Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) national team coach Airton Andrioli will assist in Marist FC's O-League preparations following last month's disappointing loss to Ba.

The 2-0 defeat in front of 17,000 fans at Lawson Tama Stadium saw SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava draft in Andrioli to ensure Marist FC were better prepared for their upcoming away matches against AS Temanava and Ba.

Andrioli is determined to help Marist FC regain some lost pride and has spent time working alongside head coach Patrick Miniti in a bid to turn around the club's O-League fortunes.

Ba currently head the Group B table with four points after an away win and draw at Marist FC and AS Temanava respectively. AS Temanava sit in second place with one point and winless Marist FC are last.

Andrioli's work schedule continues as the national Under 17 squad is into its final stages of preparation ahead of their OFC qualifying competition in Tahiti from 21-29 March 2007.

The 20 strong- team is being groomed by the senior national coach Airton Andrioli and he had expressed confidence that the boys have responded well to his sessions.

If all goes well, the team will leave early next week via Fiji and New Zealand on their way to Tahiti.

Meanwhile, the team management is calling on the general public for support to the team either in kind or cash to assist the team in their final preparations before they leave for the tournament.

SIFF has stepped up preparations for the women's senior national team following OFC's decision giving Solomon Islands the nod to attend the OFC World Cup qualifiers in PNG in April.

SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava confirms OFC's decision saying his federation has been directed to prepare a team for this competition.

The federation's technical department has already started preparing the team and will soon trim the squad down.

Vanuatu football family mourns the death of one of the founders of the Vanuatu Football Federation. Michel Jacobe, 54 has passed away on Monday afternoon following a brain stroke. His family tries to rush him in hospital but they did not rescue him before their arrival at the Vila Central Hospital.

He has survived by 3 children: 2 boys (Cyril and Gregory), 1 daughter (Chrystelle), 2 grand children (Brenda and Manon) and his wife Evelyne Jacobe. When Vanuatu formed the Vanuatu Football Federation in 1988, Mr. Jacobe was voted as Vice President. He has hold humbly, willingly and courageously this position until he decides to retire last year. But he maintains his technical and financial contribution towards his father's football Club Amical FC and still holds the position of President and honorary President of this club until his he passed away.

VFF President Jacques Tronquet described Mr. Jacobe as a great man known from his leadership and wisdom. His contribution to football for his country has been one of great importance. In 1985, he introduced in Vanuatu the Youth Development Program called "Vanua kids program". This program aims at encouraging kids to develop their football talent at early age. And thanks to this program that FIFA has started in 1996 to inject funds to Vanuatu in order to sponsor the development and the promotion of football. He was also instrumental in initiating the Amical Junior Football Program, from which many of the former and current national youth players have emerged.

Mr. Tronquet said his death has been regarded as tragedy not only for the VFF but also for OFC and FIFA. This is an evidence of Michel Jacobe's influence and relationship with OFC and FIFA that VFF, OFC and FIFA salute him as a man who revived football after independence and placed Vanuatu football in a better standard.

Beside Johnny Tensley Lulu, he spearheaded the negotiations towards the establishment of the football Academy at Teouma Center that received FIFA financial support. His funeral service takes place today (Thursday 8 March).

Version Française - Disparition d'une grande figure du football vanuatais

La Famille de football au Vanuatu a rendu hommage à un des fondateurs de la Fédération de Football du Vanuatu. Michel Jacobe, 54 ans est mort lundi après midi suite à une crise cardiaque. Sa famille a essayé de le transporter d'urgence à l'hôpital, mais il est mort au cours du voyage. Il a laissé derrière lui, 3 enfants : 2 garçons (Cyril et Gregory), une fille (Chrystelle), deux petits-fils (Brenda et Manon) et sa femme à °/°°velyne Jacobe. En 1988 lorsque la VFF a été instituée, M. Jacobe a été élu comme Vice Président. Il a occupé ce poste humblement, courageusement et de bon coeur jusqu'à l'année dernière ou il a décidé de partir à la retraite. Mais il a toujours maintenu sa contribution technique et financière envers le club de football de son Père (Amical FC) et a occupé le poste de Président et également Président à titre honoraire jusqu' à sa mort.

