OFC News

The Fiji FA will suspend all Super 6 and Super 4 league competition after this weekend's round to allow teams to prepare for next month's Inter District Championship in Lautoka.

Fiji FA chief executive Bob Kumar said the last week of competition wouldl be played this weekend. He said the pending match between Rewa and Navua would be played tomorrow.

Kumar said players needed time to recover and recuperate before the competition.

He said there would be another week given to teams to recuperate and recover after the IDC.

Meanwhile, preparations for the IDC have escalated with teams assembling their top players. Ba skipper Esala Masi is a sure starter for the men in black as well as New Zealand-based Shalesh Kumar.

Suva's bid to remain in the Premier Division will be boosted at the IDC with the return of its overseas reps Laisiasa Vosailagi, Pita Rabo, Sakeo Valevou and Petero Daunisaka.

The four are expected to remain for Suva's match in the promotions and relegations after the IDC.

Nadroga has also indicated that its three Australia-based players will boost their IDC campaign.

Nasinu's top Solomon reps have arrived and will feature at this weekend's Super 6. Top players like Alick Maemae, Batram Suri and Robert Mafine were all part of the Solomons side that played against Australia in their World Cup qualifying rounds.

The three will be joined by goal-scoring machine Kidston Billy, Benjamin Totori and Paul Kaikai.

Battle of the Giant champion Navua will have the services of Australia-based Thomas Vulivuli.

Australia has ended the FIFA Under 17 World Championship with a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Uruguay, to finish in third position in Group B.

Full story, FFA media, Australia ends tournament with terrific win

FIFA media, Australia add to Uruguayan misery

NATIONAL ACADEMY NEARS COMPLETITION

Work on the Solomon Islands National Soccer Academy at lower Panatina in Honiara is approaching completion, the academy is the second FIFA Goal project in Solomon Islands.

The first project saw Lawson Tama turf and other facilities being upgraded. With the new academy, Solomon Island Football Federation (SIFF) will be able to accommodate their development programmes.

And the completion of the academy will also benefit referees and coaches as their programmes can now be centralised in Honiara.

A date for the official opening has not yet been decided.

HONIARA PREPARES FOR RETURN OF SOLOMON CUP

Honiara's spectators will be treated to a week of soccer competition when all provincial teams converge on the nation's capital for the Solomon Cup tournament.

The tournament was last held back in 1999 in Gizo, Western Province where the Malaita Eagles were crowned champions.

However, the prestigious tournament died a natural death following the events of the ethnic tension and SIFF had not been able to organise one until very recently when it decided to revive the competition.

SIFF will use this upcoming tournament to identify potential players, particularly at youth level.

The tournament proper will kick off on October 15 with the grand final on October 22.

SI EYES PACIFIC GAMES GOLD MEDAL

SIFF is working towards taking gold at the Pacific Games in Samoa in 2007.

SIFF General Secretary, Eddie Ngava made his intentions clear when he told media of the federation's goal.

The Solomon Islands has never won soccer gold at the Pacific Games, and Ngava believes this is the right time to rise up.

Last year saw Solomon Islands brush aside its South Pacific opponents neighbours to set up a date with Australia - first for the OFC Nations Cup and most recently for the FIFA World Cup.

Now this campaign was over, Ngava says the ultimate goal of the federation is to move forward with new vision.

While not releasing all details, Ngava indicated that youth players would make up the bulk of the team.

Australia's departure from OFC to join the Asian Football Confederation leaves a gap at the top, and like the other leading countries in the region, Solomon Islands will vie for this position.

But Ngava believes Solomon Islands has the quality of players it needs at its disposal to achieve this goal.

OPINION - COMPLACANCY MUST BE AVOIDED

The Solomon Islands has now reached a stage where it can confidently take on any opponent in the Oceania region.

Even beyond the region, Solomon Islands can measure its standard with some countries in the other football confederations.

And while that maybe the widely-held belief, we must avoid complacency.

Solomon Islands success in reaching the playoff stage with Australia for the OFC Nations Cup and FIFA World Cup is just the tip of the ice-berg.

After some years of stagnancy, the country has reclaimed its footballing status among the best nations in the region after Australia.

SIFF's Development officer, Noel Wagapu believes the only way we can maintain our foothold at the top is to develop a comprehensive development plan where we target development in the rural area.

First and foremost SIFF must revive its coaching programme in the rural areas with the aim of getting all provincial Football Associations active in developing and promoting the game around the country.

Each provincial FA will also be responsible for running competition for youths, while SIFF will organize regular national youth tournaments where all the cream of players from the provinces can showcase their talents.

This will allow SIFF to identify and select new players for their various youth squads.

