The XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 kicks off at J.S.Blatter Playing Field in Apia, Samoa today with two women’s fixtures opening the event.
Match One will see red-hot medal favourite Papua New Guinea take on fresh-faced American Samoa – the first time American Samoa has fielded a women’s team on the international stage.
Papua New Guinea – coached by Francis Moiyap – are heavily favoured to win the gold medal and seal an Olympic Games qualifying play-off against New Zealand with rangy striker
Deslyn Siniu and tricky left winger Daisy Winas likely to provide American Samoa with a difficult afternoon.
Fiji begins their tournament against Cook Islands with Fiji coach Forouk Janeman playing down his team’s chances of a medal. Star players Radilaite Marama and
veteran Asena Ratu will be asked to run the show in a match many believe Fiji should win.
In the Men’s competition the feature match will see a Francophone derby match between New Caledonia and Tahiti. The two French-speaking rivals will feature exceptional talent with New
Caledonia’s Pierre Wajoka coming up against Tahiti’s Samuel Garcia – the former Bordeaux player. Missing from Tahiti’s line-up is talismanic playmaker Naea Bennett, a big loss to the team from
French-Polynesia.
Solomon Islands campaign gets underway against Oceania minnows American Samoa. Coach Airton Andrioli is quietly confident his team have hit their straps at the right time after a
1-1 draw with Hyundai A-League side Queensland Roar last week.
American Samoa coach David Brand has problems after his number one choice goalkeeper missed a flight from Hawaii forcing Brand to opt for an inexperienced 17-year-old as a
replacement.
Host nation Samoa will be looking to impress the home fans when they take on Alwyn Job’s Vanuatu team. Samoa skipper Chris Cahill – brother of Australian international Tim Cahill – will be
hoping the home team can cause something of an upset in this tournament opener. Vanuatu football is on a high after Tafea FC qualified for the O-League and the national U-12 team won the OFC U-12
Festival of Football and played at the Danone Cup in France recently. Victor Maleb will be seen as Vanuatu’s main goal scoring threat.
Non-FIFA members Tuvalu will be looking to avoid a hiding on their return to the international stage with coach Toakai Puapua is happy to be at the South Pacific Games but may change his mind
if Carlos Buzzetti’s team continue their fine form with Roy Krishna and Osea Vakatalesau likely to show no mercy for the
Tuvaluans.
SATURDAY 25 AUGUST, 2007
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
1230hrs (GMT-13) Papua New Guinea vs. American Samoa
1230hrs (GMT-13) Fiji vs. Cook Islands
Pool A
Papua New Guinea
American Samoa
Fiji
Cook Islands
Solomon Islands
Pool B
Tonga
New Caledonia
Tahiti
Samoa
SATURDAY 25 AUGUST, 2007
MEN’S FOOTBALL
1500hrs (GMT-13) Solomon Islands vs. American Samoa
1500hrs (GMT-13) Tahiti vs. New Caledonia
1800hrs (GMT-13) Fiji vs. Tuvalu
2030hrs (GMT-13) Vanuatu vs. Samoa
Pool A
Fiji
Tahiti
New Caledonia
Cook Islands
Tuvalu
Pool B
American Samoa
Samoa
Tonga
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
For further information please contact:
Gordon Glen Watson
Media
Officer
Oceania Football Confederation
phone: +685 26504
fax: +685 38153
mobile: +685 758
8164
email: [email protected]
Olivier
Huc
Media
Officer
Oceania Football Confederation
< span>phone: +685 26504
fax: +685 38153
mobile: +685 758
8165
email: [email protected]
Extra Info
MEN’S FOOTBALL
The 2008 OFC Nations Cup and FIFA World Cup – South Africa 2010 qualifying pathway begins at the XIII South Pacific Games Men’s Football Tournament – Samoa
2007.
The top three teams from two groups qualify for Stage Two in a round robin home and away tournament with New Zealand.
The winner of Stage Two wins the 2008 OFC Nations Cup, qualifies for the FIFA Confederations Cup – South Africa 2009 and will also progress to Stage Three.
Stage Three will see Oceania’s representative play a home and away playoff against the 5th placed team in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for a berth at the FIFA World Cup –
South Africa 2010.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
The winner of the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 Women’s Football Tournament will progress to a two-match playoff against New Zealand for Oceania’s qualifying berth at the Olympic
Games – Beijing 2008.