OFC News

AUCKLAND - Waitakere United will face its biggest test yet when it meets Iranian champions Sepahan in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final qualifier in the National Stadium in Tokyo. However United's road to Japan began in late 2006 with a last minute inclusion in the 2007 OFC O-League competition following the withdrawal of Vanuatu's club entry.

Waitakere United went on to lift the inaugural trophy and OFC Media takes a look back at the West Aucklanders journey to the land of the rising sun in this photo gallery...

WAITAKERE UNITED: Pride of Auckland's Western Suburbs

PEARCE'ING RUN: Waitakere United's Allan Pearce gets to grips with AS Mont Dore's Patrick Diaike

KOPRIVCIC GLORY: Daniel Koprivcic celebrates a goal against AS Mont Dore as United win 6-1

HAY-MAKER: Danny Hay celebrates a goal against Auckland City in an O-League Group A showdown at Trusts Stadium 

CRUNCH!: Auckland City's Ben Sigmund outjumps Commins Menapi but the Kiwi-O-League derby finishes level and Waitakere progress by virtue of a superior goal difference 

BA: Waitakere United met Fiji champions Ba in the 2007 OFC O-League 1st leg at Govind Park, Ba.

CHAMPIONS!: Michael Utting (left) and Danny Hay (right) lift the 2007 OFC O-League after an away goals win over Ba at Mount Smart Stadium

GOAL-DEN BOY: Waitakere United's Commins Menapi receives the 2007 OFC O-League golden boot award from former France and Real Madrid star Christian Karembeu 

CELEBRATION JOY: Waitakere United players enjoy that winning feeling after defeating Ba on away goals 

SOLOMON STAR: Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori in action against AS Manu'ura during a 2-1 win in the 2008 OFC O-League. Totori tranferred from NZFC rivals Youngheart Manawatu. 

GOTCHYA!: AS Manu'ura goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia catches a ball off Waitakere United's Jason Hayne. Hayne transferred from Auckland City FC.

 

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP: Waitakere United hosted its first FIFA Club World Cup press conference in Henderson 

BRAINS TRUST: Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich plots the downfall of Sepahan 

MR.WAITAKERE UNITED: Waitakere United chairman Rex Dawkins speaks at the FIFA Club World Cup press conference

NO-NONSENSE: Waitakere United's uncompromising skipper Danny Hay 

UNITED WE STAND: Neil Emblen, Danny Hay and Allan Pearce take a chance to hold the FIFA Club World Cup 

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY Shane Wenzlick and Grant Stantiall 

AUCKLAND - Live coverage of Waitakere United's FIFA Club World Cup - Japan 2007 qualification match with Sepahan is to be screened live from Tokyo National Stadium in New Zealand by Sky Television's Sky Sports 1 on Friday 7th December 2007.

Waitakere United - winners of the 2007 OFC O-League - will face the Iranian champions and AFC Champions League runners-up with the winner progressing to the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals for a match with AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds on 10th December at Toyota Stadium in Tokyo.

Urawa Red Diamonds defeated Sepahan over two legs in the AFC Champions League Final last month with many observers predicting a FIFA Club World Cup rematch. Waitakere United will have other ideas with Chris Milicich and his O-League champions seeking to cause an upset.

SKY TELEVISION

SKY SPORTS 1

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - JAPAN 2007

WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL) vs. SEPAHAN (IRN)

FRIDAY 7th DECEMBER

11:30PM LIVE

CONSULT LOCAL TELEVISION LISTINGS FOR REPLAYS OR VISIT www.skytv.co.nz FOR MORE DETAILS

 

TOKYO - For Commins Menapi, the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup not only provides the chance to boost his and Waitakere United's profile, it also offers an opportunity to atone for a hugely disappointing recent failure in the international arena.

It is only two months, after all, since the striker was part of a Solomon Islands side who, against all expectations, failed to advance to the second round of OFC FIFA World Cup™ qualifying after crashing out in the semi-finals of the Samoa-held South Pacific Games.

"Everybody back home was very disappointed about missing out," said Menapi, who is one of two Solomons stars on Waitakere United's books along with Benjamin Totori. "The feeling among the people in my country was very sad. The disappointment affected everybody and hurt the popularity of football there."

Menapi nevertheless believes that his Kiwi club's fortunes against Iran's Sepahan will be followed closely by fans in his homeland, desperate for a pick-me-up after their FIFA World Cup failure.

For the full story visit www.FIFA.com 

2007 Solomon Cup Women’s open update.

Western and Malaita look the favourites to take out the Women’s Solomon Cup this year after both remaining unbeaten throughout pool play. Malaita are the only team in group B to score a goal and their two wins from two games set them apart from Makira and Temotu who are yet to register a win.

In Group A Western look like the team to beat after collecting seven points from three games. Honiara have scored the most goals in Group A with seven but have let in one more than Western at the other end.

Group A

No	Team	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Western	3	2	1	-	5	1	4	7
2	Honiara	3	1	2	-	7	2	5	5
3	Guadalcanal	3	1	1	1	6	2	4	4
4	Isabel	3	-	-	3	-	13	-13	-

 Group B

No	Team	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Malaita	2	2	-	-	8	-	6	6
2	Makira	2	-	1	1	-	2	-2	1
3	Temotu	2	-	1	1	-	6	-6	1

PORT VILA - Tupuji Imere FC are on the brink of winning the Port Vila Football Association VB Championship after thrashing table dwellers Ifira B.B FC 13-1.

Standing in their way are Tafea FC, the current champions who are nipping on their heels with only two games to play.

It was Tupuji’s tenth win of the season and it maintained their one point lead over Tafea FC who also won 7-2 over Yatel FC.

