OFC News

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has named a 30-man squad for the South Pacific Games later this year.

The bulk of the squad is comprised of players based in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands squad:

Felix Ray (Makuru FC), Fred Hale (Koloale FC), John Morgan (Kossa FC), Paul Huia (Unattached), Gideon Omokirio (Kossa FC), Mahlon Houkaraua (Koloale FC), Samson Takayama (Kossa FC), George Suri (Waitakere United), Terry Oiaka (Kossa FC), Richard Anisua (Koloale FC), Jacob Pekau (PRK Souths), Eddie Ngaitini (Uncles FC), David Taro (Rangers FC), Joses Nawo (Richmond), George Lui (Makuru FC), Mostyn Beui (Marist FC), Stanley Waita (Ngaruawahia United), Jack Samani (PRK Souths), Alick Maemae (Youngheart Manawatu), Abraham Iniga (PRK Souths), Henry Fa'arodo (Melbourne), Lawrence Diau (Rapatona FC), Benjamin Mela (Marist FC), Joe Luwi (Kossa FC), Judd Molea (Uncles FC), James Naka (Kossa FC), Commins Menapi (Waitakere United), Benjamin Totori (Youngheart Manawatu), Willie Sade (Kossa FC).

New Zealand Football Chief Executive Graham Seatter has forecast a bright financial future for the code despite reporting an $189,000 loss at the sport's Annual Congress today.

Seatter unveiled the deficit to New Zealand Soccer's 117th annual meeting in Auckland, just before the code officially re-branded to New Zealand Football.

While "disappointed" with the loss, Seatter hoped the figure was taken in context against the almost $8 million in activity undertaken by NZ Football in 2006.

The result is also a $207,000 improvement on the national body's 2005 loss and is the first time since 2003 that the combined finances of NZ Football and its seven regional federations are in the black.

Story courtesy NZF Media...

New Name and Financial Optimism Unveiled at Annual Congress

Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) today announced to its twenty two full member associations a raft of new initiatives and development programs the PNGFA hope will boost the growing popularity of the game.

PNGFA General Secretary Dimirit Mileng says coaching and refereeing courses will be key components of the development program.

PNGFA will be adding two new qualification courses in Coaching; a Junior Coaching License and a Youth Coaching License.

"Junior Coaching License Course is targeting all new (teachers, senior players, community workers etc) persons willing to take up coaching and/or will coach juniors and is mainly for new starters. It is not a course for those who already have a coaching certificate and are actively coaching," he said.

Mileng said the Youth Coaching License Course is targeting all those who already have a coaching certificate (any level) and purposely to refresh and up-date their knowledge.

"Prior knowledge will be considered at this course and recommendations will be made for eligibility to the next high level course," he said.

He said PNGFA will also conduct two types of courses in Refereeing; Level - 1 Referee License and Level - 2 Referee License. The Level 1 Referee License Course is targeting all new (teachers, senior players, community workers etc) persons willing to take up refereeing and assistant referees and is a course for new starters only.

"The Level 2 Refereeing License Course is targeting all those who already have a refereeing certificate and may want to refresh and up-date their knowledge. Prior knowledge will be considered at this course and recommendations will be made for eligibility to the next high-level course," he said.

In other new initiatives, Mileng said PNGFA is planning to establish a Volunteer Development Scheme as well. The scheme is geared toward identifying potential candidates who are willing to offer their time and service in the development of football in a voluntary manner in the communities.

"The candidates will be identified, schooled and monitored in the areas of administration, coaching and refereeing. The candidates will be equipped with minimum required equipment and stationary to carry out development programs in the community," he said.

He said a Volunteer Remuneration Package (VRP) will be offered to successful candidates at the end of each volunteering period.

"We are also working on another program called Grass Roots Soccer or Kom-Kam-Pilai Soka, meaning "Komuniti Kam Pilai Soka (KKPS)," he said.

He said this program is purposely developed to entice and encourage members of the community to play soccer any time and anywhere. The Program aims to establish how many people in the community follow soccer, talk soccer and play soccer as a form of passing time.

"It requires very little organization, except that every one who will participate in KKPS Program will be required to complete a KKPS Registration Form," he said.

"All these programs will commence depending on the establishment of new structures in manpower recruitment," Mileng said.

Fijian champions Ba have put their 2007 O-League Final pain behind them following a 1-0 win over Labasa in the Fiji Bitter FACT Final at Govind Park yesterday.

