OFC News

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Inc., a non for profit organization, is the regional body mandated by FIFA to develop Soccer in the South Pacific.

OFC has 15 national football associations as members and is involved in international events and programmes within these 15 countries.

We are requiring an Accounts and Finance Manager (full time position).

Reporting to senior management the main duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

 - Day to day management of the accounts and finance department (only one direct report)

 - Developing financial policies, procedures and internal control

 - Month end reporting and analysis (including cash flow)

- Year end reporting and preparation of annual audit

- Budgeting and costs analysis

- Payroll

 - GST and FBT tax returns

 - Relationship management with OFC stakeholders and various departments.

- Advisory role to senior management Key skills and attributes of the successful candidate will include:

- a strong fundamental accounting background with an understanding of accounting principles and practices

– qualifications would be an advantage (open to recent graduates) but experience would be taken into consideration

 - Advanced Microsoft excel and powerpoint skills

 - Able to prepare and present well focused financial reports and data analysis

- Attention to detail and works to a high level of accuracy

- A good sense of humour with a strong team ethic

- Good communication skills and be able to work in a young and multi-cultural environment

 – requirement to learn French as part of the position.

- Be able to work under pressure and deadline in a fast paced environment.

 - A full driving license

Salary: up to NZ$50,000 per annum + company car provided depending on qualifications and experience.

To submit your application (CV + cover letter) please send an email to Frederic Guillemont, OFC Deputy General Secretary, Frederic@oceaniafootball.com - alternatively for a confidential discussion phone on 09 / 525 81 64.

(OFC website www.oceaniafootball.com )

Applications to be received no later than 15 May 2008.

Only people with the right to work in New Zealand may apply for this position.

For advice on obtaining New Zealand Work or Residence visas visit the New Zealand Immigration Service (www.immigration.govt.nz)

TAHITI - AS Manu Ura capped off a memorable season in Tahiti's Division Federale after successfully defending the title it won last season heading off strong competition from AS Tefana, AS Dragon and AS Temanava.

Manu Ura's superiority in Division Federale was supported by its participation in the 2008 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League competition where the 'Mauves' were drawn against New Zealand heavyweights Auckland City FC and New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) title winners and defending OFC O-League champions Waitakere United.

The exposure to international club competition helped give Manu Ura an edge over its Division Federale rivals as the Paea-based club completed its fourth Division Federale title to go alongside championships won in 1996, 2004 and 2007.

AS Manu Ura finished bottom of OFC O-League Group A after losing three of its four matches but can point to a narrow loss (0-1) against Auckland City FC and a creditable draw (1-1) against Waitakere United.

Manu Ura's latest result in Division Federale - a 3-1 win over Central Sport - was enough to give the 'Mauves' a five point advantage over its nearest title rivals AS Tefana and AS Dragon. 

The Coupe de Polynesie Francaise Final between AS Tefana and Central Sports has finally been rescheduled. The first leg will take place on Friday 23 May 2008 at Puurai kick-off at 19H30 (Local Time)with the 2nd leg scheduled for Saturday 31 May 2008 at Stade Pater kick-off 19H00 (Local Time).

 

AS Manu Ura in OFC O-League action against defending champions Waitakere United earlier this season - photo courtesy Phototek 

OFC’s favourite football son Christian Karembeu will be honoured for his contribution to football in the Oceania region with a jubilee match against his 1998 FIFA World Cup™ winning team at Stade Numa Daly, Noumea, New Caledonia on Saturday 31st May, 2008.

Karembeu has served OFC with distinction both on and off the football pitch and now fans from New Caledonia and children from across Oceania will get their chance to pay tribute to this charismatic character.

The Karembeu Jubilee match is timed to coincide with the OFC Youth Festival tournament that will see hundreds of boys and girls in the under 12 age group participate in a celebration of culture, education and development using the power of football to unite youth across the ‘Ocean of Solidarity’.
 
The Jubilee will also be run in conjunction with the OFC congress where FIFA President Sepp Blatter will be in attendance.

Upcoming OFC Dates:

Pascal Vahirua XI vs. France ’98 XI
Stade Pater
Papeete
Tahiti
May 26th, 2008

Christian Karembeu XI vs. France ’98 XI
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea
New Caledonia
May 31st, 2008

OFC Youth Festival
Stade Pentecost/Stade Numa Daly
Noumea
New Caledonia
May 28th-May 31st, 2008

OFC Congress
Noumea
New Caledonia
June 1st, 2008

Federation Caledonie de Football (FCF)
FIFA Goal Project (Inauguration)
Païta
New Caledonia,
May 31st, 2008

AS Tefana was the only side to collect three points in the latest Division Federal Playoffs in Tahiti.

