OFC News

Waitakere United have flown former North Shore United striker Michael Gwyther to New Caledonia after in-form striker Daniel Koprivcic aggravated an injury in Noumea.

Gwyther joins the squad in preparation for tommorrow's O-League showdown with New Caledonian champions AS Mont Dore. Waitakere United can take pole position in Group A if they can beat AS Mont Dore by at least three clear goals on Saturday.

Waitakere United will then require just a draw in their final Group A fixture against NZFC rivals Auckland City to clinch a place in the 2007 OFC O-League Final against Fijian champions and Group B victors Ba.

AS Mont Dore vs. Waitakere United

Stade Nouma Daly

Saturday 31st March, 2007

2007 OFC O-League

Group B

Kickoff: 3.00pm (NCL time)/2.00pm (NZL time)

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has made three personnel changes and re-jigged New Zealand's formation for Thursday's match against Venezuela in Maracaibo.

David Mulligan and Andy Barron have been called into a midfield three while Chris James has been rewarded for his instant impact off the bench in Sunday's 4-0 loss to Costa Rica with a place on the left in a front three.

Out go defender Che Bunce, midfielder Tim Brown and striker Jeremy Brockie as well as the back-three formation Herbert experimented with in San Jose.

Bunce, Brown and Brockie drop to a bench that includes former Team Wellington goalkeeper James Bannatyne who was rushed to Maracaibo after Glen Moss suffered a tour-ending elbow injury on the eve of the Costa Rica match.

Story courtesy of NZS Media...

New Faces, New Formation for Venezuela

With the distractions of appeals and delays over the NZFC behind them, Waitakere United head away to New Caledonia this week for a crucial away tie in the Oceania Champions League.

The match on Sunday against Mont Dore begins the most important and demanding fortnight in the history of the club, with fixtures against Auckland City in both the O-League and the NZFC Grand Final still to come.

Head Coach Steve Cain says his players have been well prepared for the demands of away travel.

"We have spent a great deal of time preparing the players for everything that such a trip can throw at them. The travel will be tiring and the lure of the swimming pool and beaches will be an unwanted distraction from the job at hand - and that is before we even get to the match itself."

"We have enjoyed a successful season to date but just how we will look back on the past 6 months will largely depend on how we perform over the next few weeks. We are under no illusions that Mont Dore will be a different proposition at home and at full strength."

Cain will travel without his club captain with Danny Hay (international duty) but will otherwise take a full strength squad to Mont Dore. Daniel Ellensohn, Michael White, Marcel Isakowitz and Mikael Munday are not eligible for the O-League but such is the depth in the squad this season, Cain is confident others are ready to perform.

"Much of what we have achieved this year has been down to the depth in the squad and the experience we have been able to call on. Former youth international Jason Rowley is back after another injury lay off and has been training well and I have every faith in George Suri and Rupesh Puna to lead the side defensively in Danny's absence."

Waitakere are not concerned either with mathematical calculations with regards winning Group A. A win over Mont Dore will leave Waitakere needing a draw against Auckland in their final game and that is the bottom line for Cain, winning.

"Nothing less than a win is our goal on Sunday and while we must play with a degree of caution as the away side, we will be targeting three points. In doing so we must overcome the travel, hot conditions and the intimidation of the local fans but I am confident we can come away with the right result."

Waitakere will return and without delay face Auckland City in the final group match at Kiwitea Street on Wednesday April 4th in what promises to be one of the most demanding and exciting club matches in the history of New Zealand Soccer. Quite possibly it will be winner takes all in terms of qualification to the home and away O-League finals against Fijian champions Ba.

Waitakere United squad to travel to New Caledonia today (1.15pm NZT departure):

Steve Cain

Head Coach

021 323 557

For information while in New Caledonia contact:

Steve Williamson

Head of Delegation

021 939 847

EIGHT regional teams have confirmed to take part in the 2007 Oceania Football Confederation Under 12 festival of football scheduled for next month in Port Moresby.

PNG Football Association president David Chung said yesterday that these teams will come from New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and PNG.

Chung said all countries will field one team each except for host PNG who was nominated the regional champions to represent the country.

