With the 2010 O-League kicking off this weekend, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to inform football fans of the media coverage for Match Day 1.

OFC has signed a ground-breaking agreement with Triangle and Stratos Television in New Zealand to ensure all Auckland City FC and Waitakere United’s home matches will be available on free-to-air television (Triangle) as well as on the digital platform (Stratos) within 24 hours after the completion of each match. 

In terms of television coverage outside of New Zealand, discussions are well advanced with OFC’s Broadcast Partner Network to facilitate live and delayed broadcasts of matches in each of the participating nations, as well as replays of away matches in those countries where possible.  

Defending champions Auckland City FC will get their 2010 O-League campaign underway at home this Saturday when they meet Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura. A full replay of the match at Kiwitea Street will be screened on Triangle at 10pm Saturday with a second replay airing at 12pm on Stratos the following day.

Waitakere United meanwhile will play away against AS Magenta in Noumea for their first round match on 24 October before hosting the New Caledonians on 7 November at Fred Taylor Park. The return-leg will be replayed on Triangle and Stratos Television with broadcast details to follow on oceaniafootball.com and tritv.co.nz

Coverage will be provided by a high quality outside broadcast crew including expert commentary from former All Whites striker Fred De Jong. 

Triangle is available on Auckland UHF channels 41, 42 and 52 while Stratos can be viewed nationwide on Freeview Channel 21 and Sky Digital Channel 89. Christchurch viewers can also tune in via Telstra Clear Cable Channel 89. For more information and tuning instructions visit tritv.co.nz/index.php/tune-in

For website coverage, oceaniafootball.com will provide LIVE text updates for the Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura on Saturday from 3:00pm local time. Photos and results from all the matches will be available on oceaniafootball.com following the completiton of Match Day 1.

To view a copy of the 2010 O-League Programme click here

New Zealand Football is providing urgent financial assistance to Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) partners whose facilities were damaged by the September 30 tsunami.

Funding of $5000 each is being sent to Western Samoa and American Samoa to help with urgently needed repair and replacement of football infrastructure and equipment such as buildings, playing fields and goalposts, NZF Chairman Frank van Hattum said.

The damage to Football Federation American Samoa’s waterfront national headquarters at Pago Park in Pago Pago was extensive. The offices were flooded and damaged; a tool shed, water pump, garage and storage shed were swept away and the playing field flooded and coated in oil and debris.

FFAS groundsman Paepae Soia Su was the only staff member there when the tsunami struck. He ran from the huge wave but was caught by it and swept inland. He escaped with his life by clinging to a tree. Soia Su’s truck disappeared in the flood and hasn’t been seen since.

In Samoa the tsunami was just as devastating but the offices of the Samoa Football Soccer Federation (SFSF) and the J.S. Blotter Football Complex just 10 minutes from downtown Apia provided refuge for hundreds of people as they waited for news about their homes and family members.

“Our Oceania partners are in crisis and New Zealand Football has decided to provide some financial assistance to help with urgent needs and assist them to rebuild,” van Hattum said.

New Zealand won the OFC to earn a playoff against fifth-placed Asian team Bahrain for a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The second leg of the playoff is being held in Wellington on November 14 in front of a capacity crowd.

“We are mindful of the fortunate position we are in with tremendous support coming from the public for our World Cup bid, while our Oceania friends are suffering,” van Hattum said. 

Story courtesy of NZF Media

The newly-expanded 2010 O-League featuring the champion clubs of Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu is set to get underway this weekend.

Now in its fourth season, the O-League has grown from six to eight teams reflecting the rising popularity of the competition and enabling more OFC member associations to take part.

OFC President Reynald Temarii believes the expansion, which was approved by the OFC Executive Committee in June, will help to lift the overall standards in Oceania.

“Building a strong club competition is a crucial component in our region’s development and will only help to improve the standards of quality and technical skill both on and off the field,” said President Temarii.  

The 2010 O-League has been split into two groups of four teams and will follow a league system where each club plays one home and one away match against each of the other clubs in the same group. The highest ranked Group A side and the highest ranked Goup B side will then advance to a two-legged final stage to decide Oceania’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010.

