OFC News

TAHITI AND COOK ISLANDS FORGE FOOTBALL FRIENDSHIP

A cooperation agreement was recently signed between the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) and the Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) with the support of the United Nations.

The Cook Islands Government (in collaboration with CIFA) support the idea to use sports in general, and football in particular, as a way to promote cultural exchange, healthy values and education of youth by through citizen exchanges between Cook Islands and French Polynesia.

With objectives including providing cultural exchanges through friendly competitions; providing competent coaches and referees to educate youth; capacity building through administration assistance; and using sports in the campaign to promote the fight against social issues; the cooperation agreement goes beyond the playing of the sport alone.

Teams ranging from senior international, club champions, under 15 and under 13 will all be involved in various exchanges. Each team will be accompanied by a referee who will officiate in the host nations events.

Similarly, coaches from the Cook Islands will attend courses coordinated by the French Football Association and delivered in French Polynesia.

It is hoped that similar programmes are organised between developed football countries and developing football countries within the OFC region.

Summary of Cooperation Agreement

Competition Exchanges

* FTF will invite the national U13 and U15 teams of CIFA to participate in the Socredo Challenge to held in Papeete, Tahiti in May each year during school holidays

* FTF agree to send their men's national team to Rarotonga to play matches against the Cook Islands national team within the period of 1st -15th July each year

* FTF will invite the club champion of CIFA to participate in the TNTV Club Challenge held in the first weekend of September each year

* CIFA will invite the TNTV Club Challenge Champion to play against the CIFA club champion in Rarotonga in the first week of November each year

Referee Exchanges

* Each U13 and U15 team from the Cook Islands will have a youth referee as part of the team delegation for the Socredo Challenge tournament who will gain experience by refereeing in this tournament

* A Cook Islands referee will be part of the delegation of the CIFA club champion participating in the TNTV Club Challenge and will gain experience refereeing in this tournament

* A Tahitian referee will part of the delegation of the TNTV club champion to play a match in Rarotonga and will officiate in this with the CIFA club champion to be played in November

* CIFA will send two senior assistant referees to officiate in the quarter final and/or semi-finals of the French Polynesian Cup in May each year

* FTF will invite referees and/or referee instructors to participate in FTF referee courses organised in conjunction with the French Football Federation

* FTF will provide their Referee Instructor, Massimo Raveino to Cook Islands to conduct referee or instructor courses one week per year

Coaching Exchanges

* FTF has a number of coaching courses in Tahiti which is based on the French Football Federation system and the FTF will invite coaches from CIFA to be part of these coaching courses (2 CIFA coaches to be invited each year)

* FTF will invite a national team coach from the Cook Islands to be part of the of FTF national team training camps (2 CIFA coaches to be invited each year)

Administration Exchanges

* FTF will invite the CIFA staff to be attached to the FTF office for 1 week per year to gain experience in the administration of football

* FTF through their co-operation agreement with Tahiti Nui Television (TNTV) will send a film crew to film the matches between both national teams in July without charge and the tapes will be given to CIFA to be shown on their local television

Promotion of social issues

* During all competitions, courses and other events of this solidarity programme both CIFA and FTF agree to organise number of public awareness campaigns. To use sports in the campaign to promote the fight against AIDS, obesity, drugs and violence etc.

The Solomon Islands celebrated the opening of their second Goal project over the weekend as the Alan Boso National Soccer Academy opened its doors.

SIFF President Mr. Martin Alufurai stated the Alan Boso Academy will be ready to run programmes beginning March 2006 and announced the academy is dedicated to the youth and women of Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza hopes similar facilities could be built in the provinces. Speaking at the opening of the national football academy Kemakeza noted that if such facilities were built in the provinces it will provide opportunities for the majority of youths in the provinces.

"I would like to see that similar facilities be developed in the provinces to provide opportunities for the majority of the youths. By providing such facilities in the provinces, it will assist to identify the innumerable hidden talents and skills that are waiting to be tapped in the development of the sport,"

He challenged the youth of the nation to take advantage of the facilities to become better sportsmen and women in the county and when they are called to participate in sport at regional and international arena to be true representatives of Solomon Islands.

The prime minister also called for care and proper use of the facility by those who will benefit from it to develop and advance their skills.