Le Président de la VFF, Jacques Tronquet a qualifié M. Jacobe d'un grand homme du football vanuatais bien connu pour ses directives et sa loyauté. Sa contribution a fait de lui une figure de grand favori. Mr Tronquet a ajouté qu'en 1985, M. Jacobe a introduit au Vanuatu le programme de développement des jeunes connu sous le nom « Vanua kids Program». Ce programme permet d'encourager les enfants de développer leurs talents footballistiques dès leur tout jeune age. Et gr-ce à ce programme que la FIFA a commencé à injecter au Vanuatu des fonds pour la promotion et le développement du football. Sa mort est considérée étant comme une tragédie non seulement pour la VFF mais aussi pour l'OFC et la FIFA, et ce dont ces trois fédérations ont tenu à rendre hommage à celui qui a pu faire revivre le football après l'indépendance du pays et qui a pu replacer le football de son pays dans les bons rails.

Aux cotés de Johnny Tensley Lulu, M. Jacobe a pu mener des négociations pour la réalisation du « Vanuatu Gold Project » (le projet de l'Académie de football sur Tema), projet qui a reçu l'appui financier de la FIFA. Les obsèques du regretté Michel Jacobe ont eu lieu aujourd'hui Jeudi 8 Mars dans l'après midi.

Four new clubs could be ready to join the Papua New Guinea Football Association's (PNGFA)semi-professional NSL football competition for next season and could include a franchise from Bougainville.

The other three entities are PS Roots (Port Moresby), Madang Country (Madang) and Lae West (Lae). These four franchises will join the existing five participating clubs to bring the number to nine franchise teams in the National Soccer League in 2007.

The original five NSL franchise teams will remain but slight changes have been made to their names. WFD Momads changed its name to Welgris Highlands, PRK Souths to PRK United, and Tuguba Laitepo Blue Kumuls to Tuguba Laitepo Morobe. Gelle Hills and AK Madang Fox have retained the same names used in 2006.

Madang will field two teams under a consortium arrangement. Madang MP Alois Kingsley will still back Madang Fox but would help consortium partners to back the Madang Country team. The Country team would be made up of players mostly from the local level government areas in the Madang province.

The Bougainville team will be based out of the autonomous region in either Lae or Goroka while PS Roots will base itself in Port Moresby. Lae Wests would be backed by Ipili, a local Porgera-based company in the Enga Province and will be based in Lae.

PS United had indicated a willingness to join the semi-professional competition but is yet to secure a sponsorship package that will enable it to gaurentee itself a spot in the 2007 competition.

AS Temanava have had their six match unbeaten run in all competitions ended by highflying AS Tefana in the Tahiti Division Federale. AS Temanava held Ba FC 1-1 in their opening OFC O-League clash in Group B but had lost their way in their domestic endeavours until their recent resurgence. Elsewhere, AS Manu Ura cruised past winless AS Vairao 3-0 to retain third place. AS Dragon continue to set the pace after a 3-0 win over AS Venus.

The league leaders have picked up critical wins over AS Tefana and AS Pirae in recent weeks and have not experienced defeat since the opening weeks of the season when they lost three of their opening four games. AS Dragon have a six point buffer between themselves and AS Tefana.

AS Pirae were made to sweat in their clash with another of the cellar dwellers relying on a late winner to seal a 4-3 victory over AS Tac. Just four points separate the teams from second to sixth in the championship race with AS Tamarii Faa still in the hunt despite having the bye in the last round.

In the Tahiti Division D'Excellence, AS Excelsior and AS Aorai have built a healthy seven point gap between themselves and nearest challengers AS Central Sport in the race for promotion to the top division.

A FIFA and OFC delegation was in Port Vila following a feasibility study on the project of football artificial pitch. The delegation comprised Glen Turner, FIFA Development Officer for Oceania and Ray Vuksich, Consultant in Infrastructures at the OFC and FIFA. Their mission is to start a feasibility study on the two Port Vila stadiums (Stadium of Port Vila and Korman Stadium).

Their mission met the request from the President of OFC, Mr. Reynald Temarii who requires OFC to collaborate with VFF to locate a site where to establish the artificial pitch with the financial support of the OFC and the FIFA.

