The O-League Group B match between Ba and AS Temanava at Govind Park, Ba, scheduled for Monday 19th March, 2007, 5pm (Fiji time) kickoff, has been postponed due to a torrential downpour that has rendered the pitch unplayable.

The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday 20th March, 2007, in Lautoka, with a 6pm (Fiji time) kickoff.

OFC Match Commissioner Chandra Segran said the decision to postpone was the sensible one with the players' safety of paramount importance.

Wellington has joined football's A-League revolution

An 11th hour deal with local property investor Terry Serepisos has seen Wellington secure the Hyundai A-League vacancy created by the pre-Christmas demise of the New Zealand Knights.

Serepisos has signed a three-year sub-licensee agreement with New Zealand Soccer after heading off Townsville-based Tropical Football for the league's vacant eighth spot.

Managing Director of Century City Developments, Serepisos proved the "White Knight" investor Wellington hoped for as the country's involvement in Australasia's top-flight teetered on knife-edge last week.

He has taken a 100 percent shareholding of the club, allowing NZ Soccer to stitch together an A-League participation agreement with Football Federation over the weekend and subsequently sub-let it to Wellington.

Serepisos has opened the way for additional investment but will retain a controlling stake in the club.

NZ Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter acknowledged Serepisos' critical involvement in saving New Zealand's only professional club.

"To say we're delighted to have Terry aboard is an understatement," Seatter said.

"We have to give him massive recognition because without him we wouldn't be here. It came down to the wire and was resolved in the last 48 hours."

Serepisos acted after hearing of Wellington's plight on the radio during a visit to a hairdresser last Tuesday. He said a desire to give something back to a city that had treated him so well in business and preserve a career-path for young New Zealand footballers prompted his decision.

"I'm confident Wellington will embrace this," Serepisos said.

"As far as I'm concerned this is a clean slate...the Wellington guys have put their heart and soul into it and now we have to capitalise on that. There's a huge football following here so the potential is good."

Seatter agreed relief was his over-riding emotion as the game celebrated a happy ending to what proved a protracted negotiation process.

He praised the tenacious efforts of Wellington bid chiefs John Dow and Ian Wells in keeping a New Zealand interest in the A-League.

"We've been as frustrated as anyone with the delays and extensions we sough but we had to do that. The only other option was to say good bye to it and it was far too important for that," Seatter said.

"The A-League is absolutely critical from all points of view. We haven't got a professional competition so having a professional team is the next best thing.

"With a strong emphasis on New Zealand players and coaches we have a pathway now and we're hooked into a league that is the 18th biggest in the world after just two seasons and is only going to get bigger.

"It's just such a good league - to not be involved in it was just inconceivable."

Seatter said the hard work had just begun for the club to ensure it did not go the same way as the Football Kingz and the Knights.

An interim board is in place as the club aim for the A-League Pre-Season Cup in July and kick-off proper in August. The re-branding of the Knights incarnation remains one of the club's most pressing assignments.

A seven-to-nine member board will eventually be set up and the position of chief executive advertised. Commercial, Finance, Media and Marketing Managers will also be sourced.

"There is no time to reflect on what we've achieved. This is just the beginning as we look to set this up successfully with the Wellington group," Seatter said.

Ba will have an opportunity to seal a 2007 O-League Final berth this afternoon when they take on AS Temanava at Govind Park, Ba.

AS Temanava defeated Marist FC 2-1 in Tahiti on Saturday but will face a daunting challenge against a battle-hardened Ba side likely to be bolstered by a sizeable vocal home support.

A win for Ba will confirm them as Group B winners. A draw will leave Ba on eight points with AS Temanava on five meaning AS Temanava will have to go to Honiara and defeat Marist FC by two goals or more to leapfrog Ba into the cup final.

AS Temanava will be without the influential Georges Watton who was sent off against Marist FC at the weekend. Tickets for the match would be sold from this morning while the gates at Govind Park will open at 2pm with the match set to kick off at 5pm (Fiji time).

AS Temanava turned up the heat on Fijian champions Ba after they defeated Marist FC 2-1 in a closely contested match in O-League Group B tonight.