With two games to play the stage is set for a mouth watering matchup between Tupuji and Tafea this Saturday at Port Villa Stadium. The winner of the match will most likely win the league and it will be a hotly contested affair.

Results for matches – Week 26/11/07 through 01/12/07

Tafea FC 7 - 2 Yatel FC
Tupuji Imere FC 13 – 1 Ifira B.B. FC
Amical FC 1 – 3 Westtan Verts FC
Erakor G.S. FC 2 – 2 Pango G.B. FC

P.V.F.A 2007 VB Championship - Premier Division

Position	Teams	Pts	G.P	W	D	L	G+	G-	G.A
1	Tupuji Imere FC	31	12	10	1	1	40	11	29
2	Tafea FC	30	12	10	0	2	45	9	36
3	Yatel FC	27	12	9	0	3	33	14	19
4	Erakor G.S FC	21	13	6	3	4	24	17	7
5	Westtan Verts FC	16	12	5	1	6	26	24	2
6	Amical FC	11	12	3	1	9	12	37	-25
7	Ifira B.B FC	8	14	2	2	10	13	44	-31
8	Pango G.B FC	5	13	1	2	10	13	47	-34

Former All White and Waikato FC Skipper Che Bunce believes that Fiji are a sleeping giant of Oceania football.

Bunce and former Waikato FC captain Matt Williams have just returned from Fiji where they spent a week as guest players for Navua in the Inter District Cup Competition. Although his side didn’t win the Cup Bunce saw his trip as a success.

“We didn’t win the tournament but we added a lot of value to the game,” said Bunce.

“The coaching is far behind the New Zealand level but the skills in the players are there.”

“ The boys have terrific talent but they don’t even know terms like goal-side and things like that. With us being there it helped them out. The more foreign players over there the better as far as I’m concerned. It’s not about winning it it’s about helping the game out.”

Bunce was passionate about the support, talent and potential of football in Fiji.

“Fiji are a sleeping giant. We played in front of 15,000 people every day. There were four days of tournaments and each day there were 15,000 people coming through the turnstile and cheering us on and you just think about the revenue they generate and the support, it’s amazing”

Bunce even entertained the thought of Fiji stepping up to professional football.

“Imagine Fiji putting an A league team together. Imagine the good it would do for the game here. They get 15,000 people to these tournaments; imagine what they would do for a team that played in the A-league.”

It was Bunce’s third trip to Fiji and he was surprised some of the players on display at this year’s IDC had not received national team call ups.

“From the players I saw I think their national team has room for big improvements. There were a lot of good players there (at IDC) and from the Fijian performances I’ve seen, their best players haven’t all been selected.”

Bunce found his way to Fiji through a contact in Hamilton, where he now works as a real estate agent for Lodge Realty.

“The President of the club has contacts and owns land in Hamilton and I got in contact with him through Mark Cossey (Waikato FC assistant coach), who’s been over to Fiji with him a couple of times.”

“They have three major tournaments and a league system in Fiji. The one that I previously played in was called Battle of the Giants, and the one at the start of the year is called the Fiji FACT tournament."
 
Bunce and Williams participated in a league game for Navua as a warm up to the IDC and lost 5-0.

“Me and Matty came on at halftime when we were already 4-0 down. I was playing sweeper or ‘last man down’ as they call it. This result led to a lowering of expectation levels heading into the tournament.”

Once the tournament began Navua hit their straps and Bunce steadied up a leaky backline while Williams caused damage at the other end.

“We were unbeaten in pool play where we were split into two groups and played four games. This earned us a semi final spot but then we were upset by Nandi.”

“The team that beat us 5-0 a week earlier got knocked out and when it was down to four semi finalists we were favourites to win, but these upsets do happen.”

Bunce found the conditions unusually refreshing for this time of year.

“The climate was good this time, usually we find it difficult with the heat but it was pretty mild and football wise this suited us. When it’s hot it’s really demanding on the body. In this tournament I played the full 60 minutes in each game got through it ok.”

Bunce reflected on comparisons between the NZFC and the Fijian leagues and tournaments.

“Technically the NZFC is more advanced but athletically the Fijians are faster and stronger and in better condition. The Fijian sides just have a lot to learn tactically. But they’re phenomenal athletes some of the boys.”

Bunce said there was a little bit of negative stigma attached to the guest player’s presence at the tournament as some people saw it as taking opportunities away from the younger players, but Bunce believes the influence of top New Zealand players will only help improve the game in Fiji.

HONIARA - Guadalcanal Hornet’s hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the Our Telekom Cup were dashed today following East Honiara’s loss to cross town rivals West Honiara.

Guadalcanal Hornets are on nine points following their 6-1 win over Avaiki Chiefs, but West Honiara’s win meant they join Central Shields, Malaita Eagles and Avaiki Chiefs on the elimination list.

West Honiara needed only a draw coming into this match and had worked hard to ensure they secured their qualification through a win.

After recording a shocking loss to Guadalcanal in the opening match, West Honiara came back strong and secured three wins on the way.

The suspension of East Honiara’s experienced defender Eddie Ngaitin and non-availability of Hardis Aengari allowed West Honiara forwards to roam freely creating goal scoring opportunities inside their attacking third.

Young national Under 17 striker, Johan Doiwale scored twice in the second half after a goalless first half to help his team qualify.

East Honiara rallied a late fight back but it came rather late for them with Nelson College student Andrew Aba slotting one past Bilikiki Beach Soccer and KOSSA goalkeeper John Morgan.

His pace and skills were obvious each time he was in possession of the ball but simply unable to find the back of the net.

Western Turtles need only a draw to secure the second semifinal spot after Our K