The president said it was unfortunate news that Fiji has pulled out from the tournament for some unknown reasons.

He said that so far Bugandi have been confirmed to represent Momase in the U12 football festival while PNGFA has instructed Paddy Kelly of Goroka to put a team together to represent Highlands region.

The same was also done for New Guinea Island with Mary Manhi tasked to organise a team to represent the region, while School Soccer Port Moresby is still wondering who will take charge of the team to represent the Southern region.

Chung said School Soccer Port Moresby is an affiliate which can field a team. Chung said the overseas teams will start arriving on April 15-16 and the actual event will be on April 17-20 at Sir John Guise Stadium, Waigani.

He said all teams, including PNG, will stay at Holiday Inn for the duration of the event.

The Solomon Islands Senior National Women's team will be relying on the quicksilver finishing of Laydah Samani as they prepare for the OFC Women's World Cup qualifying campaign in Lae, Papua New Guinea next month.

"Eleven players are former national under 18, U19 and U20 players who represented Solomon Islands previously."

"Two players in the eleven were members of the first ever national Under 18 that was supposed to represent the country in the OFC World Cup qualifiers in Port Moresby in 2000 but could not travel because of the ethnic tension at that time. The trip was cancelled," she adds.

The team however, participated in the friendship cup held in the Vanuatu capital Port Vila also in the same year.

Ms Justus says the team trains everyday and she is confident they will be in a better shape before they leave for PNG.

She does not want to predict anything but says the team is confident to produce result in the competition.

"We have some good strikers including 16 year old Laydah Samani who the team will bank on to give us result at the competiton," she adds.

Meanwhile, a decision will be made later this week whether to go into camp or not for the final preparation before the team departs for the tournament in Lae Papua New Guinea

The American Samoa Football Association (ASFA) is pleased to announce that following a visit from FIFA Development Officer Glenn Turner and Goal Project manager, Ray Vuksich of V&B NZ Ltd a completion date 31st May 2007 has been set for the Pago Park project completion and handing over to ASFA.

The American Samoa Football Association will then relocate the administration and technical activities from their temporary leased office in Tafuna during June 2007 with the official inauguration ceremony expected to be confirmed for mid-July 2007.

Football activities at the magnificent facilities will commence from July 2007, firstly for the Youth Summer League then followed by the National League club competition for both men's and women's teams.

A FIFA Member Association course for club administration and management will also be the inaugural course held in the education centre of the National Headquarters & Technical Centre with news of the course and club participants to be announced very soon.

FIFA Development Officer Glenn Turner is very pleased with the development that when completed will boast a magnificent international standard natural turf playing field (the first-ever dedicated football field in the country) established in the magnificent environs of the hrbour with the spectacular mountainside backdrop.

"Following construction, the benefits of the realized facility to the sport will be significant that will allow optimum participation for boys and girls, men and women, also increased competition opportunities at all levels, educational courses that should hopefully be the catalyst to assist in taking national teams to a competitive level in the Oceania region," said Turner.

The FIFA Goal programme is an initiative by the FIFA president, Joesph S. Blatter launched in 1999 to assist member associations around the world to construct their very own "House of Football" and technical facilities for the development and continued progress of football activities. Already more than 200 projects are completed in over 170 countries throughout the globe.

This exciting and important project for the American Samoa Football Association is being co-financed by FIFA, OFC and ASFA. Phase 2 is already under consideration with the proposal to renovate the existing and landmark grandstand, extend the technical centre to include accommodation for players and coaches and possibly to include floodlighting, Futsal and Beach Soccer playing facilities.

The beautification of the Pago park environs is also underway with the Land Grant Corporation assisting significantly by working in partnership with ASFA personnel to create a venue for all to be proud.

ASFA Chairperson Ms Pou Supapo is also delighted and expressed her sincere thanks when commenting, "we (ASFA) would like to extend the sincere appreciation of our association to the Governor and his department for the willingness and efforts to support football, its development, education and well-being of the youth of American Samoa. Additionally we thank the numerous government agencies, Paramount Chief Mauga and Pago Pago Faipule, Fiasili Haleck, whose cooperation and assistance has been invaluable. Of course we our most appreciative to FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation and especially to the respective presidents Blatter and Temarii for their special interest and continued support to the development of football".