The two men have now returned to Auckland after studying the conditions of the two stadiums. Their mission would allow them to recommend one of the two stadiums to shelter the artificial pitch. VFF Vice President, Lambert Maltock explained that work on this project will be carried out this year in order to allow Vanuatu to accommodate international matches as from next year.

The project of the artificial pitch is the second that President Temarii promised to the people of the Vanuatu archipelago. The VFF 150 000 $NZ debts repayment with the financial assistance from OFC was the first; The third project of Mr. Temarii for the population of Vanuatu is to expand football in all Vanuatu provinces. The technical consultant of the OFC John Crawford was in Vanuatu from 21 to 28 February to have contact with the local population and in addition to speak about the need for starting refresher training for local coaches.

Vanuatu is optimistic for refresher course for local coaches

The technical consultant of the OFC, John Crawford has left the country on the 28th February after a one week visit in Vanuatu following the technical audit of Vanuatu football. The purpose of his visit is to meet Vanuatu football communities in order to collect necessary information to establish a football inventory. After Provinces of Sanma, Malampa and Tafea, Mr. Crawford met Port Vila and Shefa football authorities on Tuesday February 27th.

During the meeting, Mr. John Crawford speaks lengthily of the necessity for a refresher training course for local coaches scheduled to be run in Vanuatu on the month of April this year. He explained that he was mandated by President Temarii to tour the Vanuatu archipelago to deliver the refresher training in order to replace Vanuatu football in the best rails. According to Mr. Crawford this training concerns only coaches who are always in field and not those whose certificates remains posted on the windows. The topics of this training must be produced by each club.

The technical adviser of the VFF Yvon Avry who is also present at the meeting has spoken about the policy of this refresher course. He explained why this training will touch various points of training from kids to senior players. During his visit in Vanuatu on November last year, the president of the OFC, Mr. Reynald Temarii has requested that VFF must work in close cooperation with OFC in order to change the system of Vanuatu football based on the French system. And Mr. Avry has specified that the French system is practical from young people to the senior players and all football stars of French football have gone through this system.

Mr. Crawford, who spent over 10 years in France in his capacity as Regional Technical Adviser, made hear that him and his colleague Yvon Avry come to Vanuatu not to impose their ideology but to listen to problems and needs of the local coaches and local clubs and how to work together with them to solve these problems to replace football in better position. Mr. Crawford explained during the meeting that President Temarii insisted absolutely that football in Pacific nations can progress and gain a level able to defy professional football and to make that Oceania football must be to shine in first stage of Football World Cup. And the refresher course is an asset to drive football in a high level and to make Vanuatu football family always happy.

Mr. Crawford has expressed in French and translated by the President of Port Vila Football Association, Mr. Robert Calvo. The issue of refresher course given by Mr. Crawford attracted more interest as the President of Tafea FC, Jean Pierre Nirua has expressed in favor of this training which is much needed in Vanuatu. New President of the Port Vila Football Association, Mr. Robert Calvo has joined other participants to accept the proposal for this refresher course. He took this occasion to thank Mr. Crawford, Mr. Avry and particularly President Temarii who is a fervent defender of Oceania football for granting a great importance to Vanuatu football. Mr. Calvo said Vanuatu football Community is deeply grateful towards the generous action of Mr. Temarii in order to boost the football standard in Vanuatu.

Mr. Crawford is the only person of the Oceania region who received the accreditation of the technical director of the French Football Federation, Aime Jacquet to issue certificates to coaches at the end of training courses.

Une importante de la FIFA et de l'OFC se trouve à Port-Vila du 23 au 28 Février dans le cadre d'une étude de faisabilité sur le projet de terrain artificiel de football. Cette délégation est composée de Monsieur Glen Turner, patron de la FIFA pour l'Océanie et de Monsieur Raymond Vuksich, conseiller en Infrastructures auprès de l'OFC et de la FIFA. Leur mission est d'entamer une étude de faisabilité sur les deux stades de Port-Vila (le stade de Port Vila Stadium et celui de Korman).

