OFC News

AUCKLAND - Benjamin Totori enjoyed a double celebration after his club Waitakere United went top of the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) following its third consecutive derby win over bitter rivals Auckland City FC at Trusts Stadium on the weekend.

Not only did the Solomon Islands and Waitakere United goal-getter see his club side assume pole position in the NZFC to go alongside its commanding position in OFC O-League Group A but Totori sealed the Golden Shoe Award at the OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Lautoka with an impressive tally of ten goals in six matches.

Totori thanked his international team-mates for helping make his job of scoring goals a lot easier.

“The team played well so it makes scoring goals easier. Joses (Nawo), Joachim (Rande) and Alick (Maemae) are fast players with skill and it gives other teams problems.

The goals I scored show the whole team played well,” Totori told www.oceaniafootball.com in Lautoka.

Totori’s goal scoring feats at domestic and international level have not gone unnoticed outside of the Oceania region – Totori has been linked with an American A-League club.

The Solomon Islands goal-getter is coy about the possibility of continuing his football adventure outside of New Zealand preferring to help his club win the NZFC and earn another trip to the FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2008.

“I want to help Waitakere United win the NZFC but it won’t be easy. It is very close and Auckland City and Team Wellington are good teams,” Totori said.

Second in the goal-scoring stakes was inspirational Fiji midfield man Malakai Tiwa.

With the host nation’s campaign falling short of expectations, Tiwa’s contribution in front of goal is all the more extraordinary.

With Osea Vakatalesau unable to find his XIII South Pacific Games form and Roy Krishna deployed in a deeper role behind the strikers, Tiwa won plaudits in the local media for his no-nonsense and committed approach.

Coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti paid glowing tribute to the Ba player.

“Malakai is a special player you can see when he plays that the team plays also. He could play in Europe, no problem.

If he had maybe two or three months to adjust, then yes, I think Tiwa would fit in.

When Malakai was on the pitch you can see his effect but after he came off (injured) against Solomon Islands, then you see the team changes and we have less possibility to win the game,” Buzzetti said.

A surprise amongst the leading lights is Papua New Guinea striker Tau Winnie. Winnie – alongside Raymond Gunemba and David Muta – turned out to be one of the tournament’s most exciting strike talents scoring a highly respectable six goals in five matches.

Six goals in a team that was not expected to provide too much resistance to the likes of Fiji, New Zealand or Solomon Islands was attention grabbing and left fans wondering what type of campaign Papua New Guinea may have had if it had defended with a less gung-ho approach.

OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament

Golden Shoe Award

Gold    Benjamin TOTORI (SOL) 

Silver   Malakai TIWA (FIJ)

Bronze Tau WINNIE (PNG)

No.	Player	Country	Goals
21.	Benjamin TOTORI	SOL	10
16.	Malakai TIWA	FIJ	8
10.	Tau WINNIE	PNG	6
14.	Roy KRISHNA	FIJ	4
18.	Costa BARBAROUSES	NZL	4
14.	Raymond GUNEMBA	PNG	4
7.	Alick MAEMAE	SOL	4
15.	Joachim WAROI	SOL	4
8.	Alvin SINGH	FIJ	3
17.	Maciu DUNADAMU	FIJ	3
10.	Jeremy BROCKIE	NZL	3
17.	Daniel ELLENSOHN	NZL	3
17.	Joses NAWO	SOL	3

 

 

 

LAUTOKA - New Zealand assured itself of top spot at the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament with a comfortable 8-0 win over Cook Islands and ensured a double Olympic swoop after the Football Ferns defeated Papua New Guinea in the OFC Women's Olympic Football Play-Off in Port Moresby yesterday.

 

The Oly-Whites cruised to an expected victory over Cook Islands but uncertainty exists over whether New Zealand Olympic Committee will ratify the team’s nomination as OFC’s representative at the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing.

 

Phil Edginton, Jeremy Brockie, Jason Hayne (2), Sam Messam, Daniel Ellensohn and Aaron Scott were the goalscorers in what was a formality for the Stu Jacobs coached team.

 

With New Zealand’s future uncertain there was added pressure on both Fiji and Solomon Islands in the race to seal second spot.

