SUVA - Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in conjunction with Fijian Television Broadcaster Mai TV is pleased to advise football fans of broadcast details for the OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 which kicks off at the Vodafone Arena in Suva this evening.

OFC and Mai TV are working together to provide exclusive television coverage of all the matches at this year's championship and a highlights package that will be distributed to broadcasters in each of the participating nations.

Mai TV will screen delayed coverage of Match Day One (Mon 6 July), Match Day Two (Tues 7 July), Match Day Three (Wed 8 July) and the Finals day (Fri 10 July) during Fijian prime time from 7:00pm to 8:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

A highlights package 'wrapping up' the championship’s most exciting moments will be distributed post-tournament to all the participating OFC Member Associations for on-forwarding to local broadcasters. Mai TV will also make this highlights package available online at www.tv.com.fj. 

The OFC Futsal Championship gets underway this evening with hosts Fiji playing Vanuatu (6:00pm Fiji Time) while New Caledonia take on defending champions Solomon Islands (8:00pm Fiji Time). In the same match-ups at last year’s championship, Vanuatu beat Fiji 5-2 while Solomon Islands beat New Caledonia 8-5.

Since the championship’s inception, Australia have won the title on four occasions in 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2004 but after the Soceroos left OFC in 2006, Solomon Islands stepped up to claim the OFC Futsal crown in 2008.

The event has previously been held every four years as part of the qualification process for the FIFA Futsal World Cup tournaments. Fiji 2009 marks the first year of the new annual format which shows OFC’s commitment to developing futsal by providing regular competition for Oceania’s top teams.

Stay tuned to www.oceaniafootball.com for regular championship updates including the latest scores, news and photos.

For live match updates visit www.fijilive.com


OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 - Television Schedule:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5651
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 884 018
E: priscilla@oceaniafootball.com

Joel Tiller
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5654
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 994 520
E: joel@oceaniafootball.com

Imtiaz Khan, coach of Fiji’s national Futsal team, believes the pressure is off his side going into the OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 which gets underway at Vodafone Arena in Suva tomorrow evening.

By Khan’s own admission, the Fiji squad is very young and arguably less experienced than their more fancied opposition – namely New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – and they had a disappointing 2008 campaign finishing fifth out of seven Oceania nations. 

The hosts will therefore go into this year’s championship with the underdog tag but Khan believes this could work in their favour.

“2009 is the start of a four-year cycle for us as we work towards qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2012,” said Khan.

“For this week’s championship, we’ve picked a group of young players who have a lot of potential but not as much experience as the likes of Solomon Islands who have already been to a FIFA Futsal World Cup. That means my boys can play without the weight of expectation hanging over them and hopefully cause some upsets in the process.”

Fiji striker Kamal Hassan, who won the Golden Boot Award at the OFC Futsal Championship in 2008, is expected to star for the hosts.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Football Association (FFA) has extended a warm welcome to all of the teams and officials who have arrived in Fiji over the past week. FFA President Dr. M.S Sahu Khan says they are expecting large crowds at Vodafone Arena.

“All teams will have strong crowd support, not only from those who support excellent Futsal, but from their own communities in and around the capital city,” said President Khan.

It is the second time Fiji has hosted the OFC Futsal Championship – an event previously held every four years but now run on an annual basis. President Khan believes the change of format is a step in the right direction.

“FFA fully supports this commitment by OFC to developing Futsal. And rightfully so, as Futsal has proved to be a popular means of conditioning players and providing a technical platform for the full outdoor football.”

The OFC Futsal Championship kicks off at 6:00pm on Monday (Fiji Time) with the opening match between Fiji and Vanuatu.

For live updates during the championship visit www.fijilive.com

OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 - Match Schedule

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5651
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 884 018
E: priscilla@oceaniafootball.com

Joel Tiller
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5654
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 994 520
E: joel@oceaniafootball.com

The referees charged with officiating this week’s OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 are sure to be on the ball after taking part in the FIFA Sub Regional Futsal Referee Instructor Course which continues this weekend.