For further comment please call ASFA on 684 699 8160 or email at asfamedia@blueskynet.as

All correspondence to be addressed to:

ASFA Media, P.O. Box 999413, Pago Pago, AS.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is adamant New Zealand's bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup will be enhanced - rather than hindered - by the football lesson Costa Rica handed his side on Sunday.

The newly crowned Central American champions humbled New Zealand 4-0 with two goals in each half - the last of them a dubious penalty - at San Jose's Richardo Saprissa Stadium.

It was not the start to 2007 Herbert had hoped for although the result was not entirely unpredictable given that Costa Rica are ranked 79 places above an out-of-season All Whites lineup missing Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott and Chris Killen and playing on a foreign artificial pitch.

Story courtesy of NZS Media...

Herbert Eyes Long Term Gain Over Short Term Pain

A Costa Barbarouses hat-trick and a goal from Ben Matthews was enough to end the OFC U-17 Championship - Tahiti 2007 on a high for World Cup-bound New Zealand today.

The Kiwis who booked their place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup - Korea 2007 on Match Day Two ran amok against New Caledonia ending the French Territory's own two match unbeaten run in Tahiti.

The 4-0 romp was the perfect exclamation mark to a flawless New Zealand campaign and left Colin Tuaa and his team contemplating a dream trip to Korea later this year.

In Match Day Three's other fixture, hosts Tahiti drew 0-0 with Fiji to end a disappointing campaign that saw them finish runners-up. Fiji clinched third place and New Caledonia fourth.

OFC U-17 Championship - Tahiti 2007

Match Day 3

Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

24 March 2007 - 15H00

Result - Match 5

NEW ZEALAND 4 (9. Costa BARBAROUSES 42'; 73'; 84'; 7. Jacob Ben MATHEWS 90')

NEW CALEDONIA 0

NEW ZEALAND - 20.Jacob Christopher GLEESON (GK), 3. Mars KEOMAHAVONG, 5. Timothy Esmonde MYERS, , 8. Cory CHETTLEBRUGH (10. Moses Renata PETELO 82'), 9. Costa BARBAROUSES (cap), , 12. Frazer COLSON (2. Isaac FITZGERALD 87'), 13. Geo ffrey MACINTYRE, 15. Tyson Lothar BRANDT, 17. Jason Thomas HICKS; 18. Hamish Mickael CHANG (7. Jacob Ben MATHEWS 74') , 19. Adam James COWEN

Coach - Colin TUAA

Subs not used - 1. Michael O'KEEFE, 4. Colin MURPHY, 6. Nicholas CORLISS, 11. Benjamin HUNT, 14. Mario Andres HOFMANN, 16. Godwin DARKWA

Cautions - 13. Geo ffrey MACINTYRE 45'. 7. Jacob Ben MATHEWS 88'

Red Cards - None

NEW CALEDONIA -1. Jean-Daniel CAEE (GK) , 2. Gregory TARAMOIM; 3. Joris GORENDIAWE; 4. Vincent VAKIE (cap), 6. Theodore HUANGANYAN, 8. Jihovany LOLOHEA (15. Leopold MAKALU 72'), 11. John TRUPIT, 12. Maxime CHEVRY, 16. Jordan XOLAWAWA, 18. Johan AUSSU (10. Ricardo PELLETIE 45'), 19. Fabian AGAMALU (5. Jean Claude JEWINE 59')

Coach - Robert DRAWILO

Subs not used -, 7. Jedioja SAIKO, 9. Joseph IMEGIT, 13. Roy KAYARA, 14. Lamo XEWE, 17. Luther WAKAMUMUME; 20. Anthony BASSI

Cautions - 3. Joris GORENDIAWE 27'

Red Cards - None

Referee -Fiti AIMAASU (Samoa)

Assistant Referee - Rohitesh DAYAL (Fiji)

Assistant Referee - Andrew ACHARI (Fiji)

Fourth Official - Jacques AVERII (Tahiti)