 

Fiji looked to be doing it easily when it found itself 2-0 up inside the first 25 minutes thanks to goals by Roy Krishna and Maciu Dunadamu. But Solomon Islands staged an astonishing comeback with three goals inside 14 hectic minutes inspired by a Joachim Waroi brace and a candidate for goal of the tournament by Michael Fifi.

 

Solomon Islands tried to throw away its advantage when Joachim Rande was sent off for a poor tackle on Krishna Samy on the stroke of half-time. Fiji’s Shameel Rao joined Rande when he sent off with just seven minutes remaining.

 

When Fiji captain Malakai Tiwa left the pitch injured the host nation’s hopes seemed to disappear with him.

 

There were plenty of goals as expected in Papua New Guinea’s match against Vanuatu. George Cowie’s team has become famous at these championships of playing attractive attacking football at the expense of defending.

 

Today was no exception. Papua New Guinea were 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes after Samuel Kini, Tau Winnie and David Muta helped themselves to goals thanks to generous defending by Vanuatu.

 

Vanuatu replied with a goal to Michel Kaltak and the recalled Fenedy Masauvakalo. Kaltak’s joy was short-lived after he was red carded ten minutes into the second half for a reckless challenge on David Muta.

 

Tau Winnie completed a hat-trick in the second half with Raymond Gunemba and Koriak Upaiga completing the scoring in a 7-2 win thus capping a memorable finish to the tournament.

 

OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

 

FINAL STANDINGS

 

		PL.	W.	D.	L.	GF.	GA.	PTS.	GD.
1.	New Zealand	5	5	0	0	19	3	15	+16
2.	Solomon Islands	5	4	0	1	25	5	12	+20
3.	Fiji	5	3	0	2	21	6	9	+15
4.	Papua New Guinea	5	2	0	3	17	20	6	-2
5.	Vanuatu	5	1	0	4	6	16	3	-10
6.	Cook Islands	5	0	0	5	0	38	0	-38

 

 

For more information please contact:

 

Gordon Glen Watson                                      phone               +64 (0) 9 526 5658

Media and Communications Officer                   fax                   +64 (0) 9 525 8164

Oceania Football Confederation                        mobile              +64 (0) 21 994 520

                                                               email        gordon@oceaniafootball.com 

 

LAUTOKA - Lautoka saved the best for last at the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament as Solomon Islands and Fiji served up a five goal thriller.

With New Zealand’s Olympic berth yet to be ratified by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) there was added pressure on both Fiji and Solomon Islands to finish as high as possible in this competition to take advantage should NZOC decide not to send New Zealand’s Oly-Whites to Beijing.

Without Benjamin Totori, Alick Maemae or Nelson Sale following Solomon Islands implosion against New ZealandFiji team itself the subject of scrutiny by a media and public desperate for success.

That script appeared to be playing itself out when Roy Krishna – possibly one of the shortest players in the tournament – was allowed to win a header from a corner and blast it into the Solomon Islands net from close range after just 5 minutes.

It’s a feature of Solomon Islands teams and the Solympics team in particular that defending from set-pieces is an Achilles heel exposed by short and tall opponents alike.

As unpalatable as it may be to Solomon Islands fans of how the game should be played - that is with the ball on the ground with quick feet, rather than in the air bouncing around - it is nevertheless a discipline that will have to be digested if Solomon Islands wish to become a more multi-faceted force to contend with rather than a team of technically gifted speed merchants, attractive to watch at times, but without constructive or controlled aggression, or disciplined ruthlessness.

That appeared to accurately describe this latest Solomon Islands performance when Maciu Dunadamu made it 2-0 for Fiji on 23 minutes with a good finish that looked like it could be enough to seal the match given the paucity of resistance offered by Luke Eroi’s cast of stand-ins.

How wrong an assessment that turned out to be. Starting with Joachim Waroi on 27 minutes, Solomon Islands produced a 14 minute period of play the like of which hadn’t previously been seen in 1287 minutes of football.

Waroi’s 27th minute goal threw Solomon Islands a lifeline to a match that looked to have sailed off into the distance and was about to disappear over the horizon.

Within 12 minutes the thrilling Michael Fifi had drawn the game level with a breathtaking individual goal that had been on its way for some time as Waroi and Fifi somehow found a new lease of life.

