OFC News

HONIARA - West Honiara is back to winning ways after recording two wins so far in Our Telekom Cup competition.

Their win today over Central Shields put them back in contention for the playoffs following their loss to Guadalcanal Hornet in their opening match on Saturday.

The goals were scored in either half of their match and will elevate them closer to securing a spot in the semifinals.

However, they will have to win their remaining matches against two of the toughest teams in the pool, East Honiara and Malaita Eagle to snatch one of the two spots.

POOL A

POOL B

TAHITI - FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu has committed himself to promoting football in Oceania since retiring as a player in 2005. Karembeu was joined by France'98 team-mate Lionel Charbonnier at the Radisson Hotel in Tahiti to talk about the prospect of the 1998 world champions reconvening in Oceania in six months time for two charity matches in Tahiti and New Caledonia scheduled for May 2008.

Charbonnier - whose career was ended by a persistent knee injury - is now the technical director with Federation Tahitienne de Football and is equally excited by plans for the France team to play a match at Stade Pater next year.

OFC Media spoke to Charbonnier and Karembeu with TNTV journalist Olivier Huc giving his summary of events at the Radisson Hotel...click on the hyperlink for more...

OFC INTERVIEW: FIFA AMBASSADOR CHRISTIAN KAREMBEU

OFC INTERVIEW: LIONEL CHARBONNIER 

OFC INTERVIEW: OLIVIER HUC 

HONIARA - The SIFF women’s national soccer competition entered its second day yesterday with Malaita and Western winning their matches respectively.

Malaita had to dig deep to earn their win against a stubborn Makira outfit. Rising teenage star Layda Samani scored her first goal just before halftime in the 39th minute to give her team a 1-0 lead as they went into the break.

National striker Prudence Fula wrapped up their scoring in the 70th minute to secure all three competition points.

In anther women’s match Western edged out Guadalcanal by a goal coming in the first half from the boots of midfield player Janet Alufurai.

She lofted the ball over Guadalcanal’s goalkeeper and into the back of the net just before break. That goal separated the two teams. Guadalcanal fought bravely in the second half but just could not find the equaliser.

Commenting on the matches played so far, SIFF women’s football development officer Ms Diane Justus said that women's soccer has improved and from her observation the stage is right for the code to be promoted extensively in country.

"If more girls and women become involved in soccer, it would greatly helped them," she adds.

In men's action Western Turtles, Our Kakamora and Honiara East won their respective matches at Lawson Tama.

The Turtles came from behind to win their match 3-1 over their neighbours Lauru Kuvojo from the Choiseul Province.

In the second match, Our Kakamora defeated Isabel Frigates by a goal while Honiara East beat Central 3-1 in the final match

^{Story courtesy SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka}

MAKIRA - Ulawa (Our Kakamora) coach, George Harisimae was disappointed with his side despite winning 1-0 over Frigates in the Telekom Cup yesterday at Lawson Tama.

It was one of the poorest performances displayed by the Makira Ulawa in Pool B since their 3-1 victory over Central Honiara last Saturday.

"I am not really happy with the performance of the boys," said Harismae. "It is totally different from our first game."

He said his boys might underestimate the Frigates in the match.

"Isabel played well after they lost their first match," he said. "I think my boys have underestimate them."

Ian Ngahu scored Our Kakamora’s only goal in the match. It came in the first half after he headed In a Tolei cross from the right, past Frigates outstanding goalkeeper Kenny Alfred.

The Frigates got five scoring chances in the match however their strikers couldnt turn them into goals.

Midfielder Gerald Boka was the player who caused the most problems for Our Kakamora in the midfield with his dribbling and vision.

Coach Blanks Schultz was full of praise for his star players like Boka, Charles Erick, Gerard Lodo and captain Rodney Gigini.

Asked what was behind his sides much improved performance compared to their 3 nil defeat to Western Turtles in the first match, Blanks said, "They have upgraded their defense."

He said the team also experienced some internal problems before their first match.

"We sorted out the problem before the second match," Blanks said.

He said his side is looking forward to get some points from their remaining three matches against Temotu Arrows, Central Honiara and Lauru Kuvujo.

