Marist FC have gone into camp to prepare for their O-League double-whammy against AS Temanava of Tahiti and Ba of Fiji. Coach Patrick Miniti is no stranger to the OFC club scene having taken Marist FC to the 2006 OFC Club Championship at North Harbour Stadium last year.

While preparations on the training pitch are taking pleasing shape issues off the pitch have seen the Marist team management appeal to the Solomon Islands public and business sector to assist them as they prepare to travel to Fiji and Tahiti for their away matches in the OFC's O' League.

Club spokesman, Paul Mwaritara says Marist FC will represent Solomon Islands in the O-League and he hoped that the opportunity to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2007 would be incentive enough for sponsors and benefactors to climb aboard the campaign.

The Marist FC marched into camp Tuesday this week and depart for Fiji next Saturday. At the 2006 OFC Club Championship Marist FC were eliminated at the group stage following defeats against Auckland City and AS Pirae. Marist FC's only victory came against Sobou FC when the team's chances of a semi-final place were already extinguished.

Story courtesy of SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka

The President of Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA), Mr. David Chung has been elected as the Vice president of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in the OFC Congress held in Papua New Guinea on the 18th of January 2007.

The congress comprises of the eleven member associations of the pacific island countries put confidence in the commitment of Mr. Chung in football and give him the mandate as the vice president to work together with the re-elected OFC president Mr. Reynald Temarii.

The FIFA president Mr. Joseph Sepp Blatter after addressing OFC congress and being an observer said that it was the first time he had witnessed an OFC Congress start and finish harmoniously.

Blatter said that the development of football in the Oceania region is heading towards a big success through the eleven OFC member associations working together in hand-to-hand.

OFC now has a new motto " an ocean of solidarity " a slogan which conveys the message of unity in the Oceania to develop football in the region.

Mr. Chung's new post in the OFC executive has had a big impact for footballe in Papua New Guinea with political ructions prior to the OFC Congress within PNG silenced in unanimous support of Chung.

Story courtesy of PNGFA Media Officer Thomas Kambi

Auckland City and Waitakere United will collide head-on in the first O-League clash on New Zealand soil at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere tonight. The last time the two teams clashed Auckland City overturned a 3-0 deficit as referee Neil Fox dished out a remarkable 19 cards sending off 3 players in the process. Waitakere have recorded only one win over Auckland City - and only by virtue of the fact that Auckland City fielded an ineligible player.

Waitakere and Auckland all set to square off in O-League

Fiji tore Solomon Islands apart 3-0 at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, today blowing the OFC Men's U20 Championship competiton wide open. Fiji's Roy Krishna helped himself to a brace as the Solomon Islands struggled to cope with his electric pace and deadly finishing.

Solomon Islands lynchpin Judd Molea was marked out of the match by Fijian skipper Esava Naqeleca who kept tabs on the gifted midfield/striker throughout a keenly fought contest.

Alvin Singh grabbed Fiji's second goal, a strike which took the wind out of Solomon Islands sails.

New Zealand kept pace with a 7-1 win over struggling Samoa but it was a far from convincing performance by Stu Jacob's youngsters. New Zealand laboured through a difficult first half building a 3-1 lead following some generous Samoan defending with Dan Keat, Sam Jenkins and an own goal helping the Kiwi cause.

Samoa had something to smile about when they ironically scored the best goal of the first half through Silo Malo. The second-half yeilded further good fortune for the hosts when Fulham midfielder Chris James buried a penalty awarded after a Samoan defender caught the ball in the box.

While New Zealand piled on a further three goals it was hardly the rip-roaring performance Stu Jacobs would have hoped for.

Earlier Tahiti and Vanuatu served up a spectacular match in which the pace never let up as the two French-speaking nations clashed. Vanuatu came from behind to take a 2-1 lead despite Tahiti looking the more likely of the two sides to score from open play throughout the match. Tahiti eventually clawed their way back with a 94th minute equaliser to ensure their share of the spoils.

