NZ FACE BELGIUM IN MUST-WIN ENCOUNTER

AUCKLAND – The Oly-Whites’ hopes of reaching the quarter-finals on their Olympic debut rest on a Shanghai showdown with Belgium on Wednesday night. The top two of each group progress to the final eight and New Zealand will leapfrog the second-placed Belgians with victory at the 80,000-seater Shanghai Stadium. China could also come into contention…

Vodafone Ba stormed to a 4-0 victory against Suva at the National Stadium in a tense and aggressive New World National Football League Super Six encounter on the weekend. The Men in Black, who have already qualified for the O League, were a far superior outfit against the hosts. Ba coach Yogen Datt was satisfied with the performance…

AUCKLAND – The rapid improvement of the Football Ferns was checked by the USA on Tuesday night, in a 0-4 loss to the reigning Olympic champions in Shenyang. The top-ranked Americans scored twice in each half – including the fastest ever Olympic goal – to  claim top spot in Group G ahead of Norway –…

THE Fiji Football Association has slapped hefty fines and suspensions on Suva players and officials for manhandling referee Dhirendra Kewal during a tournament last month. Suva coach Allen Jesoni has been fined $3000 and suspended for 12 months for swearing at the referee while team manager Riaz Hussain received a $5000 fine and a two-year…

While most eyes in OFC were focused on the performances of the New Zealand Men’s and Women’s football teams in Beijing last night a trio of Oceania referees were officiating their first match at the 2008 Olympics. Michael Hester (New Zealand), Tevita Makasini (Tonga) and Michael Joseph (Van) got their first taste of the Olympic…

AUCKLAND – The Oly-Whites found themselves on the wrong end of a golden signal of Olympic intent from Ronaldinho’s Brazil on Sunday night, losing 0-5 to the favourites in Shenyang. Despite five World Cup victories, two Confederation Cups and a total of seven age-group World Cups at U-20 and U-17 levels, Brazil have never claimed…

AUCKLAND – A 0-1 loss to fast-starting Norway in Qinhuangdao on Saturday night has left the Football Ferns needing to topple the world’s best team to progress to the quarter-finals of their first Olympic Games but with enough belief to do it. An eighth minute goal from Melissa Wiik proved the difference for the now-qualified…

Papua New Guinea football Association will conduct a junior soccer coaching certificate course in Wabag early next month. This course has been proposed by the Wabag School Soccer Association after noticing soccer coaching skill needs in their school competition. According to Wabag School Soccer Coordinator, Mark Sakol, the soccer coaching course will be the first…

AUCKLAND – A second half Jeremy Brockie strike put ten-man New Zealand on course to spoil China’s Olympic party until a late header from Manchester United forward Dong Fangzhuo held the gutsy Oly-Whites to a 1-1 draw in Shenyang on Thursday night. Fangzhuo’s 87th minute equaliser was a cruel blow for a New Zealand side…

Hekari Souths United have signed two more Solomon Islanders as part of their preparations for the O-League championship later this year. National beach soccer team goalkeeper Fred Hale and Marist defender Arnold Keni are the latest recruits. This brings the number of Solomon Islanders with United to eight including coach Jerry Allan. Jack Samani and…