The victory for the Tahitian champions turns the heat up on Group B leaders Ba who have the luxury of a final home match showdown against Temanava for the right to qualify for the O-League Final.

Marist FC can still play a part in determining the outcome of Group B if they can cause an upset in the final matches.

2007 O-League (OFC Champions League)

Match Day 4 - Group B

Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, French PolynÃf©sie

16 March 2007 - 20.00

Result - Match 4 - Group B

Temanava 2 (Poiroi 12'; Araparii 58' pen)

Marist FC 1 (Luwi 28')

Temanava - 1. Franck Revel; 3. Georges Watton; 4. Daly Watha; 5. Maheanu Araparii; 9. Jean-FranÃf§ois Kabeu (c); 11. Roberto Poiroi (6. Neiti Clark 45'); 13. Pierre Kugogne; 17. Luc Kugogne; 19. Aldo Vahine; 20. Patua Tetuanui (22. RenÃf© Salo 52'); 21. Raoul Diela (Vetea Laisan 45')

Subs not used - 8. Arnaud Sicot; 12. Jean-Michel Rigoulot; 15 Rachid Arnaud

Cautions - Georges Watton; Luc Kugogne

Red Cards - Georges Watton

Marist FC - 1. Lucian Sikwaae (18. Francis Aruwafu 12'); 3. Tome Faisi; 5. Samson Takayama; 6. Jerry Sam; 8. Timothy Joe (15. Mostyn Beui 42'); 9. James Naka; 11. Sebastian Misiga (10. Michael Misitana 38'); 12. Benjamin Mela); 14. Joe Luwi; 16. Martin Ruhasia (c); 17. Gideon Omokirio

Subs not used - 2. David Houpere; 4. Alphonsus Danny; 7. Joseph Lani; 13. Simon Sau

Cautions - Tome Faisi; Michael Misitana ; Benjamin Mela

Red Cards - None

Referee - Neil Fox (NZL)

Assistant Referee - Nick Waldron (NZL)

Assistant Referee - Michael Joseph (VAN)

Fourth Official - Peter O'Leary (NZL)

OFC President Reynald Temarii and FIFA Ambassador Christian Karembeu flew to Tonga to help mark Tonga's second phase Goal Project groundbreaking ceremony earlier this week.

They were joined by the King of Tonga Siaosi Tupou V, Tonga Football Association President Ahongalu Fusimalohi and FIFA Development Officer Glenn Turner alongside representatives and dignitaries from the Tonga Government and overseas embassies to mark Tonga's second phase Goal Project groundbreaking ceremony.

The site where the FIFA Technical Centre will be constructed was awash with colour as Karembeu entertained the 500-strong crowd with some of his trademark touches on the ball.

King Tupou V gave a stirring speech on the history of football in Tonga and said the power of the sport to reach the hearts and minds of the people of the South Pacific had the potential to make it the number one sport.

OFC President Reynald Temarii said the Technical Centre was an important facility to help encourage the youth of Tonga to become active in sport - not just football - and that it is an important stepping stone in helping youth fulfil its considerable potential in the same way Christian Karembeu had done in New Caledonia.

Karembeu gave his full backing to the project and reiterated the need for Pacific Island children to believe in their dreams and pursue them.

"Growing up in Lifou and chasing a professional football career in France was a difficult challenge for me but it was one I chose to accept. Once I decided I was going to go to France to play, for me it had to be all or nothing.

This facility will provide the children and youth of Tonga with a very important venue to come and learn about the game of football, the importance of education, and will build self-esteem. I am very proud to say that many good footballers have come from this region and I wish one day to see a Tongan footballer playing in a professional league," Karembeu said.

Solomon Telekom and Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) signed a sponsorship deal worth around SOL$1.4 million($300,000NZD) to assist the country's senior men's team and two national domestic football competitions.

Under this deal, the Solomon Telekom will provide 100 percent assistance to the senior national team for its preparations and competition. It will also fund the national clubs championship finals and Solomon Cup tournament. The essence for the major sponsorship by Our Telekom is because of the passion that Solomon Islanders have for football nationwide.