Leur mission répond à l'invitation du Président de l'OFC, M. Reynald Temarii qui exige que l'OFC doit collaborer avec la VFF pour repérer le site ou doit implanter le terrain artificiel avec le soutien financier de l'OFC et de la FIFA. Les deux hommes ont déjà regagné Auckland après avoir étudier les conditions de deux stades. Leur mission va permettre de recommander un de deux stades pouvant abriter le terrain artificiel.

Le Vice Président de la VFF Lambert Maltock a fait savoir que les travaux pour réaliser ce projet vont commencer dans le courant de l'année pour permettre le Vanuatu d'accueillir les matchs internationaux à partir de l'année prochaine. Le projet du terrain artificiel est le deuxième projet que le Président Temirtaou a promis a la population du Vanuatu. Son premier projet a été déjà réalisé et qui concerne le remboursement de 150 000 $NZ de dettes avec la participation financière de l'OFC. Le troisième projet de Mr Temarii en faveur de la population, vanuataise consiste à faire rayonner le football dans toutes les provinces du Vanuatu. Le formateur de l'OFC John Crawford a effectué une visite la semaine dernière au Vanuatu d'une part pour prendre contacte avec la population locale et d'autre part pour parler de la nécessité d'entamer de formation de recyclage pour les entraîneurs locaux qui est l'outil nécessaire pour rehausser le niveau du football vanuatais.

Version Française : Vanuatu optimiste avec la formation de recyclage pour les entraîneurs

Le formateur de l'OFC, John Crawford a quitte le pays le 28 Février dernier après une visite d'une semaine au Vanuatu dans le cadre de l'audit technique du football vanuatais. Sa visite a pour but de rencontrer la communaute de football du Vanuatu afin de collecter des informations susceptibles de dresser un inventaire sur le football. Après les Provinces de Sanma, Malampa et Tafea, M. Crawford a rencontré mardi 27 février les autorités du football de Port-Vila et de Shefa.

Au cours de la réunion, M. John Crawford a parlé longuement de la nécessité d'un stage de recyclage pour les entraîneurs locaux, prévu au Vanuatu au mois d'avril. Il a explique qu'il a été mandaté par le Président Temarii à parcourir les îles du Vanuatu pour délivrer cette formation de recyclage afin de replacer le Vanuatu dans les bons rails. Selon M. Crawford cette formation concerne uniquement les entraîneurs qui sont toujours sur le terrain et non pas ceux dont les diplômes reste affiche sur les fenêtres. Les sujets de cette formation doit être établis par chaque club.

Le conseiller technique de la VFF Yvon Avry qui est également présent à la réunion a, quant à lui, parlé de la politique de cette formation. Il a explique que cette formation va toucher les différents points de formation à partir des enfants jusqu'aux seniors. Lors de sa visite au Vanuatu en Novembre dernier, le président de l'OFC, M. Reynald Temarii a demandé à ce que la VFF devrait travailler en étroite collaboration avec l'OFC afin de modifier le système de football vanuatais et d'améliorer ce system calque sur le système français. Et M. Avry a précisé que le système français est pratiqué à partir de moins jeunes jusqu'au senior et toutes les stars du football français ont bénéficié de ce système.

M. Crawford qui a passé 10 ans en France en qualité de Conseiller Technique Régional a fait entendre que lui et son collègue Yvon Avry viennent au Vanuatu non pas d'imposer leur idéologie mais pour être a l'écoute des problèmes et des besoins des entraîneurs locaux et comment travailler ensemble pour résoudre ces problèmes pour replacer le football dans les bonnes voies.

M. Crawford laisse entendre au cours de la réunion que le Président Temarii tient absolument a ce que le football des nations insulaires du Pacifique puisse progresser et gagner un niveau capable de défier le football professionnel et de faire en sorte que le football océanien doit être brillé en phase éliminatoire de la Coupe du Monde. Et la formation de recyclage des entraîneurs est atout pour donner aux entraîneurs des connaissances nécessaires pour porter le football à un haut niveau et pour rendre heureux la famille du football vanuataise.