Following the departure of the FIFA delegation for Moscow, Russia, OFC president led a small delegation to Bougainville as part of the "Football for Hope" initiative at Hutjena oval.

Bougainville - an autonomous region, but part of Papua New Guinea - was a territory torn asunder by war and political division. Its one saving grace has been football and its healing power within the peace process that has taken place over the past ten years.

With the disappointment of FIFA president Blatter's departure, OFC president Reynald Temarii stepped in in his new role as FIFA vice-president, alongside FIFA Development Officers David Borja and Glenn Turner, with stunning effect.

Bougainville turned out in force to welcome the delegation and it was here that Reynald Temarii announced that FIFA is proposing a youth tournament involving teams representing each Confederation as part of the inauguration of the FIFA House in May 2007.

Temarii announced that the male team that represents OFC at the tournament shall be selected from the Bougainville U-16 team. The news was met with unbridled delight by those gathered.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government president Joseph Kabui and the people of Bougainville were thrilled to hear the news and emphasised the impact football was having in the region's delicate peace process.

PNGFA president David Chung also revealed the PNGFA would commit 10,000 kina ($5,000NZD) to the Bougainville soccer youth program.

Bougainville chief administrator Peter Tsiamalili said that the region had been both honoured and blessed by the visit.

Koki market is like no other market in the OFC region. Thousands gather there to buy and sell what little they have. In the shadows of the market is the Koki Market Community Learning Centre run by Dame Carol Kidu. For Kidu it is the culmination of a life-long project to provide essential living skills and key messages about health issues affecting Papua New Guineans.

It was Dame Carol who built "Carol's Library" at Koki Market in a bid to bring learning opportunities to the local people and on the day of the visit the buildings are daubed with FIFA and OFC banners welcoming the delegations.

Thousands were on hand to witness the FIFA president Blatter and OFC president Reynald Temarii visit the Learning Centre at Koki Market learn more about the day to day struggles people face in Papua New Guinea. Outside the Community Learning Centre, a game of five-a-side football was being played, fenced off from the delegation by a ten foot fence laced with razor sharp barbed wire. The two teams proudly sailed across from a nearby island that afternoon in their full kits to play before the FIFA and OFC delegations. It was a moving sight.

PORT MORESBY GENERAL HOSPITAL HIV/AIDS WARD VISIT

The HIV/AIDS ward at Port Moresby General Hospital is packed to overflowing. Between 60-70 patients lie in their beds, relatives nearby, waiting to die. Some patients sleep under their bed on the linoleum floor because it is too hot and uncomfortable as the afternoon heat lifts the temperature to the mid-thirties. They are skeletal, bug-eyed, alone and without hope. The patients range in age from 3 right up to their late 70's and the sense of sadness pervading the room has no equal in words.

The visit by the OFC president and the FIFA president has taken the ward by storm and patients and their families make their ultimate effort to be ready for when they arrive. One elderly man brushes the hair of his 12-year old son and sits him upright, tidying his bed clothes and bed, hugs him, and then kisses his forehead. A copy of the Post-Courier with the sports pages is draped over the end of the bed and the faces of Reynald Temarii and David Chung peer back from the pages.

Papua New Guinea's Minister of Health Sir Peter Barter shows Temarii and Blatter the reality of the disease that has the people of Papua New Guinea in it's ruthless grip and many in the delegation are moved to tears as patients shake hands, smile weakly, and thank the presidents' for their visit. The sense of total helplessness is overwhelming and gives perspective to the everyday problems faced by people in other countries.

Hospital staff are overworked and underpaid and recently went on strike as the government struggles to cope with the overwhelming numbers of new infections. No amount of money, no amount of OFC and FIFA pins, badges or t-shirts will change the inevitable future of these people.

It seems churlish to even suggest football can make a difference, but Dame Carol Kidu disagrees and says that the game brings hope to the country. "This visit by the OFC and FIFA delegations will paint the true picture in this country for our visitors and show them that their presence here - the presence of football as a tool for social responsibility - is vital."