Led by Referee Development Officer Massimo Raveino and Referee Instructor Neil Poloso, the course runs until Tuesday 7 July and is being held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva where the OFC Futsal Championship kicks off on Monday.

But as the excitement builds towards the championship, it is also a time of sadness and reflection as the funeral for Fiji referee Leone Rakoroi is held in Nadi today. Rakoroi, one of the Oceania's most respected referees, died last Sunday after being involved in a car accident. He will be well remembered by the entire Oceania football family.

At the referee course in Suva this weekend, around 20 match officials from nine Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) member associations are taking part.

Raveino says the course involves technical classroom-style sessions as well as practical sessions and aims to provide instructors with the necessary tools and training to enable them to run similar courses in their own countries.

OFC places high importance on developing world-class match officials in Futsal, Beach Soccer and football.

In 2008, referee development received a huge boost thanks to a brand new FIFA-funded Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP) which is now led by Raveino who has stressed how important it is for the programme to succeed.

“FIFA want results in OFC over the next few years and we need to provide them,” said the former referee from Tahiti.

Raveino is supported by Neil Poloso from the Solomon Islands who says the objective is to improve the performance, consistency and uniformity of elite referees and assistant referees in each member association.

“We are also trying to establish and fortify referee development programmes and this week’s course goes a long way to achieve that.”

As part of the high standards set by FIFA, all match officials involved in the OFC Futsal Championship have undergone a stringent Futsal Referees Fitness Test. Only those who pass the FIFA test are eligible to officiate this week's matches.

The championship, involving Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, kicks off on Monday and will conclude with the final and 3rd/4th place playoff on Friday.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5651
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 884 018
E: priscilla@oceaniafootball.com

Joel Tiller
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5654
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 994 520
E: joel@oceaniafootball.com

AUCKLAND – Veteran All Whites defender Ivan Vicelich admits the 86-year-old Chatham Cup still holds special meaning for him ahead of the fourth round’s headline fixture between Waitakere City and Central United on Sunday.

The 68-cap All White has done more than most kiwis in the game, from carving out a professional playing career at home (Football Kingz) and in Europe (Roda JC and RKC Waalwijk), to winning the NZFC and OFC Champions League last season with Auckland City, and now comes full circle in a competition where he got his first taste of success with a hat-trick of winner’s medals.

At 19, Vicelich turned in a man of the match performance to lift Waitakere to its first of three Chatham Cup titles with a 1-0 win over Wellington Olympic in the 1994 cup final in Napier, a feat he repeated three seasons later for Central as they engraved their name on the trophy for the first time.

“The Chatham Cup certainly holds some great memories for me having won it with both clubs,” said Vicelich, who also part of Central’s victorious 1998 team.

“It always throws up memorable games. I remember Central being two goals to Napier City Rovers down in the 1997 final in Napier and coming back to win 3-2 in extra time. It was a magnificent way to win with a lot of friends in the team and a lot of supporters making the trip down to witness the club win its first major trophy.”

The 32 year old has just returned from the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, a tournament for which he came out of international retirement, and while he has yet to decide whether he’ll be involved for the All Whites’ crucial World Cup playoff against Bahrain or Saudi Arabia later this year, he wasted no time in playing a pair of games for Central last weekend to blow off the jet lag and ensure he was eligible for this weekend’s fixture at Waitakere’s Fred Taylor Park.

“The cup is so full of tradition. It has a long history and it’s such a tough fight to get your hands on the trophy. People say the split between summer and winter has taken some of the shine of it but the players are still hungry and real football people know how much of an honour it is to win.”

Also vying for a place in the quarterfinals are four-time winners Waterside-Karori, although the Wellington Premier League side face a tough ask on Sunday against an Olympic side unbeaten in the Central League this season.

On Saturday, three time winners Miramar Rangers welcome Wellington United to the recently renamed David Farrington Park, while Auckland dark horse Three Kings take on Northern League leaders Lynn Avon at Ken Maunder Park and two time winners Manurewa clash with Metro at Memorial Park.

