Solomons inch closer to usurping Tahiti

FIFA.com: After some dramatic rises in June due to the stunning results from the OFC Nations Cup in Adelaide, there were only minor movements in the latest FIFA rankings for July 2004. Only Solomon Islands and Fiji moved up, two places each to 128 and 131 respectively and inching closer to Tahiti on 122 and…

OFC: There was welcome relief for Fijian skipper Esala Masi this week, as his club South Cardiff Gunners rocketed back into form with a devastating 5-1 victory over high flyers Hamilton Olympic away from home on Sunday. Having endured a six match winless run, the Gunners caused one of the biggest upsets of the Northern…

OFC: The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will be holding an extraordinary congress in Port Vila, Vanuatu this Saturday, 10 July. The congress will be hosted by the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) in conjunction with its 70th anniversary celebrations. In attendance will be FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter who is making his fourth visit to the…

PAGO PAGO: The Kanana Fou grounds was a sea of colours last Saturday morning as a record crowd of more than a thousand, consisting of enthusiastic soccer players from six to 20 years old, their parents, relatives and guardians turned up to kick off the 2004 American Samoa Football Association (ASFA) Summer Soccer League. Coordinated…

SUVA: Fijian international Thomas Vulivuli’s two goals helped his Suva team to a 3-1 upset over the unbeaten Lautoka Blues in wet conditions at the National Stadium in Suva over the weekend. In the feature round match of the Coca Cola/Nokia national league, Taniela Waqa had given the Blues an early 1-0 lead. But the…

OFC, Auckland 5 July 2004: The Oceania Football Confederation has appointed an all-island trio of match officials for the upcoming 2004 FIFA Olympic men’s football tournament in Athens, Greece next month. Tahitian Referee Charles Ariiotima, who replaces the injured Derek Rugg of New Zealand, will be accompanied by Assistant Referees’, Michael Mouauri of the Cook…

PAPEETE: Tahiti has regained hold of the much sought after French Overseas Territories Cup, or Dom-Tom Cup as it is more popularly known. The Dom-Tom Cup is played annually between the champion club team of New Caledonia and Tahiti. The winner earns a trip to the finals in Paris. After relinquishing the Cup last season…

ASA: The best young female footballing talent from around the country converges on Valentine Sports Park in Sydney’s west this weekend for the 2004 version of the Qantas National Talent Identification Championships – Women’s U15 and U17. The action kicks off Saturday 3 July, with the champions to be decided the following Saturday 10 July….

FIFA: As of Thursday, 1 July 2004, matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces if permitted by the applicable competition regulations. This amendment to the Laws of the Game was approved by the International F.A. Board (IFAB), the custodians of football’s laws, at its 118th Annual General Meeting, held in London on 28…

ASA: The Australian women’s national team, the Qantas Matildas, started their final Olympic Games preparations by opening their two-match series against China with a 2-0 win at the Chinese Football Association National Training Centre near Beijing. With the scores deadlocked at nil-all at half time, Sarah Walsh (pictured right) netted twice in the second half…