With the OFC Congress concluded attention turned to the visit of OFC president Reynald Temarii and FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter and the opening of the Kila Kila secondary school mini-pitch. Bear the following in mind as you read - Papua New Guinea is the biggest country in the OFC region; it has a population of 5.5 million people who speak over 800 unique languages, but for whom many do not receive a secondary school education.

It is a country torn apart by an AIDS epidemic where 30-40% of its young people will be lost to the country within the next 20 years. It is, without question, a third world country. The disease effects people from all walks of life - male, female, old, young, heterosexual included - and is destroying families, orphaning children, who, in turn, become infected themselves. There is a real issue in getting the anti-HIV/AIDS message out. Where poverty thrives, so too does HIV/AIDS.

The tragedy is that underpinning this unfolding horror is the undoubted Papua New Guinean potential in both sporting and academic pursuits. It is not unusual for Papua New Guineans to be talented at several sports that might include football, rugby, rugby league, sevens rugby, athletics and cricket.

OFC president Reynald Temarii saw the raw potential in Papua New Guinea but could not look away from the social problems affecting the country.

"It is important that OFC helps to develop football in our member associations. But it is not right to simply develop football and forget about the people. We must assume some responsibility for the people who make up our football communities - not just in Papua New Guinea, but in every country - so this is why OFC built the mini-pitch at the Kila Kila Secondary school."

In a six figure initiative, OFC built an artificial mini-pitch at the school that is surrounded by squatter settlements where poverty and struggle are part of daily life. Just over 1100 students attend the school with many living difficult lives

Papua New Guinea Minister for Community Development Dame Carol Kidu said football's desire to help develop not only the game but to help the people live better lives would ensure the popularity of the game. Other sports codes, she said, simply did not have the same vision.

"Football is about life, it is about education and teaching people to live healthy sustainable lives. OFC's involvement here is wonderful and it has brought us a lot of happiness. The FIFA president has also been wonderful in his generous support for what OFC and, in particular, for what Reynald Temarii has done here."

Temarii said that football was a powerful tool for developing people in a holistic way and he had high hopes that Papua New Guinea would become a significant force in the OFC region. Temarii added that FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter had agreed that $1 million US would be made available for the construction of football pitches in Papua New Guinea's 22 provinces in a bid to raise technical standards in the country.

The mini-pitch was opened by FIFA president Blatter and OFC president Temarii with school officials, students and community leaders gathered to watch an exciting afternoon of cultural performances before Blatter and Temarii entered the mini-pitch stage to enjoy a little bit of "two touch" as the local community and media watched on.

AUCKLAND CITY SECURE AWAY WIN IN O-LEAGUE OPENER

Urlovic double sinks AS Mont Dore

Defending champions Auckland City FC opened the inaugural O-League with a solid 2-0 win over New Caledonia's AS Mont Dore in front of over 1,500 fans at the Numa Daly Stadium in Noumea.

A double from All White Paul Urlovic was enough for the New Zealanders who head straight back to Auckland to face cross-town rivals Waitakere United on Match Day 2 in three days time.

AS Mont Dore opened brightly and only had the upright to blame from giving them an early lead, Daniel Harper's diving header beating Ross Nicholson before sliding off the post to safety.

Harper's interplay with influential captain Marius Mapou was at the forefront of the most dangerous of AS Mont Dore attacks. Harper was denied by the reflexes of Nicholson in 25th minute, his stabbed shot secured at the second grasp by the All White custodian.

Minutes earlier Urlovic had opened the scoring, slamming a looping Grant Young header over the line after a deep cross found the South African striker in space at the far post. Young himself was denied after being set through by Urlovic, Mont Dore `keeper Yann Faye bringing him down inside the penalty area. Referee Lencie Fred was left with no option but to give Faye his marching orders. Urlovic slid the penalty past replacement Christopher Tavergeux.

The red-card effectively killed the match as a contest, with few clear scoring opportunities presenting themselves after opening half hour. James Pritchett came closest in the 74th minute, but the score remained 2-0.