Wagapu believes that the only way forward for Solomon Islands is to have this comprehensive development plan put in place.

On top of this, the Solomon's diplomatic relationship with Brazil, forged early this year, must be exploited to include soccer. We have a lot to gain from this relationship as in the past there was no such diplomatic marriage between the two countries.

"Brazilians of the Pacific" is a term many love to use when referring to Solomon Islands style of football, but we have yet to prove that we can live up to this tag.

Indeed with Brazilian coach Airton Andrioli at the helm of our senior national team a lot was achieved in his one month stint.

Notable results included the 3-0 beating of a New Zealand selection that comprised their home-based All Whites, and the 1-2 loss to Australia in Honiara.

Reflecting on this recent success, we must push aside complacency and strive for greater things ahead.

This is the difficult part to maintain, our status, and Solomon Islands Football Federation will need to expend its effort, time and money to ensure it achieves its goals.

By Francis Pituvaka - SIFF Media Officer

Australia's hopes of advancing to the quarter finals of the FIFA Under 17 World Championship in Peru, were evaporated early this morning, after crashing 3-0 to Mexico at the National Stadium in Lima.

FFA Media, Australia outclassed by Mexico

FIFA Media, Mexico down Australia and march on

For full results and up to date information visit the official tournament website at FIFA Under 17 World Championship - Peru 2005

CIFA HOSTS REGIONAL WOMEN'S MEETING

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) hosts the first FIFA Women's Football Seminar this week for the 12 Oceania associations affiliated with the Oceania Football Confederation.

The seminar runs from 19 - 21 September and participants who are actively involved in the development of women's football in the region have been invited.

Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, New Zealand, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea will be represented.

The objective of the seminar is to assist the development of women's football in each member association by establishing an efficient and effective organisational structure to meet the need within the country, in turn defining the process of establishing the development plan.

Participants will be sharing ideas, best practices currently utilised and identified in the framework of the assessment missions of the plan.

It is hoped that such a course will help participants build a network of personnel through which common problems and solutions may be shared among the member countries with the assistance of FIFA, OFC and other partners.

The seminar hopes to identify and propose to FIFA and OFC key areas of future support in women's development activities.

It is also hoped to propose an overall long term development plan for OFC including a strategic plan with consideration of each member country and generic issues that limit or spur progress and development in the region.

AUSSIE HEAD WOMEN'S FOOTBALL IN OFC

Like their male counterparts, the Australian women's national team head the Oceania nations in the FIFA World Rankings, followed by New Zealand.

Australia lie in 16th, with the kiwis five places back (21). Tonga heads the Pacific Island nations ranked 55, ahead of Papua New Guinea (60), Fiji (73), Vanuatu (88), Cook Islands (101), Samoa (102).

The remaining OFC nations American Samoa, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Tahiti are not ranked on the list.

There are now 124 teams in the FIFA Women's World Ranking, which is calculated according to a number of factors, including match results, home advantage, significance of a match and strength of the opposition.

The ranking is published four times per year.

Germany, current World and European Champions, remain at the top of the FIFA Women's World Ranking, followed by Olympic Champions USA. Both Finland (14 +2) and Iceland (17 +1) have made progress, following the example set by their Scandinavian neighbours and top 10 evergreens, Norway and Sweden.

Sweden now have little chance of catching up with the determined French (5) and will have to resist efforts from Korea DPR and Denmark who are hot on their heels in positions 7 and 8 respectively.

Former footballing superpower China PR (9 -1) continue their slide down the ranking and will have to fight to remain inside the top 10.

The other big winner outside the top 10 is Russia (13), who came through three Women's World Cup qualifiers without losing a match. Other movers include Korea Republic (22), Peru (34) and Slovakia (39), all of whom climbed four positions; Korea Republic's success in the 2005 East Asian Football Federation Women's Cup on home ground was rewarded with a move up the ranking, while half a dozen victories and eventual success in the women's competition at the Juegos Bolivarianos gave Peru a boost and the honour of becoming the second best ranked South American team, after Brazil.

The next FIFA Women's World Ranking will be published in December 2005.

FIFA Women's World Rankings

1. Germany

2. USA

3. Norway

4. Brazil

5. France

6. Sweden

7. Korea DPR

8. Denmark

9. China PR

10. Italy

16. Australia

21. New Zealand

55. Tonga

60. Papua New Guinea

73. Fiji

88. Vanuatu

101. Cook Islands

102. Samoa

Related stories

Australia - Matildas to meet USA and Mexico

New Zealand - Project Russia begins for Women's U20's

New Zealand - New Zealand Soccer unveils bold plan for women's game

Vanuatu - Hilton-Smith finds talent in local women's soccer

Vanuatu - FIFA Women's Coaching Course progressing well

Check out the latest round of results from the Australian A-League below, reports courtesy of www.a-league.com.au

Sydney FC vs. Central Coast Mariners

Perth Glory vs. Adelaide United

Queensland Roar vs. Melbourne Victory

Newcastle Jets vs. NZ Knights

The Australian Under 17 team has lost its opening game of the FIFA Under 17 World Championship 0-1 to a very good Turkey side at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru.