Fifi’s piercing run then stunning long range shot will live in the memory for some time as the travelling fans – down from the local university to support Solomon Islands – were brought to their feet the instant Fifi’s shot struck the back of the Fiji net to make it 2-2.

Fiji barely had time to register its 2-0 lead had gone up in flames before Waroi scored a stunning third to make it 3-2 after 41 minutes.

This was football as it was meant to be enjoyed – a competitive match, no shortage of skill and entertainment - and more drama was just around the corner when the normally placid Joachim Rande put in a crude tackle on Krishna Samy that earned a straight red card from referee Michael Hester.

Down to ten players, it was difficult to see how Solomon Islands could hold out a Fiji team desperate to hang onto any sort of Olympic Games hope in front of a home crowd not easily impressed at the best of times and often derisive at the worst.

Captain Malakai Tiwa – a player that has excelled in every match for Fiji – gave it his best shot alongside a Roy Krishna who has come to life in recent matches but nevertheless looks as if he has played within his abilities.

The remainder of the match was an end-to-end affair as both sides sought to retrieve its respective Olympic hopes with an approach that made for absorbing entertainment.

Shameel Rao added to that dramatic equation when he was sent off by Michael Hester leaving both teams with ten players.

3-2 it remained giving Solomon Islands a slim – but unlikely – chance of representing Oceania in Beijing should the NZOC decline New Zealand Football’s ratification as part of the New Zealand Olympic Games effort.

INTERVIEW WITH FIJI COACH JUAN CARLOS BUZZETTI CLICK HERE

INTERNVIEW WITH SOLOMON ISLANDS COACH LUKE EROI CLICK HERE

OFC MEN'S OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT

MATCH NO.15

SOLOMON ISLANDS vs FIJI

CHURCHILL PARK

LAUTOKA

FIJI

KICK-OFF: 17H00 (FIJI TIME)

SOL: 1. Shadrock RAMONI (22. Leon LEKEZOTO 56’) 3. Stanton HILA; 4. Arnold KENI; 10. Franklyn FORAU; 11. Michael FIFI; 13. Eddie NGAITINI; 15. Joachim WAROI; 16. John WAYNE; 17. Joses NAWO; 19. Joachim RANDE; 20. Gibson HOSEA (12. Charles MAEBULA 88’).

SUBS: 8. Nathan KERA.

INJURED: 5. Haddis AENGARI

ABSENT: 18. John ANTA; 23. Eddie RAMO [rgk].

COACH: Luke EROI (SOL)

CAUTIONS: 13. Eddie NGAITINI 60’; 20. Gibson HOSEA 74’.

RED CARDS: 19. Joachim RANDE 46+’

GOALS: 15. Joachim WAROI 27’, 41’; 11. Michael FIF 39’.

FIJ: 2. Esava NAQALECA; 3. Shameel RAO; 5. Krishna SAMY; 6. Ranjil CHAND; 11. Kalasito POSIANO 8. (Alvin SINGH 58’); 12. Malakai WAQA; 14. Roy KRISHNA; 16. Malakai TIWA (4. Uraia RAIMULU 78’); 17. Maciu DUNADAMU (9. Leone DAMUDAMU 74’); 18. Shivan SWAMY; 20. Nicholas LAWRENCE [gk].

SUBS: 1. Benaminio MATEINAQARA [rgk]; 13. Joseph MISHRA; 15. Elvin PRASAD; 19. Ratu Josevata DUGUCAGI.

COACH: Juan Carlos BUZZETTI (AUS)

CAUTIONS: 5. Krishna SAMY 24’; 3. Shameel RAO 50’; 6. Ranjil CHAND 71’.

RED CARDS: 3. Shameel RAO 83’.

GOALS: 14. Roy KRISHNA 5’; 17. Maciu DUNADAMU 23’.

