OFC – SOLOMONS WITHDRAW FROM U-17 TOURNAMENT

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has withdrawn from the OFC U-17 Championship – Tahiti 2007 today. The decision to withdraw was announced at lunchtime today despite SIFF securing a sponsorship deal with Solomon Telekom worth SOL$1.4 million($300,000NZD). SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava said the decision to withdraw was a heartbreaking one but his federation…

The power and potential of football to reach the people of the South Pacific and help solve key social and health issues was the topic of discussion at a meeting between Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) General Secretary Tai Nicholas and Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Su’a Kevin Thomsen yesterday. Nicholas was in Wellington championing football…

Cook Islander Paavo Tariu Mustonen helped Campbelltown City ‘Quake’ Futsal club football team win the recent New South Wales Futsal Premier League, a five-a-side indoor competition. At just 17, Paavo celebrated with his team after they won the final match 2-1 over Sydney’s Magic team. Paavo trained under Australian national men’s Futsal coach Scott Gilligan…

Englishman James Pamment has agreed to help New Zealand Soccer navigate the uncharted “Road to Rio de Janeiro” and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Pamment has been appointed coach of the first New Zealand team eyeing FIFA’s newest World Cup on Brazil’s famous Copacabana in early November. NZ Soccer are making their first play…

Utility Peni Finau was phenomenal in Ba’s central midfield as the hosts overwhelmed Marist FC 3-2 in the O-League here Monday. “He was very impressive in the new role but I wasn’t surprised because Peni (Finau) is a quality player who loves going forward,” said Fiji coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti. “He is very skilful and…

Momentum to strengthen Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) links with German football gained some traction following OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas visit with German Ambassador Jorg Zimmermann today. Tai Nicholas met with Jorg Zimmermann in Wellington to discuss German Government support for developing a closer relationship with the Deutscher Fussball Bund (DFB), the German Olympic Sports…

A preventative injury programme that can cut sports injuries by up to 33% and have significant long term economic benefits has been presented to SPARC CEO Nick Hill, New Zealand Minister of Health Peter Hodgson and Minister of Sport Trevor Mallard. FIFA Medical experts Professor Jiri Dvorak and Dr. Tony Edwards joined Oceania Football Confederation…

The Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) search for a new headquarters gathered pace with OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas travelling to Wellington to gauge New Zealand Government interest in a proposed move to North Harbour. OFC has already investigated the possibility of moving it’s headquarters to New Caledonia with OFC President Reynald Temarii and FIFA Ambassador…

Ba took a massive step toward the 2007 O-League Final this evening following a 3-2 home win over Solomon Island champions Marist FC. Marist FC required at least a point from the fixture to keep their O-League hopes alive but got off to a disastrous start when Ba goalkeeper Laisenia Tuba opened the scoring from…

He helped France sweep all before them on the world football map and was part of the Real Madrid `Galacticos’ that won two UEFA Champions League titles at the turn of the century. The inimitable Christian Karembeu arrived back in his home country of New Caledonia to celebrate the Ground Breaking ceremony at the FIFA…