M. Crawford s'est exprime en français et traduit par le Président de football Association de Port Vila M. Robert Calvo. Le propos de M. Crawford a suscité beaucoup d'intérêt qui a poussé le Président de Tafea FC, Jean Pierre Nirua à se prononce en faveur de cette formation qui a fait savoir que le Vanuatu a beaucoup besoin de cette formation. Le nouveau Président de l'Association de football de Port Vila Mr Robert Calvo s'est associé aux autres interlocuteurs pour accepter la proposition de cette formation de recyclage. Il a saisi cette occasion pour remercier M. Crawford, M. Avry et tout particulièrement le Président Temarii qui est un fervent défenseur du football océanien pour attacher une si grande importance pour le football vanuatais. Pour M. Calvo, le football vanuatais est profondément reconnaissant de l'action généreuse de Monsieur Temarii.

M. Crawford est la seule personne de la région Océanie qui a reçu l'accréditation du directeur technique de la Fédération Française de Football Aime Jacquet pour délivrer les certificats aux entraîneurs a l'issue des stages.

Participants of the FA course have been challenged to aim for much bigger things in coaching. English FA resource person at the recent workshop Jamie Houchen says the participants have demonstrated their keenness to learn and would be useless if they do not put into good use what they learnt.

OFC's technical director Jim Selby also sounded similar sentiments before he left on Friday.

He says it would be sad if in the next couple of years, everything has gone back to square one.

"I would like to challenge you to put into practice what you learnt and ensure there is growth," he adds.

Meanwhile, Alan Gillett and Jamie Houchen have returned to England following a week of hectic sessions at the Alan Boso Academy.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation will send it's senior women's team to participate in the World Cup qualifying tournament in PNG in April.

Confirming this undertaking, SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava says he had opted against the original plan not to send its women's team after OFC consulted with him in Auckland recently.

He says only PNG and New Zealand confirmed their participation, however, FIFA has indicated to the OFC that it will lose its automatic entry into world cup if only two countries participate in the qualifiers in PNG.

The OFC therefore nominated Solomon Islands and Tonga to make up the number and Ngava is confident the country's senior womens team will perform well in that competition.

He says the girls will play three international matches which is a perfect build up for the Pacific Games in Samoa.

...

SIFF President Martin Alufurai will formally sign an agreement with the PNGFA to extend its technical programme to Bougainville in April.

This technical programme includes coaching and refereeing and the OFC will provide additional funding to SIFF for this.

If agreement is formalized, SIFF will invite participants from Bouganville to attend its coaching and refereeing programmes here.

Former Rewa skipper Apisalome Turuva is set to join Labasa for the new season after applying for his district release last week.

Rewa president Faiaz Ali said Turuva made his intentions clear about joining Labasa and he would not force the former national U20 defender or any other player to play for the Delta Tigers.

"He (Turuva) wanted $4000 upfront payment to play for Rewa and the association is not in a position to pay such a sum to him or any player,'' Ali said.

"Turuva is a great talent and he can make such demands but we need to be realistic because football in Fiji is yet to be professionalised.''

"Rewa needs players who have heart to play for the district,'' He said.

The National Hire Limited boss said central midfielder Henry Dyer also applied for district release to join Labasa.

"We have a lot of young players in the squad, I plan to further develop and use them this season.''

Meanwhile Rewa edged Suva 3-1 here Saturday night to retain the King Irving Cup at Ratu Cakobau Park.

Striker Laisala "Bond" Vetaukula inspired the Delta Tigers to a convincing 3-1 win over archrivals Suva on Saturday night to help Rewa retain the King Irving Cup.

Rewa showed a lot of promise as a team and starring for the side were national U20 reps Kelepi Qaqa, Ratu Semi, Solomoni Nuilevu and latest acquisition Posiano Kolisito.

Rewa led 1-0 at halftime and Bond doubled the advantage midway in the second half before Suva without four regulars Maciu Dunadamu, Rupeni Tabua, Dinesh Mudaliar and Apisai Smith pulled one back through midfield kingpin Saimata Chillia.

Kamal Hassan also had a goal disallowed in the first half.

National goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau who played striker scored the crucial third goal for Rewa.

Suva coach Zulfiker Khan was impressed with Rewa's four Fiji U20 players.

"They made a big difference they still have the fitness and were very sharp.''