"Football captures the spirit of our people anyone can play anywhere there is green space in every community in our country. Whether at international or national competitions, when our teams perform well we celebrate when they don't we are devastated. Football unites our country."

The level of commitment demonstrated today has never been done before in this country by a corporate body.

Telekom believes that football must strive for higher levels of performance and achievement never before seen," said John Beverly - Chairman Telekom Board of Directors. Beverly urged SIFF to use the funds properly so that the partnership will go a long way to satisfying the football passion of all Solomon Islanders. SIFF President Martin Alufurai in his reply assured the Telekom management that his federation will provide report as required under the sponsorship deal.

"We have proper appointed auditors and my federation will report as required," he said.

Referring to Telekom's sponsorship deal, Alufurai says this is a historic occasion as this is the first major sponsorship deal since Telekom was established.

He stresses that Telekom's sponsorship deal augers well with what is happening world and over. Alufurai describes Telekom's commitment as important for football especially with FIFA and OFC now recognizing the Pacific Games as a qualifying competition for the World Cup playoff in this part of the world.

This means only the three top teams will qualify for the World Cup playoff with New Zealand.

National League Board chairman Rajesh Patel has announced an emergency meeting to take place in Suva on Sunday.

He said the emergency meeting is to discuss proposals made by the new national league sponsor secured by the Fiji FA after previous sponsors pulled out.

Patel said as planned the national league series would start this month.

It is likely the league format will be changed to suit Fiji FA's busy 2007 schedule, the number of games will be less which will see districts playing each other once instead of the previous home and away series.

The change was earlier proposed by Fiji FA but mooted by district officials in the first National League Board meeting in Suva last month.

According to Patel other issues on the discussion table were to hold senior division fixtures as curtain raisers for the main super premier games and for the bottom placed team to be automatically demoted to senior ranks.

Inspite of the changes Patel said this year's league series would be the richest to be contested ever.

Over the last two years Ba pocketed $16000 cash and $4000 worth of sports vouchers for winning the title.

Also part of discussions will be a separate league series for southern districts to be played throughout the year.

Meanwhile in the latest world ranking release by FIFA, Argentina has displaced world champion Italy from the top spot.

Four time world cup champions Brazil is third, followed by France, Germany and England.

Fiji remains at 153.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has withdrawn from the OFC U-17 Championship - Tahiti 2007 today. The decision to withdraw was announced at lunchtime today despite SIFF securing a sponsorship deal with Solomon Telekom worth SOL$1.4 million($300,000NZD).

SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava said the decision to withdraw was a heartbreaking one but his federation was left with no choice following a recent hike in the price of airfares between Solomon Islands and Tahiti.

"This decision was not taken lightly and I realise many people will be wondering why we have had to withdraw around the same time we have announced the Solomon Telekom deal.

When we planned our budget for this year we submitted it to the Solomon Islands Government and Solomon Telekom taking into account the price of airfare at that particular time.

Solomon Telekom have committed to assisting our senior men's team at the South Pacific Games/World Cup qualifiers and to supporting our two domestic competitions.

The cost of attending the OFC U-17 Championship - Tahiti 2007 falls outside the terms of the Solomon Telekom agreement," Ngava said.

Solomon Islands U-17 team will be sorely missed at the tournament with players such as Tony Otini, Lenson Bisili and Victor Fenehia all missing out on the chance to showcase their talents.

"I will be holding a meeting with the squad this afternoon to break the bad news. They are currently in training camp and the sad aspect is they are a very strong group of players. Fortunately Tony Otini and Lenson Bisili have had experience at the OFC U-20 Championship - New Zealand 2007...for the others, sadly, they will have to wait for their chance," Ngava said.

The Solomon Island budget for travel to Tahiti was set at $300,000SOL at the start of the financial year but according to Ngava had now escalated to just over $642,000SOL, a figure SIFF simply could not afford.

The power and potential of football to reach the people of the South Pacific and help solve key social and health issues was the topic of discussion at a meeting between Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) General Secretary Tai Nicholas and Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Su'a Kevin Thomsen yesterday.