Our Kakamora: Dida Qwaina (GK), Charles Taniro, George Henua, Dykes Taka, Humphrey Uraimae, Richard Mama, Ian Ngahu, Inny Tolei, Ramphton Lohe, Nicholas Muri and Max Menapi; Subs: Gabriel Tagi, Irvin Ngahu, Junior Dagi, Moses Wotomarau, Rodney Waiwori, Jackson Muri

Isabel Frigates: Kenny Alfred (GK), Charles Harry, Gerard Lodo, Johnson Vunagi, Junior Siapu, Obed Havimana, Charles Erick, Clifford Tivo, Gerald Boka, Rodney Gigini, Jama Jimmy; Subs: Clense Mackey, Eddie Heslop, Rex Bako, Ben Teilo, Delah Hiropuhi, Junior Clement

By EDDIE OSIFELO

U23 Telekom Cup update:

Martin Rence was one of the new Western Turtles players making his presence felt in the Our Telekom national under 23s competition in Honiara.

The Vella La Vela lad got singled out after scoring in his sides 3-1 win over Lauru Kuvujo yesterday at Lawson Tama. Rence said he was very happy to score in this national competition.

"It is my dream to play in the Solomon Cup because I normally play in Western province," he said. "I wish to score more goals and aim for the golden boot."

Martin is only 21 years old and little brother of Turtles striker, Hickley Rence. He has previously won the golden boot award in the Gizo Football League.

But Martin is not experienced like his brother Hickley who represents Western Turtles in the Solomon Cup and the National Club Championship in Honiara.

Hickley scored in the opening match against Isabel Frigates and yesterday’s match against Kuvujo.

TAHITI – Former France international players Lionel Charbonnier and Christian Karembeu will star alongside their 1998 FIFA World Cup winning team-mates at least two more times when the team plays two friendly matches in Tahiti and New Caledonia in May 2008.

Charbonnier and Karembeu joined OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii at a press conference at the Radisson Hotel flanked by TNTV representative Yves Haupert and Charles Tetaria to discuss the prospect of Zidane, Petit, Wiltord, Barthez and Blanc lacing up their boots to honour Tahitian-born France international Pascal Vaihirua and New Caledonia’s Lifou-born France international Christian Karembeu.

The former Real Madrid midfielder Karembeu has played an active role in humanitarian causes for both Oceania Football Confederation and FIFA and is honoured most of his team-mates from the golden era of French football will make an appearance in not only his benefit match, but in a match for Pascal Vaihirua.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to give something back to the people of Oceania and for the team from ’98 to again enjoy each other’s friendship. These two matches will give something back to the people and it is good that Te Rama Ora, Tokani Nui and La Ligue will benefit from this event in French-Polynesia”

“I extend my thanks to the OFC President Reynald Temarii, Federation Caledonienne de Football and Federation Tahitienne de Football for making these matches in Tahiti and Noumea possible,” Karembeu said.

OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii was pleased that FIFA Football for Hope would help harness the power of the world’s most popular sport to give something back to the people of Oceania and he thanked TNTV for its enduring support in bringing football to screens across French-Polynesia.

FTF Technical Director Lionel Charbonnier said he was delighted to be involved in a project that actively assists in contributing to worthy causes in Oceania. The former France, Auxerre and Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper said he was looking forward to seeing many of his former team-mates in such an idyllic setting and for worthy social causes.

“This will be great for the team from ’98 to be together again and I think it is the first time a world champion team has come to Oceania. We won the FIFA World Cup because we were family rather than friends and it will be good to play again,” Charbonnier said.





France ’98 will play a Pascal Vaihirua XI at Stade Pater, Tahiti, Monday 26th May, 2008, with a sell-out crowd expected. Another match is scheduled for New Caledonia against a Christian Karembeu XI in Noumea also likely to be sold out.

The opportunity to see some of the world’s greatest footballers performing a star turn in French-speaking Oceania has won the approval of several non-Government organisations based in French-Polynesia such as Te Rama Ora, L’association Tokani Nui, and Le Comite de Polynesie Francaise de la Ligue Nationale contre le cancer.

Te Rama Ora performs work in French Polynesia assisting the victims of crimes rehabilitate and empower those suffering domestic violence to speak out about their situation rather than endure physical abuse in silence.