They scored a convincing 3-0 win over Temanava to improve their playoff position and put the pressure on AS Manu Ura at the top of the table.

Sebastien Labayen opened the scoring for AS Tefana in the first half and the win was confirmed in the second half thanks to two strikes from Taufa Neuffer – which pushed his tally for the season up to 16.

In the other playoff match AS Dragon battled out a 1-1 draw with AS Manu Ura. Aldo Tauihara opened the scoring for AS Manu Ura in the first half with a rocket from 25 metres out which left the Dragon goalkeeper with no chance. AS Dragon managed to claw the deficit back shortly after when Jean-François Tiaiho scored an opportunistic goal to level the scores.

AS Manu Ura now sit on top of the playoff table with AS Tefana close behind in second followed by Dragon and Temanava in fourth spot.

In the last match of the regular round of Division Federale action in Tahiti, Temanava recorded a resounding 4-1 win over Tamarii Faa’ to clinch a championship play-off spot.

Temanava will join Manu Ura, Dragon and Tefana in the fight to be crowned champion and will be full of confidence heading into the play off’s.

Temarii Faa’ - who also could have made the playoff’s with a win – had a player sent off in the first half and found themselves unable to deal with Temanava’s extra numbers.

Jean-Francois Kabeu was the pick of the Temanava attack scoring a classy hat trick to lead his side to victory.

Manu Ura finish the regular phase of the season in top spot with 46 points from 18 games, but will be focusing all their efforts on Wednesdays O-League encounter with Auckland City.

Dragon, on 44 points, finished  one point ahead of Tefana after both sides won 2-0 over Aorai and TAC respectively.

Results:

Temanava      4 - 1      T Faaa
Manu Ura       3 - 1      Exchange Sport
TAC              0 – 2      Tefana
JT                2 – 2      Pirae
Aorai            0 – 2       Dragon

Division Federale Standings

Position	Team	Pld	Pts
1	Manu Ura	18	46
2	Dragon	18	44
3	Tefana	18	43
4	Temanava	18	38
5	JT	18	37
6	T Faaa	18	34
7	Pirae	18	32
8	Exchange Sport	18	32
9	TAC	18	31
10	Aorai	18	22

TAHITI - They are amongst some of the biggest names in the history of world football and gave France its finest hour in FIFA World Cup history heralding the start of a golden age for French football. The exciting visit of the France '98 FIFA World Cup winning team to Tahiti and New Caledonia in May this year is set to be the biggest sporting event in French-speaking Oceania for 2008.

With Zinedine Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Robert Pires, Christian Karembeu, Pascal Vaihirua, Laurent Blanc, Lillian Thuram, Lionel Charbonnier and Bixente Lizarazu set to pull on their boots once more, Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) has signed a sponsorship deal with La Banque Socredo for the match scheduled between Pascal Vaihirua XI and France '98 at Stade Pater, Monday 26 May, 2008.

Proceeds from the match will help such worthy causes as Association Tokani Nui (anti-domestic violence), Te Rama Ora (victims of crime) and Contre Le Cancer (cancer research) in French Polynesia.

Reynald Temarii - FTF President/OFC President and FIFA Vice President - was delighted to secure the support of one of French Polynesia's longest serving financial institutions.

"La Banque Socredo has been operating in French Polynesia since 1984 and FTF is delighted to welcome the signing of this agreement in support of the Pascal Vaihirua Jubilee match with the stars of France '98," Temarii said.

Reynald Temarii signed the agreement on behalf of FTF alongside La Banque Socredo representative Mr. Gaspard Tuscan late last week.

For further details please visit www.ftf.pf

PASCAL VAIHIRUA XI vs. FRANCE '98

May 26, 2008

Kick-off: 20H00 (French Polynesia Time)

AT Stade Pater

Papeete

French Polynesia

CHRISTIAN KAREMBEU XI vs. FRANCE '98

May 31, 2008

Kick-off: 19H00 (New Caledonia Time)

AT Stade Nouma Daly

Noumea

New Caledonia

Two dropped points is the price Waitakere United have paid for a missed penalty and a goalkeeping error in tonight’s O-League clash against AS Manu Ura in Papeete.