In Dunedin, the Southern Region’s leading clubs Caversham and Dunedin Tech will battle at the Caledonian on Saturday, while Glenfield Rovers and Forrest-Hill Milford meet in a Sunday cup derby on Auckland’s North Shore.

Nelson Suburbs – semi-finalists last season – became the first team into the last eight last weekend when they defeated Christchurch’s Woolston Technical 2-0 at Saxton Field.

All games kick off at 2pm (New Zealand Time)

Chatham Cup Round 4

Northern Region
Manurewa v Metro - Memorial Park, July 4
Lynn-Avon United v Three Kings United - Ken Maunder Park, July 4
Glenfield Rovers v Forrest Hill Milford - McFetridge Park, July 5
Waitakere City v Central United - Fred Taylor Park, July 5

Central Region
Miramar Rangers v Wellington United - David Farrington Park, July 4
Olympic v Waterside-Karori - Newtown Park, July 5

Southern Region
Nelson Suburbs 2 Woolston Technical 0 (played June 28)
Caversham v Dunedin Tech - Caledonian, July 4

Story and photo courtesy NZF Media

For the latest in NZ Football news visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

Where are you from?

At junior and youth level there is a big improvement with most clubs being very competitive. This can be attributed to the amount of junior and youth coaching courses that have been conducted. As of 2008 the OFC Technical Department has put in place a coaching manual for the OFC region. This has now given our local coaches not only a pathway to follow but also an identification process of where they are at now, and where they want to be in a few years time.

The rapid rise in the popularity of the Samoa Football Soccer Federation-Normalisation Committee (SFSF-NC) 'Fun Football' Juniors Saturday programme has created a need for positive expansion changes.

SFSF-NC CEO Colin Tuaa is taking measures to cater for this demand by inviting members of the public to assist with organising the Fun Football programme.

"Anyone with an interest in football and can who work with kids would be great to have assisting our programme," says CEO Tuaa.

Last Saturday 100 plus kids turned up for the Fun Football programme. When that number is combined with the number of parents who called SFSF-NC expressing interest this week, Technical Director Tunoa Lui has predicted this Saturday’s numbers to double.

A second field will also be made available for the children's programme this Saturday, to ensure that all age groups get to play small sided matches.

SFSF-NC is also looking to buy more equipment such as balls, bibs and cones to facilitate the increasing level of participation expected.

To all parents who have called in, and still have not had the time to bring their children, registrations will be carried out this Saturday for all children.

Fun Football is free and all parents need to do is to make sure that their child attends the programme on time. 

Parents are also advised that although we have water on the premises, it would be handy to bring a bottle along for your child.

Kids and parents, remember, same time, same place. SFSF-NC looks forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Courtesy of SFSF-NC Media

The National University of Samoa (NUS) does not only have academics on its payroll, it also has a bunch of enthusiastic footballers.

The NUS Staff Football team has registered a total of 28 players for the upcoming Samoa Football Soccer Federation-Normalisation Committee (SFSF-NC) Business House Tournament, which kicks off next week, 8 July 2009.

It is NUS’s seventh year in the tournament, and the closest they have gotten to winning was back in 2006, when they played the semi-finals against team Transam and won.

However, there were complaints as to the nature of affiliations of some of NUS' players, so their win was nullified.

In 2005, the NUS staff team tasted success, wining their pool and a Tanoa ('ava' bowl) to show for it.

Made up of Lecturers, members of the Media Unit, the Academic Registry and Physical Faculties, the group is a unique mixture with player’ ages ranging from 25-52 years of age.

However, staff committee Vice President Tafeamali'i Tino Duseigneur says age is the least of their worries.

"The majority of our players are aged between 25 and 35, and the elders still have a lot of strength in them, I wouldn't advise that anyone take them lightly," he said.

The NUS team has been preparing over the past three months for the 2009 tournament by holding friendly games. They’ve even fronted up against old rivals Transam, Origin Energy and MET from the local business community and government departments.