An all-action clash is expected at the Trusts Stadium, Henderson between New Zealand's leading domestic rivals next week. Meanwhile, AS Mont Dore will look to build on their promising start when they travel to Auckland in February for Match Day 3 and 4 against Waitakere United and the return fixture with Auckland City.

Group B kicks off in Fiji on January 29 with the clash between Ba and Solomon Islands champions Marist FC. AS Temanava then host Marist on February 2.

O-League (OFC Champions League)

Group A - Match Day 1 - 20 January 2007

Numa Daly Stadium

Noumea, New Caledonia

AS Mont Dore 0

Auckland City FC 2 (Urlovic 19', 32' pen)

AS Mont Dore - 1. Yann Faye; 2. Fabrice Wede (9. Jose Euriboa 75'); 3. Phillipe Nemoadjou; 5. Ludovic Wakanumune; 6. Gidas Vakoume; 7. Yves Noel Faye; 8. Jean Patrick Wakanumune; 10. Marius Mapou (c); 11. Patrick Diaike (16. Christopher Tavergeux 32'); 12. Georges Wandrenges (4. Franck Oiremoin 45'); 14. Daniel Harper

Subs not used - 13. Charles Wamo; 15. Armand Ihily

Cautions - None

Red Card - 1. Yann Faye

Auckland City FC - 1. Ross Nicholson; 3. Ben Sigmund; 5. Jonathan Perry; 6. Liam Mulrooney; 7. James Pritchett (4. Paul Seaman 75'); 8. Jonathan Smith; 9. Paul Urlovic; 10. Grant Young; 11. Neil Sykes (c); 19. Chad Coombes (18. Luiz Del Monte 92+'); 20. Greg Uhlmann (13. Cole Tinkler 51')

Subs not used - 2. Jason Hayne; 12. Richard Gillespie; 15. Christoph Popsich; 17. Paul Vodanovich

Cautions - 20. Greg Uhlmann; 5. Jonathon Perry; 19. Chad Coombes; 11. Neil Sykes

Red Cards - None

Referee - Lencie Fred (Vanuatu)

Assistant Referee - Nawen Hopken (Vanuatu)

Assistant Referee - Michael Joseph (Vanuatu)

Fourth Official - Harry Atisson (Vanuatu)

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has re-elected Reynald Temarii as president following the OFC Congress in Papua New Guinea today.

On a big day for Oceania football, FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter further endorsed Temarii's re-election by naming him as a FIFA vice-president, the first time in the game's history such an honour has been bestowed on an OFC president.

There were three new faces voted onto the OFC Executive Committee. Former New Zealand international striker Fred de Jong was named OFC vice-president, New Caledonia's Claude Fournier was voted in as treasurer. Vanuatu's Lambert Maltock was the other new face.

PNGFA president David Chung became an OFC senior vice-president and won high praise from both OFC president Temarii and FIFA president Blatter for his sterling work during his tenure.

OFC's previous track-record of political discord once saw the confederation serve up three presidents in a two year period of tumult and controversy. FIFA president Blatter said the "ocean of solidarity" catch-cry of the Temarii era had delivered a harmonious election outcome that reflected maturity.

Fiji sit atop the standings at the OFC Youth (U-20) Championship after a resounding 7-0 victory over Samoa on the opening day of the tournament at Trusts Stadium, Henderson.

New Zealand and the Solomon Islands battled out an entertaining 1-1 draw in the last match of the day. Judd Molea opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick, only for Sam Jenkins to equalize minutes later for the Junior All Whites.

In the other match of the day New Caledonia ousted rivals Tahiti 2-1. First half goals from Jason Sablan and Cesar Lolohea gave New Caledonia a deserved lead before Ariihau Tereiitau pulled one back for Tahiti in the 64th minute. New Caledonia, with skilful striker Jean Wahnyamalla a standout, held on to set up a crucial clash with the Solomons on Match Day 2.