Striker Billy Mataitai scored a dramatic 91st minute equaliser to level the match at 1-1 and frustrate a Waitakere team which had seemed to be the superior unit for most of the night.

Allan Pearce hit his 25th minute penalty low and wide after striker BenjaminTotori was brought down in the box. It seemed Pearces error would not be such a major sin when Chris Bale drilled home a 35 yard freekick in the 63rd minute to give Waitakere a lead they so richly deserved.

However the match ended in spectacular fashion in injury time when a sweeping Manu Ura move down the right found Mataita who struck a looping shot from the edge of the penalty area. What should have been a routine save for Eaddy turned into a nightmare as the ball fell through his hands and gave the home team an equaliser which had looked beyond them for most of the night.

The goal not only brought the crowd to their feet it blew Group A wide open and now puts Auckland City in the driving seat with a game in hand.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” said despairing Waitakere coach Chris Millicich. “It was a game that we dominated for 90 minutes and for once we failed to put all our chances away.

“We should never have let it get to the situation in extra-time, we should have been 7-0 up.

We wasted chances, we missed a penalty, it wasn’t a case of us not being able to break them down, but just not being able to put the finishing touches on what we created.”

Benjamin Totori was a constant threat to the AS Manu Ura defense and the Solomon Island international was at the heart of most of Waitakere’s creative moves.

Adding to the despair for Waitakere was the loss of defender Jason Rowley who was taken to hospital after sustaining a suspected broken ankle just before half time.

Waitakere will next face Auckland at the Croatian Club on Wednesday 20th February in a match which will now have added significance.

Waitakere United: (from) 1-Richard Gillespie (GK), 2-Jonathan Perry, 5-Danny Hay, 6-Darren Bazeley, 7-Jason Hayne, 9-Benjamin Totori, 10-Allan Pearce, 11-Neil Sykes, 13-Daniel Koprivcic, 14-Hoani Edwards, 15-Chris Bale, 16-Neil Emblen, 17-Jake Butler, 20-Jason Rowley, 21-Graham Pearce, 22-Simon Eaddy (GK).

AS Manu Ura: (from) 3. Rex FAURA; 4. Jean Yves LY WAUT; 5. Phillipe MORETTA; 6. Tamatoa TAUIHARA; Adrien TAERO; 7. Henri TAPEA; 14. Stephane TUAIRAU; 8. Vetea TEPA; 10. Auguste WASHETINE; 11. Hiashi KAKE; 1. Jonathan TOROHIA; 12. Hiroana POROIAE; 15. Vetea TETUANUI; 16. Daniel TAPETA [gk]; 18. Dave PENI; 20. Billy MATAITAI; 22. Temarama TAUIHARA; 23. Jean Paul FAURA
Coach: Teivitau PITO

A crowd of around 400 has gathered for the match. There was a shower of rain before the kick off but that passed and it is now a very pleasant evening at 22 degrees celcius.

Live Updates:

8' - Waitakere has had three half chances crosses which have been cut out by the AS Manu Ura goalkeeper. Manu Ura had one chance after breaking quickly. Its been an end to end opening to the match.

21' - Waitakere have been dominating posession but can't capitilise on any of the chances they have created. Both sides have had one corner each. Benjamin Totori is causing the AS Manu Ura defense a lot of problems with his pace.

22' - Daniel Koprivcic missed a good opportunity from a ball played across the face of the goal.

23' - PENALTY - Benjamin Totori broke into the box and was brought down. Goalkeeper and captain Daniel Tapeta is having lengthy discussions with the referee.

25' - Penalty Miss - Alan Pearce stepped up and hit his shot low and wide and missed the goal completely.

28' - As Manu Ura hit long range freekick just outside Simon Eaddy's post.

29' - Waitakere are dominating the match but can't capitilize on their chances.

42' - Waitakere have lost Jason Rowley to a suspected broken ankle. He is replaced by Darren Bazely.

43' - A mix up between Simon Eaddy and his defense has given the home side a late corner which was eventually cleared by the Waitakere defense.

45' - HALFTIME - Waitakere have created more chances in the opening half but havent been able to convert them into goals. Totori has made a number of good runs but they haven't looked clinical in the final third. AS Manu Ura look dangerous up front and their two pacey forwards have broken away on a couple of occasions. With Waitakere only playing three at the back they have looked stretched at times.

57' - Opening of the second half has been all Waitakere but they haven't looked like breaking down the AS Manu Ura defense.

