider the implications of the incident which saw certain spectators throw rocks and glass bottles onto the pitch which resulted in a crowd invasion of the pitch and the eventual abandonment of the final match of the 2005 OFC Under 20 Tournament between Solomon Islands and Australia.

The Committee expressed their grave concern that this type of incident happened and concluded that it was result of some lapses in the security measures for this tournament. It is understood that there was not the same security measures that was in place last September when the Socceroos played the Solomon Islands for the OFC Nations Cup final.

A letter by the CEO for the Football Federation of Australia, John O Neil advised that the Socceroos would still go to Solomon Islands for the World Cup qualifying match provided the appropriate security measures are put in place as last year.

As a result the Committee made the following decisions:

(a) That the Solomon Islands Football Federation will receive a written reprimand from OFC noting OFCs' serious concern in the lapses of security for this 2005 OFC Under 20 Tournament that led to this incident.

(b) That the World Cup qualifying match between Australia and Solomon Islands scheduled for September 2005 will take place provided the following measures will be put in place by the Solomon Islands Football Federation:

1. The need to appoint a suitably qualified Safety Officer with the responsibility of establishing a Safety Committee.

2. Develop appropriate plan for dealing with the areas of `non paying spectators' located on the hillside at the South end of the stadium.

3. Agree on appropriate ground capacity which will require appropriate ticketing measures to be introduced.

4. Suitable LOC Stewards with appropriate training in terms of deployment, identification process and evacuation requirements.

5. Ground security - with particular regards to the fencing issues to assist with crowd control in cases such as those experienced at the U20 Qualifiers.

6. The Development of and Evacuation Plan which includes the specific design of the stadium, including all emergency exits.

7. Major Incident Plan needs to be established in conjunction with Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP).

8. Participation in all match day security activity with the RSIP subject to approval and sign off with the Safety Officer.

(c) That OFC will request FIFA to appoint a security officer to oversee the security arrangements for the World Cup qualifying match in Honiara, Solomon Islands in September.

The final match was abandoned in the 73rd minute when Australia was leading 3-0. OFC awarded the match to Australia who will represent OFC at the 2005 OFC World Youth Championship in the Netherlands from the 15th June - 2nd July 2005.

Auckland, New Zealand - The preliminary competition for the 2005 OFC Club Championship starts this week in Auckland. New Caledonia club champions - AS Magenta is to play Cook Islands club champions - Nikao FC on 10th and 12th February 2005. The matches were to be played in the Cook Islands but with difficulty in flights and the recent cyclone in Rarotonga meant the matches have been moved to Auckland at the last minute. The match details are as follows:

Thursday 10th February - OFC Academy Grounds - Penrose at 18.00pm

Saturday 12th February - OFC Academy Grounds - Penrose at 14.00pm

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In other news the OFC Emergency Committee met in Auckland last weekend and despite the earlier decision by OFC that all clubs had to be named by 31st March, the OFC Emergency Committee has allowed the Football Federation of Australia to name their club champion by the 15th May 2005. The Committee noted that:

- Australia had formed a new national league which would not start until September 2005

- Australia was automatically seeded and was not part of the preliminary competition which had to be completely by 31st March

- This was going to be a one-off exception for the FFA as their club champions in future OFC Championships will be known by 31st March each year

- The Tahiti Football Federation (as the Local organising committee) was not inconvenienced by having the Australian club named by 15th May

- OFC is mindful to ensure all national associations have the opportunity to submit their best team for this competition

This has meant that all the other clubs that qualify for the final round of the 2005 OFC Club Championship will have until 15th May 2005 to transfer players for their respective teams.

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In another decision by the OFC Emergency Committee last weekend, the club side from American Samoa has been withdrawn from the tournament and the 2004/2005 club champion from New Zealand will not be required to play a preliminary round but will automatically qualify for the final round of the 2005 OFC Club Championship in Tahiti. The Committee made this decision after noting the current problems in the American Samoa Football Association administration and the fact that America Samoa could not guarantee the facilities and infrastructure to host an international match.

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