"Now that you have this magnificent building for this purpose of developing and advancing sporting skills, it is my sincere hope and plea that you will look after and make good use of these facilities," Kemakeza said.

Such a magnificent facility would not have been possible without the vision and foresight of those who initiated the idea of establishing the Academy. While, highlighting that, Kemakeza also paid special tribute to the late Allan Boso and late Matthew Kausimae "for their dedication and their leadership and inspiration for the initial facilitation of the project which has now become a reality today."

Kausimae passed away just days before the inauguration of the Academy. A one minute silence was observed for the two men.

SIFF President Mr Martin Alufurai thanked the Government of Kemakeza for their assistance towards the building of the SIFF Football Academy through duty exemptions and assistance to the National Team's World Cup campaign.

He stressed that without government support it would not be easy for SIFF to build the academy and praised the government for their assistance.

The total cost of the building and turf is about SBD $3million (US$440,000.00). The building will provide office space for the SIFF headquarters, an education centre and a dormitory. Funding for the project was provided by FIFA under its Goal Development programme.

And OFC President Reynald Temarii assured SIFF of his support to the federation for its proposal for a third Goal Project.

Temarii who also attended as FIFA representative, in the absence of Mr. Joseph S. Blatter, Alufurai's request that OFC consider giving Solomon Islands its third Goal project in recognition of football as a unifying force.

Mr. Alufurai told those that had gathered for the occasion including Prime Minister Sir Alan Kemakesa, members of the diplomatic corps and other invited guests of what football did for Solomon Islands when the country was on its knees.

Elsewhere, Mr. Temarii assured Solomon Islands of free access to televised World Cup matches in Germany from their homes in 2006. Temarii was aware SIFF had to spend $40,000 to ensure those with access to TV were able to watch the matches in Japan and Korea live. Temarii is aware of the passion Solomon Islanders have for football and will do everything in his capacity to enable his promise comes to pass.

Sobou FC secured their fifth consecutive national club title in Madang, Papua New Guinea with a 4-2 victory over Cosmos in the final of the tournament.

Early goals to Solomon Islander Clifford Wate and Sovera Guti gave Sobou an early 2-0 lead before Andrew Lepani converted a penalty cutting the margin in half. Wate added to his tally after the break and Andrew Kasam netted a fourth to put the result beyond doubt, despite a consolation goal from Lepani.

With the win Sobou FC earn the right to compete in the 2006 OFC Club Championships in New Zealand in May next year, where they have been drawn in a pool featuring the club champions of New Zealand, Solomon Islands, and Tahiti. Sobou FC attended the 2005 OFC Club Championships in Tahiti earlier this year.

In the playoff for 3rd/4th Momads defeated rivals Blue Kumuls 3-0 in an all-Highlands affair.

Elsewhere, in the women's final little-known Lekii United from Kimbe surprised many in defeating Port Moresby's University 2-0. While PNG Power accounted for defending champions Telikom 3-2 to take third spot.

The Fairplay Awards were claimed by Momads (men's) and PNG Power (women's), with Michael Lohai (Cosmos) and Esther Muta (Lekii) were named player of the tournament in the men's and women's competitions.

Results:

Papua New Guinea Football Association National Club Finals (Men)

Final

Sobou FC 4-2 Cosmos

3rd/4th Playoff

Momads 3-0 Blue Kumuls

Papua New Guinea Football Association National Club Finals (Men)

Final

Lekii United 2-0 ANZ University

3rd/4th Playoff

PNG Power 3-2 Telikom

OFC CLUB CHAMPS DRAW MADE

The draw for the 2006 Oceania Football Confederation Club Championships was recently made in Tahiti. The finals are scheduled from 10 - 21 May 2006 in New Zealand. North Harbour Stadium will play host to the eight-team tournament.

The eight sides are made up of two teams from the host nation, the champion clubs of the five top finishing national associations from the 2005 event, namely New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea. With the final spot going to the winner of a preliminary tournament held in Fiji in early 2006 between the champion clubs of Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga.

With many of the national leagues still to be completed, the final make-up of the clubs is unknown at this stage, but the tournament will be highly competitive with the departure of Australia, leaving only semi-professional or amateur clubs from around the Pacific.

