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)

NOUMEA - AS Mont Dore has won the Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over holders and Super Ligue Nestle rivals AS Lossi at Stade Numa Daly at the weekend. It was a poignant victory for AS Mont Dore after they suffered the ignominy of a 1-0 defeat against AS Lossi in last year's final on the very same ground.

AS Mont Dore's Super Ligue Nestle campaign is still very much alive after its recent run of hot form and the addition of the 54th Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie sets up the cup winners for a unque league and cup double.

Victory in the Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie has helped sweeten a bitter lead-in to the final after AS Mont Dore was docked two points for fielding Dominica Sawa - an ineligible player - in its last Super Ligue Nestle outing against AS Kirikitr that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The loss of those points puts AS Magenta and AS Mont Dore level on points.

Regardless of what takes place in the exciting finish to the Super Ligue Nestle AS Mont Dore can at least point to qualification for the Coupe de France for the 2008/09 season.  

The winners of the Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie and Coupe de Polynesie Francaise qualify for the Coupe de France each season, a unique privilege in world football.  

AS Lossi - last season's surprise packet after winning promotion to Super Ligue Nestle alongside its upset Coupe de Nouvlle Caledonie win - were no match for AS Mont Dore  in what proved to be a torrid 90 minutes for the cup holders.

Lossi's reputation for playing in a freescoring manner evaporated at the Stade Numa Daly as AS Mont Dore put a halt to their rivals attack to ensure a red letter day for last season's beaten finalists.

AS Mont Dore Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie winners 2008

For all your football news from New Caledonia please visit www.fedcalfoot.com

For the latest news and updates from AS Mont Dore please visit www.asmdfoot.net

AS Mont Dore - Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie winners 2008 - photo courtesy Alain Vartane 

FRANCAISE - www.fedcalfoot.com

L'AS Mont-Dore a déjoué la plupart des pronostics en rapportant la 54ème Coupe de Nouvelle-Calédonie en inscrivant 3 buts à zéro à l'AS Lössi.

Les supporters des deux équipes étaient venus en nombre au stade de Magenta pour aider leurs joueurs à conquérir ce trophée tant convoité synonyme d'une participation d'ici la fin de l'année à la Coupe de France contre une équipe métropolitaine au stade Numa Daly.

Rendez-vous est donc pris pour cette date à déterminer. 

AS Mont Dore in action during the 2007/08 season 

FRANCAISE - www.asmdfoot.net

Les Mont-Doriens remportent la Coupe de Calédonie avec brio. Dès l'entame les joueurs de C. Téamboueon ont imposé leur tempo en incrivant le premier but à la première minute.

Menés 2-0 à la mi-temps les oranges n'inquièteront pas suffisamment leurs adversaires pour créer le doute et espérer reverser la tendance.

D'ailleurs les rouges et noirs marqueront un troisième but parmi les nombreuses occasions. En effet outre un tir sur le poteau et une transversale les Mont-Doriens ont à plusieurs reprises mis à contribution de gardien adverse.

C'est sur le score sans appel de 3-0 que le Mont-Dore inscrit son nom sur la prestigieuse Coupe qui ouvre les portes de la Coupe de France.

A time to celebrate as AS Mont Dore raise the Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie after its 3-0 win over AS Lossi 

NOUMEA - Federation Caledonienne de Football (FCF) U-13 and U-16 Women's Championships were concluded with Paita FC and AS Wetr taking out the honours in both age groups.

The popularity of women's football in the French-speaking territory has hit a new high since the inclusion of a New Caledonia international women's team at the XIII South Pacific Games - Samoa 2007 in August/September last year.

Despite New Caledonia suffering three 2-0 defeats to Tonga, Samoa and Tahiti, the performances of the team earned plenty of praise from observers with the average age of the FCF team in the late teens.

The final placings were as follows:

FCF U-13 Women's Championship

1. Paita FC

2. AS Wetr

3. Yate FC

FCF U-16 Women's Championship

1. AS Wetr

2. Yate FC 

FRANCAISE - courtesy www.fedcalfoot.com

AUCKLAND - The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-12 Festival of Football has undergone a revamp and namechange for the third edition of the popular competition and will now be called the OFC Youth Festival to illustrate the cultural and educational element of the tournament.

Fiji hosted the first ever OFC Youth Festival back in 2006 with under twelve boys teams playing football at Churchill Park, Lautoka, and experiencing the cultures and language of the hosts and fellow participants. The relationships and friendships built would be one of the enduring memories of the competition as local schools "adopted" a visiting team for the duration of the tournament.

Visiting teams were welcomed by local schools and cultural exchanges were made including song and dance indicative of the part of Oceania each respective team came from.

On the pitch the action was intense but the spirit of Fair Play prevailed as the teams competed for the right to go to the Danone Nations Cup at the Stade Gerland, Lyon, France, 2006. New Zealand team United Soccer 1 won the OFC U-12 Festival of Football and took part in the then 32 team format in France playing teams from France and South Africa to name but two.

In 2007 it was Papua New Guinea's turn to host the tournament thanks to help from the French Government and its France Co-Operation programme. The French Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Mr. Patrick Boursin signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding with OFC to provide funding that offset the costs involved for teams travelling to Port Moresby.