"For us it was a good pre-season game, I did a few experiments and we will work with the positives of this game,'' He said.

Khan said Suva's major downfall was lack of goalkeepers in the squad.

"Azmat Begg proved a total failure, he was completely out of form, he didn't train for the last two weeks but I had to use him since there was no reserve goalkeeper.''

"I'm sure Suva will improve in time for the national league, it is likely the three Vanuatu players will stay back so I will have a very balanced side with depth in the squad as well.''

Rewa boss Faiaz Ali was a proud man after watching his side win his first game in-charge.

"It was a good performance and the team needs to build on this performance.''

The game also saw the return of legend Ravuama Madigi as Rewa coach.

"I thank Rewa team officials for their hard work and we are banking on Madigi to mould this squad into a champion team.''

Ali said in the national league Rewa would also have the services of David Wise and Epeli Rokoqica Junior.

"Their release from Ba was faxed late Saturday but they feature for Rewa in the national league.''

TEAMS; Rewa: Ulaiyasi Tamanisau, Lorima Dau, Ratu Semi, Samuela Vula, Solomoni Niulevu, Posiano Kolisito, Kelepi Qaqa, Patrick Wise, Kamal Hassan, Laisala Vetaukula, Simione Tamanisau.

Suva: Azmat Begg, Esava Naqeleca, Tupou Tagiduadua, Mira Saheb, Akariva Dau, Inosi Cava, Maleli Nakalavolevu, Saimata Chillia, Joseph Namariau, Soromon Seule, Moh'd Moffin.

New Zealand will face two-time winners Portugal, African bronze mediallists Gambia and feared North American contenders Mexico in Group C of the FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup in Canada this July.

The Oceania champions will open their maiden FIFA Youth World Championship campaign against 1989 and 1991 champions and 1995 bronze medialists Portugal on July 2 before a July 5 date with Gambia, also in Toronto.

Stu Jacobs' side will then relocate to Edmonton for their final group stage match against Mexico who are one of the favoured teams for Canada after winning the last FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru in 2005.

"Whatever group we were going to be in was going to be tough but we're delighted with this," Jacobs said from Toronto's Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex where he attended Saturday's (Sunday morning NZT) official draw with NZ Soccer High Performance Manager Ricki Herbert.

Story courtesy of NZS Media...

Youth All Whites To Face Two-Time Champions First Up

New Zealand Soccer has provisionally backed Wellington as the new home of a New Zealand-based Hyundai A-League franchise.

But the Wellington consortia must secure further capital base funding before NZ Soccer will commit to a licence agreement with A-League administrators Football Federation Australia.

NZ Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter said the national body would "partner" Wellington in its search for additional funding with the hope of signing a sub-licence agreement by Thursday week (March 8).

Story courtesy NZS Media...

Wellington offered provisional A League backing

PNGFA Finance Committee Member and the Bursar of Divine Word University, Mr. Paias Bokorum with OFC Treasurer Frederic Guillemont and OFC FIFA Development Officer Glen Turner represented the Oceania in an Administration and Management Seminar at the FIFA Head Quarters, in Zurich Switzerland early February this year.

Paias Bokorum after returning from Zurich said he went to Zurich on an invitation as a FIFA instructor.

"The seminar I attended looked at the Futuro III Administration and Management Course materials for instructors," Bokorum said.

He said various issues have been raised in the seminar as to the different level of instructors and also those that are participating at the Futuro III administration and Management courses.

Instructors collectively made a few recommendations to FIFA with regard to courses, participations and who should become regional instructors.

He said they were asked to review the Futuro III Administration & Management course content. "We made suggestions and one idea on the topic my group thought should be considered in the review of courses was the Methodology of Teaching", he said. The way of teaching the administration and Management Course should be changed to better suit the participants in this part of the world.

The General aim for FIFA is to professionalize football at all levels. Thus the need for Futuro III Administration & Management Course Regional instructors to be increased to run this programmes.

"I am awaiting formal notification from FIFA any time to assist in running the Administration & Management courses, Bokorum said.

He said it is also now up to PNGFA to organise Administration and Management courses for Member Association, as I am available to run this program.