PNG potential to be unleashed

OFC Nations Cup ProfilesPapua New GuineaWith a population well over the six-million mark – substantially more than Oceania heavyweights New Zealand – Papua New Guinea are the sleeping giants of Pacific football and it is surely only a matter of time before the nation’s true potential is unleashed.Some of that latent talent has already been…

A positive display from the All Whites in sweltering Texas conditions on Thursday (NZT) earned a 2-2 draw with El Salvador but has taken a physical toll on the players. Herbert was waiting to see how some pulled up but says his preference is to make few changes.“It was a tough game physically for the…

OFC TV will provide exclusive coverage from Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium in Solomon Islands where the hosts are set to battle it out with Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti and Vanuatu from 1-10 June for Oceania’s most coveted footballing prize. The winner will book a spot at the FIFA Confederations…

Warriors became the kings of Solomon Islands in April after winning the Telekom S-League title but proved no match for their national team opponents as Vanuatu ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.The tourists were given a scare though when pint-sized striker Micah Lea’alafa broke forward and rounded Vanuatu goalkeeper Enest Bong to give Warriors a shock…

A signing ceremony involving OFC President David Chung and UEFA President Michel Platini took place following the OFC Extraordinary Congress in Budapest on Wednesday as UEFA committed EUR 700,000 to the successful Just Play programme.It follows on from UEFA’s EUR 500,000 contribution to the initiative in 2010. Just Play is a FIFA-approved programme which promotes…

As the tournament – to be held in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara from 1-10 June – draws ever closer, oceaniafootball.com sat down with the 34-year-old custodian to get his thoughts on Tahiti’s chances and the disappointment of losing the 2012 O-League final with Tefana.How do you feel about the way your season has gone?It…

Chaired by OFC President David Chung, the Congress was attended by delegates of all 11 Member Associations of OFC as well as FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke. President Chung provided the Congress with a ‘report card’ of activities undertaken in the last 12 months. Presentations by OFC Secretariat staff…

Farina, a former striker and coach for the Socceroos, will be presented with the medal at the annual PFA Awards in Brisbane on 13 June, just days after Papua New Guinea’s Nations Cup campaign is due to wrap up.The 47-year-old becomes just the sixth person to receive the PFA’s highest honour, which indentifies a current…

Led by 22-year-old Tommy Smith, there were plenty of young faces in the New Zealand side and two of them – debutant Ian Hogg and Kosta Barbarouses, both also 22 – netted their first international goals to earn a share of the spoils against the world number 49.Hogg’s superb low strike across Salvadoran goalkeeper Benji…

The 22-year-old Ipswich Town player dons the armband for the first time in his 10th international and will also lead the team against Honduras on Sunday (NZT).He is believed to be the youngest All Whites skipper ever named.Danny Halligan, Malcolm Dunford and current All Whites coach Ricki Herbert were all 23 when they captained the…