Malakai Tiwa's 14th minute strike handed Ba its fourth consecutive Fiji FACT title and at the same time swept aside the agonising disappointment of O-League Final defeat against Waitakere United.

Tiwa combined expertly with Josaia Bukalidi to tear the Labasa defence asunder before he applied a composed and expert finish beyond goalkeeper Shamal Kumar.

Labasa and Fiji U-20 strike hero Roy Krishna was in outstanding form and his pace caused the Ba defence a myriad of problems with Ba skipper Malakai Kainihewe struggling to halt the speedy youngster.

Labasa could have done with Krishna's incisiveness in front of goal with Pita Bolaitoga missing a glorious chance with only Laisenia Tuba to beat after he latched onto a perfect Krishna cross.

Ba punished Labasa for their wastefulness in front of goal when Tiwa scored but they were equally at fault when Osea Vakatalesau - the subject of a possible transfer to a New Zealand club - thrashed a shot against the post with defender Sandeep Nair and goalkeeper Shamal Kumar involved in a desperate mix-up.

As the match progressed toward it's final moments there were a spate of yellow cards with Kiniviliame Naika and Peni Finau booked for Ba.

Labasa's Roy Krishna, Jope Lomu and Epeli Deyama joined Naika and Finau in the referee's notebook.

Ba's victory gave the 'Men in Black' an F$11,000 prize purse in front of 10,000 fans.

Ba: Laisenia Tuba, Malakai Kainihewe, Peni Finau, Jone Vesikula, Robert Wise (Avinesh Swamy), Malakai Tiwa (Keni Doidoi), Roneel Kumar, Kiniviliame Naika, Shalen Lal, Josaia Bukalidi (c) (Ronald Chandra) , Osea Vakatalesau.

Labasa: Shamal Kumar, Sandeep Nair, Apisalome Turuva, Epeli Deyama, Jope Lomu, Pita Bolaitoga, Thomas Vulivuli (c), Henry Dyer, Waisale Rasoki (Dinesh Mudaliar), Roy Krishna, Maciu Dunadamu

AS Lossi have won the 53rd New Caledonia Cup Final after a narrow 1-0 win over AS Mont Dore at the weekend.

Defending title holders AS Mont Dore - who endured a torrid 2007 O-League campaign against Auckland City and Waitakere United - were edged out of the contest when Luther Wahnyamalla scored a 55th minute winner.

The Coupe de Caledonie was a much tighter affair than the competition's two semi-final clashes that saw AS Lossi dispatch AS Magenta 6-2 and AS Mont Dore beat AS Kirikitr 2-1.

A crowd of just over 5,000 witnessed the season finale at Stade Nouma Daly in Noumea.

New Zealand Soccer has unveiled plans to build a "House of Football" at North Harbour Stadium complete with technical centre, player accommodation and office space for the national body.

Oceania Football Confederation President Reynald Temarii and OFC Ambassador Christian Karembeu officially opened the first stage of the FIFA-funded project at the inauguration of NZ Soccer's new $1 million Football Turf on Saturday.

The ceremony completed a day of celebration including midget matches between teams from North Shore club East Coast Bays and an exhibition game that brought together NZ Soccer's international future and its storied past.

NZ Soccer Chief Executive Graham Seatter thanked FIFA, OFC, North Shore Mayor George Wood and North Harbour Stadium for making the first stage of the "House of Football" a reality.

Story courtesy of NZS Media...

$1 Million Turf First Stage of 'House of Football'

Football's future will take on its storied past in an exhibition match to mark the inauguration of New Zealand Soccer's $1 million football turf at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

Four members of the 1982 World Cup All Whites squad to Spain - Frank Van Hattum, Keith McKay, Billy McClure and Glen Adam - will join 1991 women's World Cup representatives Monique Van de Elzen and Terry McCahill in a New Zealand `Past' team.

They will play a New Zealand `Present' team made up of World Cup-bound U-17 and U-20 men's and women's representatives in the focal point during a day of festivities to officially open the TigerTurf pitch funded by FIFA's global Goal Project.

Story courtesy of NZS Media...

Karembeu to Open $1 Million Pitch

The SIFF executive has endorsed that 10 percent of all monies collected from its competitions will go towards tsunami victims in both Western and Choiseul Provinces.

This was revealed this morning by SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava (pictured) during a meeting with the local organizing committee responsible for organizing the upcoming Telekom National Clubs Championship later this month.

Ngava's revelation came amidst concerns being raised by certain members of the public who would like to know if SIFF is doing something to raise money for the tsunami victims.