REFEREE: Michael HESTER (NZL)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Tevita MAKASINI (TGA)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Michael JOSEPH (VAN)

FOURTH OFFICIAL: Peter O'LEARY (NZL)

OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

FINAL STANDINGS

		PL.	W.	D.	L.	GF.	GA.	PTS.	GD.
1.	New Zealand	5	5	0	0	19	3	15	+16
2.	Solomon Islands	5	4	0	1	25	5	12	+20
3.	Fiji	5	3	0	2	21	6	9	+15
4.	Papua New Guinea	5	2	0	3	17	20	6	-2
5.	Vanuatu	5	1	0	4	6	16	3	-10
6.	Cook Islands	5	0	0	5	0	38	0	-38

LAUTOKA - New Zealand brushed aside Cook Islands by 8-0 and will now turn its attention to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) to confirm its place at the XXIX Olympiad Men’s Football Tournament in Beijing.

Cook Islands got eleven players behind the ball in an effort to finish this tournament as respectably as possible. That forlorn hope was shattered as early as the 8th minute when Phil Edginton finished from close range after latching onto a Jeremy Brockie corner.

Brockie doubled New Zealand’s lead on 15 minutes when he guided a header past Cook Islands goalkeeper Remi Wearing. The result was never in doubt after that yet New Zealand couldn’t find its way past a Cook Islands team relying as much on good fortune as sheer physical effort to avoid humiliation.

By midway through the second half Cook Islands resistance was showing signs of disintegration in the sweltering heat combined with the physical, mental and professional edge of opponents by now Beijing-bound.

Four goals in eleven minutes to Sam Messam, Daniel Ellensohn, Jason Hayne and Costa Barbarouses propelled New Zealand into a 6-0 lead and any lingering doubts of a conservative score line were extinguished for Cook Islands.

Jason Hayne added a seventh goal for New Zealand in the 78th minute before captain Aaron Scott provided the eighth and final goal in the 90th minute to complete a happy afternoon’s work for the Oly-Whites, Stu Jacobs and New Zealand Football.

INTERVIEW WITH NEW ZEALAND COACH STU JACOBS CLICK HERE

(PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY NZF MEDIA/FIFA.com)

 

OFC MEN'S OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

MATCH NO.10

NEW ZEALAND vs. SOLOMON ISLANDS

CHURCHILL PARK

LAUTOKA

FIJI

KICK-OFF: 14H30 (FIJI TIME)

NZL: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY; 2. Aaron SCOTT; 5. Michael BOXALL; 7. Steven OLD; 8. Cole PEVERLEY (3. Phil EDGINTON 90’); 9. Craig HENDERSON (10. Jeremy BROCKIE 86’); 12. Hone FOWLER; 14. Shaun VAN ROOYEN; 15. Cole TINKLER; 17. Daniel ELLENSOHN; 18. Costa BARBAROUSES (6. Sam MESSAM 53’).

SUBS: 4. Jason HAYNE; 13. Joel MATHEWS; 16. Greg DRAPER; 20. Liam LITTLE [rgk]; 21. Roy BELL [rgk].

COACH: Stuy JACOBS (NZL)

SUSPENDED: 11. Dan KEAT.

CAUTIONS: 15. Cole TINKLER; 9. Craig HENDERSON; 12. Hone FOWLER.

RED CARDS: None

GOALS: 7. Steven OLD 5’; 9. Craig HENDERSON 70’.

SOL: 1. Shadrock RAMONI; 4. Arnold KENI (3. Stanton HILA 80’); 5. Haddis AENGARI; 6. Nelson SALE; 7. Alick MAEMAE; 10. Franklyn FORAU (15. Joachim WAROI 55’); 13. Eddie NGAITINI; 17. Joses NAWO; 19. Joachim RANDE (11. Michael FIFI 65’): 20. Gibson HOSEA; 21. Benjamin TOTORI.

SUBS: 8. Nathan KERA; 12. Charles MAEBULE; 16. John WAYNE; 18. John ANTA; 22. Leon LEKEZOTO [rgk]; 23. Eddie RAMO [rgk].

CAUTIONS: 21. Benjamin TOTORI 45+1’; 21. Benjamin TOTORI 73’; 6. Nelson SALE 85’.

RED CARDS: 7. Alick MAEMAE 13’; 21. Benjamin TOTORI 73’.

GOALS: None.

REFEREE: Lencie FRED (VAN)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Andrew ACHARI (FIJ)

FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)

OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

STANDINGS

		PL.	W.	D.	L.	GF.	GA.	PTS.	GD.
1.	New Zealand	5	5	0	0	19	3	15