Tokani Nui assists those suffering from mental illnesses and disabilities in leading a life of quality and fulfilment. Tokani Nui has a range of support programmes and networks designed to assist families in coping with family members affected by mental challenges. The La Ligue programme is active in the fight against the high incident rate of cancer in French-Polynesia.

The invitation list makes for mouth-watering reading and includes Zinedine Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Bixente Lizarazu, Didier Deschamps, Emmanuel Petit, Christian Karembeu, Alain Boghossian, Marcel Desailly, Lionel Charbonnier, Robert Pires, Youri Djorkaeff, Christophe Dugarry, Franck Lebeouf, Sylvain Wiltord, Vincent Candela, Bernard Lama, Bernard Diomede, David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira, and Stephane Guivarch.

Pascal Vaihirua will be joined by New Caledonian-born Antoine Kombouare who starred in Ligue 1 with Nantes and Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen and nephew Marama Vahirua who has forged a successful career in Ligue 1 with Nantes and Nice making regular appearances in the UEFA Champions League.

Details of the second match will be announced in due course.

Pascal Vahirua XI vs. France ’98
Monday 26th May, 2008
At Stade Pater
Tahiti
French-Polynesia
Kick-off: 2000hrs local time

Tickets available from Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) from 15th December, 2007 for those affiliated with FTF clubs with tickets available to the public from 15 January, 2008.

Ticket prices have been set at 3000XPF* uncovered, 5000XPF* for the tribune.
*Pacific Francs

For more news and information about the France ’98 testimonials please visit www.oceaniafootball.com and www.ftf.pf

For more information please contact:

Olivier Huc phone +689 79 22 79
TNTV +689 47 36 16
email hucolivier@gmail.com
ohuc@tntv.pf

Gordon Glen Watson phone +64 (0) 21 994 520
OFC Media Officer +64 (0) 21 567 754
email gordon@oceaniafootball.com

AUCKLAND - The New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) has provided and exciting and entertaining opening four weeks with 92 goals coming from the opening 16 games.

Team Wellington have come storming out of the gate winning their first four games, including an early upset over OFC champions Waitakere United.  After only winning seven games last season Wellington have found a new lease of life under the tutelage of Stu Jacobs, and his mixture of experience and youth has provided the perfect platform for his young players to shine. Former Waitakere player Daniel Ellenshon seems to have benefited the most under the guidance of Jacobs and three goals in the opening two games resulted in a call up for the 22-year-old to the All White squad for New Zealand’s world cup qualifiers against Vanuatu.

Auckland City and Waitakere United find themselves in unfamiliar territory battling it out for second and third spot but both sides seem to be hitting their straps coming into week five. They tied 1-1 in last week’s tense derby at the Croatian Club in Te Atatu, the first points that Auckland have dropped all season. Auckland’s charge is being led by Scottish Striker Bryan Little, who has four goals in four games and is leading the golden boot race. Waitakere are spreading their share with six goals scored by five different players.

Youngheart Manawatu have snapped back into life after registering only one point in their opening three games to thrash Otago 6-0 in last weekend’s encounter. Coach Shane Rufer believes his squad has the potential to make the playoffs spot and last week’s result reflects a new found belief in the squad. A matchup this week with Waitakere United will put his team to the test.

Waikato FC got off to a good start beating Otago away from home but has since failed to replicate that early form. Plagued by injuries the young squad lost by a single goal to both Waitakere and Wellington before picking up a point with an 89th minute penalty against a struggling Canterbury side. Waikato faces Auckland City this weekend in a grudge match which brings former Auckland coach Roger Wilkinson up against his old side.

The Hawkes Bay squad is brimming with youth and have been an entertaining side to follow. They conceded early in the season opener before scoring three late goals to beat Canterbury 3-1, and lost 4-3 to Wellington in a game where they chased back an early three goal deficit before losing to a late strike. Their dangerous strike force of All White Jarrod Smith and Jeremy Brockie looks one of the more fearsome in the league and they will be expecting to take points off Otago this weekend.

Canterbury and Otago are the only two sides in the league yet to register a win. Two points for Canterbury and one for Otago make grim reading for fans early on and both sides may need to look at some new signings during the transfer window.