On the pitch it was Saint Joseph's School from Port Vila that prevailed at the OFC U-12 Festival of Football - Port Moresby 2007 with New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and New Zealand all finishing hot on their heels. Vanuatu's adventure continued at the Danone Nations Cup where it finished 20th out of 40 competing teams including wins over Germany and Switzerland.

This year's OFC Youth Festival cultural component begins on May 28th, 2008 with the football tournament kick-off scheduled for May 29th. The tournament concludes at Stade Numa Daly on May 31st as a curtain raiser event to the Christian Karembeu XI vs. France '98 XI match featuring such wonderful names as Lifou-born FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu, Zinedine Zidane and Fabien Barthez amongst others.

FIFA President Joesph S. Blatter will be attendance after inaugurating the New Caledonia Goal Project at Paita earlier that day capping off an exciting star-studded day for the Oceanian youngsters.

The OFC Congress is scheduled for June 1st, 2008.

Four players from "Les Cagous" at Ward Strip School, Port Moresby, 2007.

Hundreds of youngsters sit patiently awaiting the arrival of the Solomon Islands team in Port Moresby

The cover of last year's tournament programme featuring smiling faces from the OFC U-12 Festival in Fiji 2006

OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii watches on as Solomon Islands team arrives

School children at Port Moresby Stadium celebrate a goal

New Caledonia and Vanuatu share the adulation of 8,000 fans on the final match day last year

CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING: A young girl from Papua New Guinea in traditional garb welcomes the teams

OFC Media interview a New Caledonia player during the educational element of the tournament in Port Moresby

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 Lossi and AS Mont Dore will play off in the final of the coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie following impressive semi final victories.

AS Mont Dore scored a convincing win over Thio Sport in the first semi final while AS Lossi defeated AS Magenta 2-1.

Luther Wahnyamala was the hero for AS Lossi, scoring both of his sides goals and earning his side a spot in the final.

The final will be played on May 3, 2008 and a large crowd is expected at Numa Daly Stadium.

AS Magenta scored a satisfying 4-1 win over fellow title contenders AS Monte Dore in the second round of the Super Ligue Playoff’s in New Caledonia.

Pierre Wajoka scored a double while Paul Poatinda and Jean-Patrick Wakanumune added to Monte Dore’s troubles before Ramon Djamali snatched back a consolation goal for the visitors.

The match was deffered twice due to inclement weather and the win now puts AS Magenta one point clear of the pack at the top of the table.

In other Playoff action AS Kirikitr overcame JS Baco 3-0 thanks to strikes from Michel Hmeun, Georges Gope-Fenepej and Fabrice Ione.

It was a convincing win and a much needed one for Kirikitr who now sit only three points off the pace of AS Magenta.

The next round of playoff matches take place on April 19th.

NCL Super Ligue Play Off's

JS Baco 0 - AS Kirikitr 3 (Michel Hméun, Georges Gope-Fenepej, Fabrice Ioné)

AS Magenta 4 (Pierre Wajoka (2), Paul Poatinda, Jean-Patrick Wakanumuné) AS Mont-Dore 1 (Ramon Djamali)

NCL Super Ligue Standings as of 8.4.08

AS Monte Dore has taken the lead in New Caledonia’s Super Ligue play off’s with a resounding 2-0 win over JS Baco.

The win puts Monte Dore two points clear of AS Magente in second place who could only manage a 2-2 at AS Kirikitr.

Meanwhile in the league’s ‘play downs’ As Lossi have retained top spot despite losing 2-0 to ACB Poya.

AS Thio Sport edged out second placed AS Temala 3-2 in an exciting match which has split the group wide open after only two matches.

Super Ligue Playoffs standings as of 31.3.08

Super Ligue Playdowns standings as of 31.3.08

Pictures from AS Monte Dore v JS Baco

The Super Nestle League Play-offs are very evenly poised after a first day which saw AS Magenta overcome Baco 4-0 and Mont Dore defeat Kirikitr 3-2.

The rest of the matches have been deferred to Saturday March 22 due to heavy rain which made the remainder of the playoffs unplayable.

Pictures below are from Hienghene Sports’s 9-0 demolition of Mouli Sport in the Coupe NC le Dimanche last month.

NOUMEA – AS Magenta’s Super Ligue Nestle hopes received a massive boost after it thrashed play-off rivals JS Baco 4-0. Magenta and Baco could not be separated in the regular season playing out two thrilling draws – 2-2 and 3-3 – that enabled Magenta to seal the minor premiership over Baco by a single point.

Meanwhile, Kirikitr showed signs of a Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie hangover after bowing out to AS Lossi last week when it crashed 3-2 to AS Mont Dore. Mont Dore led 2-0 for most of the match until Kirikitr staged a late comeback. Sadly for the island champions, their late rally was not enough as Mont Dore finished the day level on points with AS Magenta.

The FCF Super Ligue Nestle Play-offs feature a final six round league format featuring the top three teams from the Super Ligue plus the winners of the Outer Islands championship in a home and away series.

The team finishing in top spot will be crowned FCF Super Ligue Nestle champions and qualify to represent New Caledonia in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League preliminary competition next season.

In the FCF Super Ligue Nestle Play-Down, AS Lossi maintains a comfortable lead at the top of the table on 23 points with AS Temala in second on 12 points. AS Thio Sport (7 points), ACB Poya (6 points) and Coupe de Nouvelle Caledonie quarter-finalists FC Gaitcha (1 point) fill the remaining three slots.