OFC Women's World Cup Qualifying - Teams

NEW ZEALAND

• 1.Stephanie PUCKRIN
• 2.Rebecca SMITH
• 3.Abby ERCEG
• 4.Maia JACKMAN
• 5.Hannah BROMLEY
• 6.Alexandra RILEY
• 7.Ria PERCIVAL
• 8.Anna GREEN
• 9.Simone FERRARA
• 10.Kirsty YALLOP
• 11.Marlies OOSTDAM
• 12.Hayley MOORWOOD
• 13.Katie HOYLE
• 14.Annalie LONGO
• 15.Emily McCOLL
• 16.Wendi HENDERSON
• 17.Nicky SMITH
• 18.Zoë THOMPSON
• 19.Emma KETE
• 20.Rachel HOWARD

Coach John HERDMAN
Coach Jill GILLMAN
Physio Roland JEFFREY
Manager Julie HOGG
GK Coach Simon EADDY
Doctor Mark FULCHER

New Zealand may come into the OFC Women's World Cup Qualifiers—Papua New Guinea 2007 as red-hot favourites to qualify for China but suffered a setback when coach Allan Jones resigned citing personal reasons. This loss has been offset by the appointment of popular coach John Herdman who was at the helm of the New Zealand U-20 Women's World Championship—Russia 2006 campaign. New Zealand U-20 lost 0-3 to Australia, drew 0-0 with Brazil before suffering a heart-breaking last minute 3-2 defeat to host nation Russia but Herdman and his team won critical acclaim across the board for a series of stirring performances.

The team has a combination of youth with experience with 35 year-old striker Wendi Henderson the sole survivor of New Zealand's World Cup campaign in China in 1991 and Rebecca Smith part of a new era of Kiwi players who have graduated through the US College system and gone on to earn a fulltime professional football career in Europe.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

• 1.Matilda TOMALIN
• 2.Linda BUNAGA
• 3.Catherine HORRIS
• 4.Cecilia DOBBIN
• 5,Regina SUI
• 6.Daisy WINAS
• 7.Ara MIDI
• 8.Deslyn SINIU
• 9.Julie ALAU
• 10.Tracy KIG
• 11.Molong KUSUNAN
• 12.Pauline NORMAN
• 13.Samantha PENINSA
• 14.Watio BAKI
• 15.Antonia SURAKE
• 16.Betty GAYA
• 17.Lydia BARNABAS
• 18.Miriam LANTA
• 19.Diana KOPO
• 20.Cathy AGUNAM

Head of Delegation Joe TURIA
Head Coach Marcos GUSMAO
Coach Bob MORRIS
GK Coach Max FOSTER
Manager Sussie MILENG

Papua New Guinea coach Marcos Gusmao brings his squad into this tournament hopeful that home advantage in Lae will translate into success similar to that enjoyed in previous OFC Women's tournaments. Papua New Guinea have finished in third place in the past four OFC Women's tournaments spanning the past 16 years but have yet to separate or better Australia and New Zealand from the top two slots.

Papua New Guinea build-up campaign included a 3-0 victory over PNG Power - a local women's club - and drafted in six previously untried players during an intense training period in February, 2007. Gusmao is confident the squad had prepared well but insisted in the local press that the step up to challenge New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Tonga would require a further improvement.

SOLOMON ISLANDS

• 1.Regina KOSUI
• 2.Gladys BAKO
• 3.Elsie RINGI
• 4.Brenda MASAI
• 5.Helen SIKWAE
• 6.Audry GALO
• 7.Margaret DAUDAU
• 8.Ellen RAURAU
• 9.Betty MAENU
• 10.Noelyn WAGAPU
• 11.Akau RAFE
• 12.Janet ALUFURAI
• 13.Veronica SADE
• 14.Diane JUSTUS
• 15.Prudence FULA
• 16.Crystal ANNIE
• 17.Mary DONGAI
• 18.Laydah SAMANI

Head of Delegation Angellene VAVE
Coach Noel WAGAPU
Team Manager Doreen MAEKE
Physio Williams KIMBERLEY

The Solomon Islands Senior National Women's team will be relying on the quicksilver finishing of 16 year-old Laydah Samani as they debut in their first ever OFC Women's World Cup qualifying campaign. The Malaita-born teenager will form the focus of Solomon Islands attacking spearhead and much is expected of her despite her tender years after she won the 2006 Honiara Women's League Golden Boot Award.

The Junior Flamingo striker has a strong background in Futsal and is just one of a number of talented players that make up this Solomon Islands team. What is clear is that the weight of expectation will be evenly spread around a team that boasts eleven players that are former international age-group players and preparation for the tournament has been intense with the squad training everyday with the competition looming.

TONGA

• 1.Neomi Lototonunga TUPOU
• 2.Lose Pongilau PELE
• 3.Emelita MOALA
• 4.Karen Marie ‘UTA ‘ATU
• 5.Mateaki Siulolovao TAUFA
• 6.Penateti Lapiuingi FEKE
• 7.Vasi FEKE
• 8.Salone Sela VA'ENUKU
• 9.Sala VEAMTAHAU
• 10.Lupe TAUFAHEMIA
• 11.Pesi Talamonuu NAPA'A
• 12.Mele Teukialupe LIKILIKI
• 13.‘Atelaite Taufa MANU
• 14.Kaati Fetokai MALUA
• 15.Nasaleti Fiefa KALAVI
• 16.Heila LOTO'ANIU
• 17.Seini MALUNGAHU
• 18.Lata'is'a TUIFTUNA
• 19.Kulia FILO
• 20.Matelita Lotomo'ua ki SUVA MISINALE

Team Official Atelaite TU'IVAILALA
Team Official Kilifi Solia UELE
Team Official Seiniltaina MOLI
Team Official Saane LATUNIPULU
Team Official Lisiate KEFU

Tonga debut in this tournament as Oceania Football Confederation's second highest FIFA ranked member association at a highly respectable 55th out of 142 countries. Tongan football has been crying out for a boost of some sort for a several years and women's football has provided the Polynesian nation with the ideal vehicle to promote the code. At the OFC U-20 Women's Championship—Samoa 2006, Tonga U-20 went all the way to the final after encouraging performances against Vanuatu (4-1), Solomon Islands (2-1) and Samoa (3-2) before losing to New Zealand (0-6).

Penateti Feke has graduated from the Tonga U-20 team to the senior national squad seamlessly after playing every minute of action at Samoa—2007 and finishing as Tonga's top goal scorer with three strikes to her name including a crucial brace in the victory over the Solomon Islands. Feke is joined in the senior squad by former U-20 team-mate Nasaleti Kalavi.