 

Round 5 Schedule

Waitakere United v Youngheart Manawatu Sat, Dec 1        3pm                 Fred Taylor Park

Otago United v Hawkes Bay United               Sun, Dec 2       4pm                 Carisbrook

Waikato FC v Auckland City                            Sun, Dec 2       2pm                 Waikato Stadium

Canterbury United v Team Wellington          Sun, Dec 2       4pm                 English Park

AUCKLAND - Waitakere United Chairman Rex Dawkins says that the FIFA Club World Cup - Japan 2007 will be a fillip for football in Auckland's western suburbs after years in the doldrums. Dawkins - who has been at the vanguard of the Waitakere United revival that saw the NZFC franchise claim its first ever OFC O-League title in a play-off win against Ba earlier this year - is bracing himself for what he sees as a shot in the arm for the game in West Auckland and throughout New Zealand including Oceania. Dawkins made the comments at Waitakere United's FIFA Club World Cup press conference moderated by FIFA Media Officer John Schumacher on Monday.

Waitakere United has named its 23-man strong squad for the FIFA Club World Cup qualification play-off against Iranian champions Sepahan with very few surprises ahead of the match scheduled for early December. Former professionals Danny Hay, Darren Bazeley, Neil Emblen, Jonathan Perry will be relied upon to carry through an essentially amateur club against a Sepahan side that was unlucky when it missed out on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League title in a two-legged playoff against J.League champions Urawa Red Diamonds.

Coach Chris Milicich said naming the 23-man squad was a difficult process but he was confident the right personnel were in place to achieve a positive result in Japan.

“We are fortunate to have the likes of Danny Hay, Neil Emblen, Darren Bazeley, Neil Sykes, Jonathan Perry and others who have experienced international football for club or country. They are our leaders and will be charged with keeping the focus strong on and off the field. This is not a holiday, this is the football experience of a lifetime for some of the players, and it is up to the management team and senior players to ensure they don’t get stars in their eyes.”

Waitakere United Executive Chairman Rex Dawkins (pictured above) says the club is aware of its responsibilities while away in Japan.

“The eyes of the football world will in many ways be on us in Japan as we look to justify once again the inclusion of an Oceania team on the world stage. We are not hiding from that but we are also well aware of the mountain we have to climb against Sepahan. We will play on behalf of New Zealand and Oceania with pride and determination and do our utmost to represent the region with distinction on and off the field.”

Milicich said the toughest decision was notifying those that had missed out, in particular the younger players who have worked so hard to earn the trip of a lifetime.

“Our academy players have been tremendous and have great futures in the game but Japan will be no place for the faint hearted and this was not about giving places in the squad away, they had to be earned by the best 23 players we have available. Young Arran Rowley and Tom Webb will represent their academy team-mates with distinction, for the others, their time will come.

Waitakere United has one more NZFC assignment against Youngheart Manawatu at Fred Taylor Park before flying out to Japan to prepare for the match with Sepahan.

The full squad:

1. Richard GILLESPIE; 2. Jonathan PERRY; 3. Shane PASCOE; 4. Matt CUNNEEN; 5. Danny HAY (c); 6. Darren BAZELEY; 7. Jason HAYNE; 8. Commins MENAPI; 9. Benjamin TOTORI; 10. Allan PEARCE; 11. Neil SYKES; 13. Daniel KOPRIVCIC; 14. Hoani EDWARDS; 15. Christopher BALE; 16. Neil EMBLEN; 17. Jake BUTLER; 19. Mikael MUNDAY; 20. Jason ROWLEY; 21. Graham PEARCE; 22. Simon EADDY; 27. Tom WEBB; 28. Aaran ROWLEY; 33. Paul SEAMAN.

Coach: Chris MILICICH.

HONIARA  - Guadalcanal and Malaita football teams held a reconciliation ceremony prior to their match this week.

The two teams agreed to reconcile - by renouncing violence and agreeing to live in peace and harmony with each other in a moving moment organized by SIFF.

Guadalcanal Football Association president Patrick Miniti and his Malaitan counterpart Derick Taka spoke of their willingness to embrace peace. Gifts including taro, betelnut and a live pig were handed to the Malaitan delegation after both presidents made their declarations and commitment to promote peace through football amongst the peoples of two provinces.

Present on the occasion was the permanent secretary of the Ministry of National Reconciliation and Peace Mrs. Joy Kere who acknowledged SIFF for the initiative taken to organise the reconciliation between the two football associations.