58' - AS Manu Ura goalkeeper and captain Daniel Tapata has recieved a yellow card for time wasting.

59' - Totori continues to impress with another dazzling run down the wing.

60' - Waitakere have a series of free kicks all of which Neil Sykes hits well over the bar

61 - AS Manu Ura have two players booked. One for time wasting the other for kicking the ball away.

63' - GOAL - 1-0 Waitakere - Chris Bale steps up and hits a freekick from 30 metres out straight into the inside of the post and into the goal.

78' - Substitution - Daniel Koprivcic off for Jason Hayne

90 + 1 - GOAL - Waitakere 1 - AS Manu Ura 1 - Ball played square and Waitakere defense caught out. As Manu Ura's best performer - striker Billy Mataitai- hits looping strike which Simon Eaddy should have easily delt with, but the ball managed to loop through his hands and into the net.

Full Time - Waitakere 1 - AS Manu Ura 1 -Waitakere's inability to capitilise on their dominance costs them dearly in extra time with a looping shot finding the back of the Waitakere net.

 

AUCKLAND - The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) General Secretary Tai Nicholas has moved to quash speculation that Wellington Phoenix FC will be admitted to the OFC O-League 2007/08 competition.

 

“The participation of Wellington Phoenix FC in this season’s competition is a non-starter.

 

The most obvious reason for not including the Phoenix is on sporting grounds.

 

The OFC O-League 2008/09 is already well underway and participating clubs have signed players and coaches with a set competition framework in place.

 

To change that framework at such a late stage would not be in the spirit of the FIFA Fair Play concept,” Nicholas said.

 

Current OFC O-League champions Waitakere United (NZL) face AS Manu Ura (TAH) in an OFC O-League match on Saturday 16 February in Tahiti with New Zealand’s FIFA Club World Cup representatives in red hot form.

 

Waitakere United trail Auckland City FC by three points in the NZFC competition. After an indifferent start to the defence of its FTF Division Federale title AS Manu Ura has climbed to the top of French Polynesia’s national competition after a morale-boosting win over nearest rivals and Coupe de Polynesie Francaise finalists AS Tefana last weekend.

 

OFC O-League

Group A

15/02/08

Stade Pater Stadium

AS Manu Ura (TAH) vs. Waitakere United (NZL)

Kick-off: 2000hrs (TAH)/1900hrs (NZL)*

 

*Please note Papeete GMT-1000hrs

PARIS - OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii and FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu  were received by the Secretary of State  to the French Overseas Territories Mr. Christian Estrosi in Paris on Wednesday.

Temarii and Karembeu were in Paris to meet with French Government officials to discuss the  importance of football in developing education and health amongst the youth of the Oceania region.

Reynald Temarii has been actively promoting the role of football in developing countries within the Oceania region since he was elected to the OFC Presidency in 2004 and has sought to develop strong ties with the French Government embassies in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu where the implementation of OFC orientated development programmes has been in force over the past two years.

"The Oceania Football Confederation touches 500 000 young people in 3 000 schools and across fifteen countries," Temarii told Christian Estrosi

Christian Estrosi was pleased that to learn that France occupied such an important role in the OFC's development of the Oceania region.

OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii told the minister that the general secretariat of the Oceania Football Confederation would relocate to New Caledonia in 2011 timed to coincide with the XIV South Pacific Games - New Caledonia 2011.

TAHITI - Former Division Federale and OFC O-League representatives AS Temanava have been expelled from the 2007/08 Coupe de Polynesie following a decision executed by Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) this week. AS Temanava defeated fellow Division Federale rivals Central Sport in the semi-final of this season's cup competition but fielded an ineligible player Steevy Chung Hue.

Central Sport - currently struggling to keep its Division Federale playoff hopes alive - responded to the shock news with a 2-1 victory over AS Pirae at Stade Pater last week and now have an unexpected cup final to look forward too.

Although the decision was to expel Temanava was upheld, the decision will still come to the club as a bitter blow after it comfortably accounted for Central Sport 3-0 on aggregate en route to the final.

The decision comes at just the right time for Central Sport, however, with AS Tefana - Tahiti's representatives in this season's French Cup - suffering its first defeat of the season to AS Manu Ura coupled by the rescheduling of the Coupe de Polynesie Final dates because of the controversy surrounding the Steevy Chung Hue issue.

The 2007/08 Coupe de Polynesie was originally scheduled to be played over two legs on February 5th and February 9th on the island of Moorea.

A new date for the two-legged final has yet to be determined.