FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – BILIKIKI BACK IN TRAINING

The Solomon Islands Bilikiki Beach Soccer squad is back training together in preparation for November’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai 2009 and features a few new faces. The Bilikiki side qualified for the FIFA tournament by beating Fiji, Tahiti and Vanuatu at the OFC Beach Soccer Championship in Tahiti last month. Coach Henry Koto held a training session at DC Park in Honiara yesterday with…

After a groundbreaking ceremony, long-term development workshop and elective congress, the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is ready for a busy four years ahead. SIFF held its 20th Congress in Gizo over the weekend during which Martin Alufurai, MBE, was re-elected as president while Robert Riqeo and Stanley Siapu were re-elected as senior vice-president and…

WELLINGTON – The All Whites are calling on the nation’s support to help them return to the FIFA World Cup after a 27 year absence. At Monday’s launch of an innovative internet-driven campaign to rally New Zealand’s sporting public for the decisive home game in Wellington on November 14, All Whites captain Tim Brown spoke…

WELLINGTON – It was the Leo Bertos show at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Sunday afternoon – the attacking midfielder’s sensational 85th-minute strike securing three competition points for the Wellington Phoenix in their Hyundai A-League 2009/10 home opener against Perth Glory. Bertos’ 35m thunderbolt lifted the Phoenix to a 2-1 win before an extremely healthy…

An official groundbreaking ceremony has taken place in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands to mark the beginning of a FIFA Goal III Project that will see John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) Stadium redeveloped to meet international playing standards. The ceremony in Gizo on Friday 14 August was attended by representatives from FIFA, Oceania Football Confederation…

Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) ‘Just Play’ football initiative has etched its mark in the Cook Islands as an annual event with the six-week programme reaching its 2009 conclusion this week. Attracting around 200 children between the ages of five and 13 years on Saturdays, the response has overwhelmed the hosts, participants and parents who had…

Officials from the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) are visiting the outer island of Aitutaki this week where they are conducting an OFC Junior Coaching Course for participants on the island. CIFA’s Technical Director Maurice Tillotson and Development Officer Jimmy Katoa have ‘tailor-made’ the course to meet the needs of the participants – many of…

The eagerly anticipated annual Secondary Schools Football Competition is now ready to kick off its six weeks of play this Friday 14 August. Tonga Football Association (TFA) has received confirmation from 11 secondary schools from around Tongatapu with 47 teams making up the draw, 19 of which are girls’ teams. A total cash prize pool…

For the first time in history the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is holding its Congress in a province outside of the capital Honiara. Gizo in the Western Province is the host of the 20th Congress (11-15 August) which involves delegates from SIFF and its provincial football associations as well as representatives from Oceania Football…

Wednesday’s programme of international friendlies marks the start of a long season that will culminate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. With most of Europe’s leagues yet to resume activity after the summer break, this latest round of friendlies gives coaches an opportunity to re-establish contact with their players, put new tactics, personnel…