The Tahiti draw was to confirm the composition of the pools, Group A will be competitive with the representatives of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tahiti. Group B features, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and the winner of the preliminary group.

The top two clubs from each pool will go forward to the semi finals. The winner of the OFC Club Championship will qualify for the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan in December 2006.

From 2007, the competition will move to a home and away format, with matches played around the region.

OFC Club Championships - 2006

North Harbour Stadium - Albany, New Zealand

May 10 - 21 2006

Tournament format (group round robin with top two clubs qualifying for semi finals)

Group A (club teams to be confirmed)

New Zealand

Tahiti

Solomon Islands

Papua New Guinea

Group B (club teams to be confirmed)

New Zealand

Preliminary Winner

New Caledonia

Vanuatu

OFC Club Championships - Qualifying Tournament 2006

Govind Park - Ba, Fiji

February 2006(dates to be confirmed)

Tournament Format (to be confirmed)

Fiji

Cook Islands

Samoa

Tonga

OFC Club Championships - 2005

Stade Pater - Papeete, Tahiti

May 30 - June 10 2005

Final - Sydney FC (Australia) 2-0 AS Magenta (New Caledonia)

3rd/ 4th - Tafea FC (Vanuatu) 3-1 AS Pirae (Tahiti)

Semi Finals - Sydney FC 6-0 Tafea FC; AS Magenta 4-1 AS Pirae

Group A - Sydney FC (Australia); AS Pirae (Tahiti); Auckland City FC (New Zealand); Sobou FC (Papua New Guinea)

Group B - AS Magenta (New Caledonia), Tafea FC (Vanuatu), Makuru FC (Solomon Islands); AS Manu Ura (Tahiti)

OFC U20 WOMEN'S DRAW CONFIRMED

The draw for the 2006 Oceania Football Confederation Under 20 Women's Qualifying Tournament was recently made in Tahiti. The finals are scheduled from 1 - 15 April 2006 in Samoa.

Nine nations have entered the tournament with the winner qualifying directly to the FIFA U20 Women's World Championships in Russia scheduled for August and September next year.

Host nation Samoa are pooled in a group of four teams including Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tahiti. On the other side of the draw New Zealand head a five team pool consisting New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

With the departure of Australia to the Asian Football Confederation, the field has a much more even look to it. New Zealand has emerged as an early favourite, entering their training squad into their women's national league. Other nations that have begun their preparations include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.

The second FIFA/ OFC Symposium on Women's Football in Oceania will also be held during the tournament and all eleven OFC member associations will present their initial findings and developments coming from the first symposium held in the Cook Islands in October.

With increasing opportunities available for the regions top female football players and with many women's development programmes still in their infancy around the Pacific, FIFA, in conjunction with OFC organized a seminar to discuss the development of the women's game.

OFC U20 Women's Qualifying Tournament - 2006

JS Blatter Soccer Complex - Apia, Samoa

April 1 - 15 2006

Tournament format (group round robin with top two clubs qualifying for semi finals)

Group A

Vanuatu

Tonga

New Zealand

New Caledonia

Solomon Islands

Group B

Fiji

Papua New Guinea

Tahiti

Samoa

Henry Morabang from The National newspaper in PNG brings us a preview of the upcoming PNGFA National Men's and Women's Club Championships in Madang.

Full story here, Madang ready to host club championships

For either Australia or Uruguay tonight is the night that will decide their World Cup finals hopes for Germany 2006. David Cooper previews tonight's clash for the Football Federation Australia, Australia vs. Uruguay 2nd leg preview

Australia has qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

For the full Football Federation Australia wrap-up click here, Australia qualify for FIFA World Cup

The American Samoa Football Association (ASFA) is very proud to announce the signing of the FIFA Goal Project Lease.

In a short but historic signing ceremony on October 19th 2005 Governor Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa, FIFA Development Officer Glenn Turner, and the ASFA Normalisation Committee signed a lease agreement for a section of land at Pago Park.

Full story courtesy ASFA Media, Governor Signs Goal Project Lease

Australia will have to come back from a one goal deficit if they are to make the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, after Uruguay won the first leg 1-0 at the Estadio Centenario.

Match report and details courtesy FFA Media, Australia goes down narrowly in Montevideo