OFC Auckland: The Oceania Football Confederation will be well represented in an exclusive group of guest draw assistants for the preliminary draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany on 5 December 2003 commencing at 1705hrs (local time), / 0505hrs (NZT)/ 0205hrs (AEST).
Oceania’s Player of the last Century and 1982 World Cup New Zealand All White, Wynton Rufer, will partner 1974 World Cup Australian Socceroo, Manfred Schäfer, in an impressive line-up of world famous personalities, which include six-time Formula One world champion, Michael Schumacher, Double Women’s World Cup and Olympic gold medal winner, Brandi Chastain and star referee, Pierluigi Collina.
Rufer and Schäfer will partake in the draw ceremony on the main stage of Frankfurt’s historical Festhalle auditorium in front of an anticipated live television audience of millions watching around the world. FIFA Deputy General Secretary, Jerome Champagne, will preside over the draw with over 700 journalists and 3000 others expected on hand to witness the event. Also in the seated audience will be FIFA president, Joseph S. Blatter and Brazilian legend Pele.
&61550; The full list of draw assistants taking part in the draw is as follows;
Asian Zone: Bum Kun Cha (former South Korean rep), Yasuhiko Okudera (former Japan rep)
African Zone: Abedi Pelé (former Ghana rep), Youssou N’Dour (Senegal: popular singer/songwriter)
North, Central America, Caribbean Zone: Brandi Chastain (USA women’s rep), Jorge Campos (Mexico rep)
Oceania Zone: Wynton Rufer (former New Zealand rep), Manfred Schäfer (former Australia rep)
European Zone: Michael Schumacher (Germany: Six-time Formula One World Champion), Pierluigi Collina (Italian star referee)
* Please note there will be no representatives for South American as their World Cup qualifiers have already commenced.
&61550; OFC Representative Profiles:
Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)
38 international caps and 17 goals for New Zealand
“Oceania Player of the Century”
1989-1995 Bundesliga (Werder Bremen: 174 caps, 59 goals)
1992/1993 German Championship, German Cup 1990/1991 and 1993/1994
1991/1992 European Cup Winners’ Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup finals participation
Manfred Schäfer (Australia)
73 international caps and one goal for Australia
Born in the former East Germany
1974 FIFA World Cup finals participation (3 appearances) for Australia
Assistant coach at Australian National League club Parramatta Power