Nicholas was in Wellington championing football as the number one sport in the South Pacific as part of a fact find mission to determine the location of a new HQ for OFC. Su'a Kevin Thomsen - Director of Policy and Communications at the Ministry - agreed football was making headway amongst youngsters in the islands.

"Discussions were hugely beneficial and I think there is a growing awareness of the popularity of football amongst our people in the islands. With so many of our teams transiting through New Zealand for tournaments it is important to garner close relationships with various arms of Government such as Pacific Island Affairs," Nicholas said.

Football has poured millions of dollars into the development of state of the art training and playing facilities in the South Pacific and the numbers of those playing football instead of traditionally popular rugby reflected the success of the programme.

"It's not just about football. The OFC President Reynald Temarii has a vision to use football as a capacity building tool for the community that makes up our football family. OFC has already committed an artificial mini-pitch at Kila Kila Secondary School in Papua New Guinea and similar initiatives are also planned throughout our region," Nicholas added.

Su'a Kevin Thomsen said Pacific Islanders traditionally played all forms of ball sports with considerable success but said football helped focus and promote a positive sense of well-being and self-esteem amongst the people that played it.

"Soccer is a sport that helps promote a mature sense of national pride. Rugby is very very popular but most islanders born in New Zealand will aspire to play for the All Blacks. Soccer - because of the way it includes everybody in an equal and democratic way - encourages people to play for the nation they are born in or have a link with. I think this is very positive," Thomsen said.

It is hoped that through developing a relationship with the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs that OFC will be able to address the cost of transit visas and providing opportunities for Pacific Island employees to upskill themselves and gain experience by working in football administration in New Zealand before returning to their countries to share their experiences and expertise.

Cook Islander Paavo Tariu Mustonen helped Campbelltown City 'Quake' Futsal club football team win the recent New South Wales Futsal Premier League, a five-a-side indoor competition. At just 17, Paavo celebrated with his team after they won the final match 2-1 over Sydney's Magic team.

Paavo trained under Australian national men's Futsal coach Scott Gilligan and he says the experience doesn't get better than this. "I loved every minute of the experience and will continue to work hard now that I'm back," says Paavo.

Back home on Rarotonga, Paavo has more football action to look forward to as he joins the Black team in the Rarotonga five-a-side competition.

Paavo spent three months playing for the Quake team after he left to play for the club in December last year.

This was the second time he had played in Australia. At the end of 2005 he travelled to New South Wales to play with the Emu Plains team in the outdoor competition.

Overseas stints have included a term of four months playing in Germany last year. During his time there he also won a juggling competition, managing to keep the football alive for an hour and 15 minutes.

Paavo's love for the sport of soccer began as a youngster when he followed his mother Kamuta to her soccer games while she played for the Arorangi women's team.

Paavo loved his first taste of the game, started playing when he was nine years old and has never looked back. "I have a passion for it and it keeps me out of alcohol and drugs," says the young man.

Paavo first started playing for Arorangi. He then moved to Nikao where he played in the under 13 team before moving to Tupapa. This year will be his fifth year with the side, his third in the senior A team. He is also a CIFA national representative.

Tupapa's senior men's coach Jimmy Katoa was full of praise for Paavo and says he is a great player who is always asking for advice, never misses training and is always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Katoa thanks Paavo's parents Ari and Kamuta Mustonen for their support of Paavo and his love of the game.

Cook Islands Football Association technical director Tim Jerks says Mustonen's capacity to train and play at high intensity and remain injury free will potentially open doors for the young player in the future.

"Mustonen is what we call a technical player due to the quality time he commits to training. Without dedication to this training time, it is highly unlikely Paavo would have been successful in such a competitive training and playing environment like the NSW Futsal Premier League," says Jerks.

Paavo has a big football future in front of him and wants to continue playing the sport - his ultimate goal is to become a professional player.

He admires the flamboyant Brazilian football players, especially Ronaldinho who plays for FC Barcelona in Spain.

It's certainly a long way from the Cook Islands, but this young man has nothing holding him back and with his obvious passion and zeal, there is no telling just where Paavo might end up