The SIFF general secretary stresses that SIFF is committed to this cause will give the 10 percent of monies raised through gate takings to the tsunami victims.

Sixteen referees from the provinces and Honiara will participate in the English FA course when it begins this Friday in Honiara.

SIFF Development officer, Noel Wagapu says he has advised all provincial football associations that each of them is required to send one participant.

The course is being organised under the OFC/FA Co-operation and the key resource person is John Baker - FIFA Instructor and former head of refereeing in the FA.

He will be assisted in the program by OFC's technical director Jim Selby and Ian Blanchard of the FA

Meanwhile, participants have begun arriving in Honiara ahead of the opening day for this program.

It is anticipated the rest of the participants will arrived before the end of the week and will be camped at the SIFF Academy.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation is calling on the provincial football associations that have identified their champion clubs for the Telekom National Clubs Championship to confirm their participation to the SIFF Secretariat soon.

Chief coordinator of the competition and SIFF Development officer, Noel Wagapu says that with barely two weeks left before the competition starts, it is important that football associations respond to this call from the federation.

At least four associations have confirmed their participation.

They include Lauru (Senga FC), Guadalcanal (Paritasi FC), Malaita (Auki Kingz FC) and Central Shields Football Association (Northern Warriors).

Others that have yet to confirm their participation include Isabel, Temotu, Makira Ulawa, Renbel and Western Football Association.

Honiara will enter three top clubs from its current competition to participate in this Telekom NCC.

Meanwhile, the local organization committee met for the first time this morning and discussed at length a range of issues including the sponsorship by the country's leading communications company- Solomon Telekom `Our Telekom'.

With Our Telekom taking over as the major sponsor for this national competition, all products including sinage behind the two goals will have their logo.

Telekom and SIFF early this year, entered into a lucrative deal which will see the telecommunications company pouring in money for all national competitions.

Our Telekom will also take care of the senior men's national soccer team from preparation to competition.

Parents of Solomon Katukatu Under 12 teams that represented the country in Fiji (2006) and Papua New Guinea recently are being urged to attend a meeting this Thursday at 4.30 pm at the SIFF Academy.

Interim spokesman, Gordon Siluvu says the purpose for this meeting is to gauge parents' views on the proposal to set up a fundraising committee to raise funds to send at least two teams to participate in an international soccer competiton at Gold Coast in Australian in September.

He says from the meeting, it should be known if parents would like to give their children another opportunity to participate in an international competition whilst at the same time gain invaluable exposure which in the long run will put them in good stead when they reach Under 17.

Siluvu stresses that it will cost parents their money and precious time but this is done for a worthwhile cause.

"If you're a parent who is concern about your child's future then surely you would not want to see this great opportunity slip away," he adds.

The Solomon Islands finished fourth in both competitions and Siluvu believes with proper preparation, the boys prosper.

Meanwhile, all those in the training squad that represented Solomon Islands in both Fiji and PNG are urged to attend training on Thursday.

The Cook Islands Football Association's under 15 boys and under 16 girls national soccer championships are gearing up to be a huge event starting this Saturday 21 April.

The tournament will feature teams from the outer islands of Aitutaki, Mitiaro, Mauke, Atiu and Mangaia plus teams from the three vaka or districts on Rarotonga -Takitumu, Te Au O Tonga and Puaikura.

All of the outer islands excluding Mauke, and the three districts on Rarotonga will field two teams each.

The tournament will be an exhibition of the country's top and most talented players in the two age divisions, which will allow spectators and supporters of soccer to watch quality games.

While the teams compete for the coveted top place, selectors will be scouting the competition for players who will receive scholarships to train and develop their skills for the under 17 world cup qualifiers in 2008.

This means that outer islands players who receive a scholarship will live and train in Rarotonga with the full support of CIFA.

Teams from the outer islands started arriving on Rarotonga for the event this week with an opening function scheduled for tomorrow at the CIFA academy in Matavera.

The first round of games will begin on Saturday starting at 12.30pm. Games will take a break on Sunday and resume on Monday continuing right through to the finals on Saturday 28 April.

Games will start at 12.30pm throughout the week with the exception of the finals on Saturday 28 April.

With the outer islands teams on the island during the national tournament, CIFA will run technical meetings during the week long competition to update coaches on new technical and tactical skills which they then can apply to their respective teams.

As it will be the school holidays, this tournament will be great entertainment for kids and families to show parochialism and support a team