The teams have been playing friendly matches at the NUS grounds every Saturday.

"Our players are really serious about the upcoming tournament and we want to carve our mark this year," says Duseigneur.

He adds that the decision to implement the seven-a-side match in this year's tournament is a challenge for his team.

"We understand that seven-a-side is currently practiced globally and it is important that we keep up with what's happening around the world."

Duseigneur expects a tough and demanding tournament and has a warning for the NUS’ Business House rivals, “that’s (the new format) all the more reason why you (other teams) should come prepared.”
 
Aside from hard consistent training and years of experience, the team also boasts one club player in its squad.

A meeting will be held between SFSF-NC Business House Tournament co-ordinators, and representatives from all the teams who have already registered, this Tuesday (5:30pm) at the SFSF-NC headquarters in Tuana'imato.

This is to discuss rules and regulations of the tournament and to clear up any further related queries.

Interested teams are encouraged to join promptly and place their registration while entries are still available.
 
Meanwhile, the NUS staff team has a message for all businesses and government departments who have not yet joined the tournament entry list.

"Do not miss out on this great opportunity to not only get in shape and good health, but also to build friendships with other people from the business community and the public service," says Duseigneur.

Courtesy of SFSF-NC Media  

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) President Reynald Temarii will attend the unveiling of the Cook Islands Football Association’s new 500 seat grandstand and changing rooms facility.
 
Temarii will share the historical ceremony on Friday (10 July 2009) with Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai.
 
CIFA President Lee Harmon says that the facilities are the second and third phases of FIFA’s ‘Goal Programme’ for the national football association.

The changing rooms, powered by a solar hot-water system, are designed to accommodate both players and match officials. The first phase saw the construction of the CIFA head office, national football academy and two international playing pitches, completed and opened in 2004.  
 
Next week’s inauguration will give CIFA an autonomous capacity to provide football activities at local and international levels. The ‘Goal Programme’ was initiated by FIFA nine years ago in a move to meet the needs of national football associations around the world.
 
“We have come a long way within a few short years and this is testament to the vibrant partnership FIFA has with the people of the Cook Islands,” Harmon said.

“I am proud to say that football (soccer) is alive and is now part and parcel of our local communities, from the clubs here on the main island of Rarotonga, to those in the outer islands that are four-hours away by plane.”
 
“The opening of this grandstand makes CIFA the owner of one of only two grandstands in the Cook Islands and the other is owned by the Cook Island’s government.”
 
The grandstand was designed by local architectural firm Romani Designs and constructed by Landholdings Limited.

Courtesy of CIFA Media

Fiji marksman Osea Vakatalesau has been ruled out of the OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 through injury and has been replaced by 18-year-old Christopher Kumar.

The championship, involving Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu gets underway on Monday next week at the Vodafone Arena in Suva and culminates in a final and 3rd/4th place playoff on Friday.

DAV College student Kumar who mends the striker’s position, got the call up from Fiji Futsal management after Vakatalesau injured his knee while playing for Ba in last weekend’s National League fixture.

Vakatalesau, who also scored in the game, was one of the big names in the Fijian Futsal squad and was expected to pair up with last year's OFC golden boot winner Kamal Hassan in next week's championship.

Fiji FUTSAL executive Jainendra Sukhu said Vakatalesau’s injury was untimely but is confident the team will still do well without him.

“Osea was one of the key players in the squad with a lot of international exposure but the injury has ruled him out as his knee is badly hurt and he needs time to recover.”

“We have included Christopher Kumar from DAV College Ba as a cover for him and have other good strikers in the squad also to fill in for Vakatalesau.”

“Christopher was very impressive in the western Futsal tournament and was thus selected by coach Imtiaz Khan in the 25 member team and he also made the 15 member squad but was dropped from the final 12.”

“He has a lot of potential but needs exposure and by featuring in a regional tournament like this, he will gain a lot of experience and confidence” Sukhu said.

Kumar recently featured for the victorious West 2 U-18 team at the Fiji FACT where he awed fans with his dazzling skills and blistering pace.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com