She described the occasion as symbolic adding that the impact of such initiative will go a long way to assist the government effort to reconcile the people of Malaita and Guadalcanal.

Story courtesy SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka 

TAHITI - The winners of the Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonienne and Coupe de Polynesie Francaise have been eliminated from the Coupe de France at the first hurdle. AS Lossi - winners of the 53rd New Caledonia Cup - and AS Tefana - current holders of the Coupe de Polynesie Francaise - turned in brave performances against French clubs but in the end succumbed.

AS Tefana’s exit at the hands of US Lesquin was heartbreaking for the French-Polynesian club after holding the visitors to 1-1 after normal time before unraveling 3-1 in extra-time as legs became tired in the warm conditions.

AS Tefana’s departure from the competition at the 7^th cut stage was a significant blow with the next round of competition including clubs from Ligue 1 such as Lyon, Marseille and Nantes.

AS Tefana dominated possession for long periods of time but failed to create many clear cut chances to score until the second-half as US Lesquin toiled to keep the home side out. AS Tefana eventually created a clear-cut opening through a combination of sublime skill and outrageous luck when Joan Petillon beat three defenders before crossing into the six yard box only for a US Lesquin defender to inadvertently deflect the ball against his own post with the Lesquin goalkeeper beaten all ends up.

With the tension high, AS Tefana scored from the resulting corner in the 65^th minute through Alvin Tehau to send the home crowd into delirium after Sebastien Gairin had put in a hefty challenge on the US Lesquin goalkeeper.

US Lesquin drew level in the 80^th minute through Aurelien Demarque with a far post header. With AS Tefana legs tiring it was Antoni Degeitere who put US Lesquin back on track after AS Tefana goalkeeper Xavier Samin was eventually caught out at the far post by a penetrating ball from Rudy Guiblesi. US Lesquin’s Sebastian Didier ended the match as a contest when he out jumped Olivier Lee to make it 3-1.

Top performers on an exciting evening for Tahitian football were goalkeeper Xavier Samin, Sebastian Labayen and Vita Pitoeff. The match was also notable for the use of communication devices between the three match officials Jacques Averii, Raimana Tauotaha and Phillipe Revel.

New Caledonia Cup holders AS Lossi experienced a similar exit against another CFA club, FC Dieppe. After an encouraging first half AS Lossi were eventually put to the sword 3-0. New Caledonia international Luther Wahnyamalla was in scintillating form for AS Lossi but his heroics were to no avail as the team were eliminated with the Super Ligue and this season’s edition of the Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonienne left to concentrate on.

The Coupe de France is open to all clubs within the French football structure with the most notable recent achievement of an amateur side that of Calais Racing Union Football Club when it reached the Coupe de France against Nantes defeating Strasbourg and Bordeaux en route to the final.

Calais Racing Union FC lost the final narrowly to Nantes by 2-1 but only after pushing the Ligue 1 team to a nervy finish with a side that featured dock workers, teachers and office clerks. With the Coupe de France open to such a wide and varying quality of teams it is not uncommon for lower league clubs to go on long cup runs with amateur and Ligue 2 clubs often enjoying success.

Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the “National” League (Ligue 3), comprise the top tier of professional/semi-professional football in France with clubs from French-Polynesia and New Caledonia entering the Coupe de France alongside peers from the Championnat Francaise Amateur League (CFA and CFA 2), a competition which is divided into four separate sections and is the equivalent of the “fourth division” in the French football structure.

AUCKLAND - Despite running away with the Lion Foundation National Women’s League minor premiership, Auckland Football will not enjoy the advantage of a home final, or the firepower of their leading scorer when they face arch-rivals Capital Football at Wellington’s Newtown Park on Saturday.

Having agreed early in the season to play the final in Wellington – amidst the festivities of the LA Galaxy visit – and forego the traditional home advantage afforded to the round-robin winners, Auckland’s favouritism has been further reduced with a long-term knee injury to the league’s all time leading scorer and current golden boot leader, Rebecca Tegg.

Adding extra concern for Auckland as it chases an unprecedented third straight title is last year’s trophy-lifting captain Marlies Oostdam, who picked up an ankle injury in Tuesday night’s warm up game against the Korean U-17 women’s team and remains doubtful.

Story and photograph courtesy NZF Media...

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