FFA Media, Joeys go down to late Turkey goal

FIFA Media, Debut delight as young Turks come good

For the full results and up to date information visit the official tournament website at FIFA Under 17 World Championship - Peru 2005

Australia move up seven places into 50= after their FIFA World Cup Qualifying victories over the Solomons and still lead OFC teams, with New Zealand dropping back two places to 111.

Tahiti remain the leading Pacfic Island nation occupying 137, closely followed by Solomon Islands 138 and Fiji 139, all three nations dropped two places from their August 2005 ranking.

Vanuatu move to 148 (-1), Papua New Guinea remain at 165, also unchanged is Samoa 178, Tonga 184, and New Caledonia 185.

The Cook Islands drop a place to 193 and American Samoa remain at 205.

Brazil still top the rankings with the Netherlands replacing Argentina in second spot. A Zinedine Zidane inspired France move up three places to 6, and Sweden's five place jump sees them enter the top ten after an absence of exactly nine years.

Outside the top 50, a number of teams jump ten places or more, including Togo (54, +12), Venezuela (57, +10), Bosnia-Herzegovina (67, +11) and Scotland (74, +12). Northern Ireland (101, +15) are also part of this select group, not least thanks to their sensational victory over England which also secures this month's highest points tally.

FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Rankings

1. Brazil

2. Netherlands

3. Argentina

4. Czech Rep.

5. Mexico

6. France

7. USA

8. Spain

9. Portugal

10. Sweden

50. Australia

111. New Zealand

137. Tahiti

138. Solomon Islands

139. Fiji

148. Vanuatu

165. Papua New Guinea

178. Samoa

184. Tonga

185. New Caledonia

193. Cook Islands

205. American Samoa

The Ranking System

The FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking evaluates all matches played by senior national teams (World Cup finals matches, World Cup premliminary matches, Confederation championship matches, Confederation championship preliminary matches, friendly matches).

The calculation of a team's points is based on the following six criteria;

1. Winning, drawing, and losing

2. Number of goals

3. Home or away match

4. Importance of match (multiplication factor)

5. Strength of the opponent

6. Regional strength (multiplication factor)

Click the link for the full FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Rankings

*The next FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 19 October 2005.

Ba whips Lautoka with 11-4 scoreline

Ba rewrote Fiji's soccer history after whipping a hapless Lautoka side 11-4 hiding at Govind Park in their Super 6 clash over the weekend.

While it was raining cats and dogs at Ratu Cakobau Park in the game between Navua and Rewa, forcing referee Boby Dave to call off the match, Govind Park was flooded with goals in both halves as Ba routed neighbours Lautoka with the biggest scoreline in Fiji soccer history.

The last time Ba dished a similar scoreline was way back in the late 1980s when they whipped Lautoka 7-1 at the old FSC Ground in Ba.

But the moment belonged to inspirational skipper and midfielder Esala Masi, who scored six of Ba's eleven goals.

Luke Vidovi opened the scoring account in the first minute of play. In the 6th minute, Ba was up by two goals from a Masi penalty. In the 13th minute Masi scored his second goal and his team's third after collecting a pass from Josaia Bukalidi.

The 33rd minute belonged to Lautoka as Jone Vono Junior pulled one back for the Blues to register their first goal.

The celebration was shortlived as Masi scored his forth, followed by a powerful Valerio Nasema piledriver to put Ba up further to five goals to one at the break.

Masi opened the scoring account in the 2nd spell with an early goal in the first minute to extend Ba's point to 6-1. Masi pulled one back, his fifth and Ba's seventh goal.

Lautoka pulled one back to trail 2-7. Tuimasi Manuca had his moment and put Ba up to eight goals. Bukalidi also contributed to the scoring account when he scored Ba's ninth goals. Lautoka pulled two more to trail 9-4.

However, Masi and Alvin Avinesh closed the scoring account after heading in two more in the dying stages of the game for their 11 goals.

Ba now leads the series with 18 points.

In other Super 6 matches Tavua recorded its first Super 6 win with a 2-1 victory over a Solomon Islands dominated Nasinu line-up at Ratu Cakobau Park.

While the match between Navua and Rewa was called off becuase of bad weather.

The highly anticipated Inter District Competition gets underway in two weeks time.