OFC U-17 Championship - Tahiti 2007

Match Day 3

Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

24 March 2007 - 17H30

Result - Match 6

TAHITI 0

FIJI 0

TAHITI - 1. Ralph HEITAA (GK), 3. Marama AMAU (2. Hitinui WARREN 45'), 4. Yannick VERO, 5. Stephane FAATIARAU (cap), 6. Tahimanarii TARAIHAU, 7. Steevy CHONG HUE, 8. Thomas TEPEHU (16. Benson MANARII 55'), 9. Tuheiarii TETUANUI, 10. Stanley ATANI, 11. Tevaihau TEHURITAUA (13. Toatane ISAIA 83'); 14. Edson LEMAIRE,

Coach - Eddy ETAETA

Subs not used -, 12. Christophe GENDRON, 15. Januario POROI ,; 17. Hitinui WOU LIN; 18. Henri TEIKITUHAAHAA, 19. Maheanuu TUA, 20. Teheipuarii HAUATA.

Cautions - None

Red Cards - None

FIJI - 1. Wasim ALI NISHAD (cap) (GK), 2. Sagar Shamol KUMAR, 3. Solomon GETIA, 4. Josefata NEIBULI, 5. REMUERU, 6. Mohammed Shamir HUSSAIN, 10. Ranjesh PRASAD (8. Joseva BASUDRA 51' (18. Ratu BAINIVALU 88')), 11. Josua TAWARE, 12. Osea Rabaraka LAUTIKI, 14. Ratu Jonacani TUILEVUKA, 16. Isikeli Jeke KELI

Coach - Mohammed FAROUK

Subs not used - 7. Ilimotama JESE, , 9. James Martin MCKAY, 13. Akuila RADANNA, 15. Nitieli Namuka CAUCAU, 17. Nasoni MEREKE, , 19. Faiyum KHAN, 20. Filimone BOLETUAUDA

Cautions - 6. Mohammed Shamir HUSSAIN 2'

Red Cards - None

Referee - Lencie FRED (Vanuatu)

Assistant Referee - Nicholas WALDRON (NZ)

Assistant Referee - Michael JOSEPH (Vanuatu)

Fourth Official - Michael HESTER (NZ)

GOALSCORERS:

5 - Costa BARBAROUSES (NZ)

2 - Jacob Ben MATHEWS (NZ)

1 - Cory CHETTLEBRUGH (NZ); Mario Andres HOFMANN NZ); Solomon GETIA (FIJI); Josua TAWARE (FIJI); Roy KAYARA (NC). StÃf©phane FAATIARAU (TAHITI)

New Zealand have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup - Korea 2007 with a match to spare after beating host nation Tahiti 2-1 at the Stade Pater, French Polynesia tonight.

New Zealand coach Colin Tuaa watched his side open the scoring after just five minutes through Japan-based striker Mario Hoffman. Tahiti drew level in the 18th minute when Stephane Faatiarau put himself on the scoresheet.

With Fiji and New Caledonia fighting out a 1-1 draw the door to Korea was blown wide open to New Zealand with neither nation able to leapfrog the Kiwis despite New Caledonia being unbeaten after two matches.

New Zealand's World Cup dream became a reality when Team Wellington striker Costa Barbarouses fired the New Zealanders into the lead on 61 minutes and put them beyond the reach of New Caledonia rendering Match Day Three a purely academic exercise.

New Zealand are set to experiment with the back three for the first time in coach Ricki Herbert's reign when the All Whites face World Cup finalists Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday (NZT).

Herbert has opted for a back four in all 12 of his previous matches in charge of the national team but is likely to test a three-man defensive line of Che Bunce, captain Danny Hay and Steven Old against the world's 50th ranked team.

The untried trio are poised to start behind a midfield five with Noah Hickey and Tony Lochhead to play on the flanks ahead of holding midfielders Tim Brown and Ivan Vicelich.

Leo Bertos is expected to round out the flooded midfield with the Wellington A-League target likely to play centrally in the "hole" behind strikers Shane Smeltz and Jeremy Brockie.

Story courtesy of NZS Media...

Herbert Gambles On Back Three For Costa Rica