OFC News

OFC RETAIN FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP SPOT

The Oceania Football Confederation has secured its berth at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan this December after an announcement was made in Germany by the FIFA Executive Committee.

Speculation about OFC's participation in the event began after Australia's departure to the Asian confederation leaving a situation where a fully amateur OFC club champion would be included alongside the world's elite at the FIFA Club World Cup.

But the format for last year's FIFA Club World Championship will be retained when the tournament returns to Japan in 2006. The six-team field will therefore be composed of the champions of each of the six confederations - Africa, Asia, Central and North America, Europe, South American and Oceania.

The European and South American champions are seeded through to the semi finals with the remaining confederation champions drawn to play each other. The two winners will advance to the semi finals with the two losing teams playing off for fifth place. The sixth placed team is guaranteed at least USD$1 million in prize money.

New Zealand's Auckland City FC is OFC's representative for 2006 after defeating AS Pirae of Tahiti 3-0 in the final of the 2006 OFC Club Championships at North Harbour Stadium last month.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas is thrilled with the decision.

"Obviously this provides our Confederation with another opportunity to perform on the world stage. Auckland City now has five months to prepare adequately for what will undoubtedly be a huge challenge,"

Oceania's representatives in 2005 Sydney FC surprised many by claiming fifth position with a 2-1 win over Al Ahly of Egypt, earlier in the tournament they were beaten by Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa.

New NSL Deadline

The National Soccer League (NSL) Board have extended their affiliation deadline from yesterday to June 16 to allow two more franchises to join the competition.

NSL chairman John Kapi Natto yesterday said the board relaxed the deadline to allow Madang and the second team from Lae to finalise their franchise arrangement.

"We will only defer the affiliation to June 16 and whether they join or not, NSL will go ahead with their competition," he said.

Natto said he was optimistic that he would have full six teams taking part in the competition before June 16. Four franchise teams are ready to kick off the NSL competition - Welgris Momads of Mt Hagen, PRK Souths of Port Moresby, Port Moresby Hills and Tuguba Laitepo Blue Kumuls of Lae.

Natto said the first deadline lapsed yesterday but was extended to allow the two teams to finalise their arrangement.

Natto believed that the semi professional league is the way to raise the standard of football in PNG.

He appealed to all stakeholders of the game to back the NSL franchise competition.

He urged the clubs where NSL teams are based to support and release their top players to be part of the semi-professional soccer competition.

"I am appealing to all the clubs to support their franchise teams in their respective areas and ensure the competition is played in a true spirit of sportsmanship and fair play," he said.

Natto said some clubs were reluctant to release their players to be part of the franchise teams. However, he said, it was up to the players if they want to earn a living by playing soccer in NSL.

"Thank you Temarii" said Junior Flamingo Football Club President Charles Viva when he received football strips, socks and soccer balls which the Oceania Football Confederation President Reynald Temarii personally donated to the club.

Story by SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka

Junior Flamingo President thank President Temarii

New Zealand conceded two late goals but not their restored international football reputation as Ricki Herbert's All Whites handed Brazil the tough World Cup dress-rehearsal they were after in Geneva.

Story courtesy NZS media...

Brazil 4, New Zealand far from zero

And here's how fifa.com saw the All Whites moment in the samba sun...

Brazil warm up in impressive style

Brazil issue warning with four-goal display

In case you missed the All Whites tour of Europe oceaniafootball.com offers you a review of the matches played...

All stories courtesy NZS media...

0-2 vs. Hungary (Moss saves his best for Hungary)

3-1 vs. Georgia (Ecstasy for All Whites as Coveny double sinks Georgia)

1-1 vs. Estonia (All Whites making Hay in Europe)

For more indepth information check out www.nzsoccer.com

Vanuatu government for football stadium of international standard

Story courtesy Moses Stevens

The Vanuatu government has decided to upgrade one of the country's historical football grounds to international standard, and has given the green light for the Ministry of Youth Development and Training to collaborate with the Vanuatu Football Federation in putting together a project proposal for potential sponsorship or partnership.

The decision was made at the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) Meeting in Port Vila on 18 May, and was announced to the media by the government spokesman Patrick Crowby Manarewo today.

The government has chosen the Kawenu Field which sits along the coastline across the bay to the north of central Port Vila city, for the project. Currently, the ground sits on the same property title that includes the Vanuatu Teachers College.

Several months ago, the American mining company based at the Manganese site at Forari, East Efate island, have been approaching VFF indicating their interest in taking over the Kawenu Field and develop it into international standard.

Manarewo says the Council of Ministers has mandated the Ministry of Youth Development and Training to work, through the National Sports Council, with VFF in establishing a potential partner in the project and to produce a proposal to the government as soon as they can.

"The government would require a detailed project proposal before a contract could be approved for signing with a potential developer", Crowby says.

The decision of the Vanuatu government has come after the President of the Oceania Football Confederation Reynald Temarii visited Port Vila in April. And three weeks ago, the FIFA Development Officer for OFC, Mr. Glenn Turner was in Port Vila in his regular follow up visits on the FIFA Goal Projects in the region, which in Vanuatu a football academy has been inaugurated at Teouma, South Efate.

During those visits, both Mr. Temarii and Mr. Turner had meetings with the Minister of Youth Development and Training Dunstan Hilton. Among other subjects, the need for proper football grounds was one of the topics high on the agenda.

Mr. Temarii even offered to upgrade the Port Vila Stadium so that Vanuatu can be able to host international matches.

Temarii told the media in Vanuatu that following the new system in Oceania to play home and away in future qualification matches for international tournament, Vanuatu must have international grounds to accommodate other teams.

The OFC President also spoke of the idea of reactivating the tri-nations football tournament involving the three French speaking countries in Oceania, namely Tahiti, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Vanuatu used to play in the Coupe de France tournament when the country was under Britain and France. But it ceased to participate when it became an independent republic in 1980.

Meanwhile, the decision by the Vanuatu government could be a step forward for Vanuatu Football, and could be a gesture of further active involvement in the development of the great game in the future.

In October of 2005, FIFA brought its Com-Unity Course

to Vanuatu. Participants from government, NGOs, diplomatic missions, media and the business community were attended the three day course which basically encourages partnership of all stake holders in the development of football.

The government had announced it would be ready to facilitate medical and educational facilities at the football academy built at Touma under the FIFA Goal project. FIFA Development Officer Mr. Turner was in Port Vila earlier in May to compile reports for submission to FIFA for the second phase of the football academy at Teouma.