In action for Group A this weekend will be defending champions Auckland City FC taking on Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura at Kiwitea Street in Auckland on Saturday. Meanwhile cross-town rivals Waitakere United, who won the O-League in 2007 and 2008, will have to wait until 24 October to get their 2010 campaign underway when they visit Noumea to play AS Magenta in the other Group A match.

In Group B, Hekari United FC (PNG) will play away against Tafea FC at Municipal Stadium in Port Vila on Saturday while Marist FC host Fiji club Lautoka at Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium the following day. 

General Secretary Tai Nicholas says the 2010 season is expected to be as intriguing as ever. 

“With a total of 26 matches culminating in a home-and-away final in April/May 2010, this season’s O-League promises to throw up many twists and turns.”

The OFC Club Championships started in 1999 and became known as the O-League in 2007 when the competition adopted a home-and-away format. Auckland City FC won the inaugural O-League and followed that up with victory last year over Solomon Island club Koloale FC in the final.

Auckland will represent Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 in December alongside the five other continental club champions and hosts UAE.

To view a copy of the 2010 O-League Programme click here

Marist FC fans will be taking confidence from the return of one of the brightest stars, international striker Commins Menapi, when their team opens its 2010 O-League campaign against Fiji’s Lautoka this Sunday in Honiara.

Menapi has also returned to his former club after playing with New Zealand’s Waitakere United FC and, for a number of seasons, with Honiara champions Makuru Football Club.

He is arguably the Solomon Island’s most well known footballer and has gathered extensive experience for a number of clubs playing in New Zealand and Australia. Menapi has gained in excess of 30 caps for his country and will be invaluable role model to his younger teammates and his lethal striking ability will worry all opponents.

And Marist will come into this weekend’s match high on confidence after a morale boosting 4–0 win over Zome Mars FC, lead by Solomon Islands World Cup Beach Soccer star James Naka during their recent build up to this O-League Championship.

Earlier this week they completed a week long training camp at the NAC facilities in Tenaru. In what may be a good omen the same venue was used by the club when preparing for the finals of the Our Telekom National Club Championship which they then went on to win, beating  Koloale FC 1-0 in the final.

Menapi is accompanied by some other will known Oceania footballers in this Marist squad; midfielder Abraham Iniga, and central defender Jacob Pekau will wear blue and white this season after both switching allegiances from (Group B rivals) Papua New Guinea club Hekari.

Also featured in the 2010 O-League squad are some young players with exciting potential to add to an already potent Marist strike force.

Fleet footed forward Tutizama Tanito was revelation during Marist’s National Club Championship campaign.

Joe Luwi has already established his name in the O-League with KOSSA FC. He comes with a reputation for powerful shooting ability and a canny sense for attacking opportunities.

Experienced midfielder Abraham Iniga will wear the captain’s armband for Marist FC in this season’s O-League. Iniga was a key member of Marist’s acclaimed 2004/05 team which included stars like Jack Samani and Jerry Allen.

Solomon Island futsal sensation Elliot Ragomo, 19, has been awarded top goal scorer at the 2009 Al-Fateh Confederations Cup – a tournament featuring some of the best futsal players in the world.

Staged in Libya from 6-12 October, the competition featured the champion teams of each confederation barring UEFA after Spain withdrew at late notice.

Ragomo finished with six goals to claim the golden boot award despite the Solomon Island Kurukuru finishing last behind Iran, Uruguay, Libya and Guatemala.

The skillful striker has been an inspirational captain of the youthful national side, leading the Kurukuru to their second successive victory at the OFC Futsal Championship in July 2009.

He has won many accolades including most recently the Young Solomon Islander of the Year award in August.

Ragomo was the first ever Solomon Islander to play futsal as a professional when he played for Playas De Castellyon in the Nacinal Futsal Liga in Spain in 2007. He graduated from the Playas De Castellyon juvenile development squad in 2006 to make his name in their senior squad.

As national captain he led the Kurukuru in 2008 as they became the first Solomon Islands team to appear at a FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Domestically, Ragomo plays for the Brissolona Futsal Club and with Central Titans in the Honiara Beach Soccer League.

AL-FATEH CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Honours

Best Player 
Vahid Shamsaei (Iran)

Best Goalkeeper
Mohammed Al-Sharif (Libya)

Top Goal Scorer
Elliot Ragomo (Solomon Islands)

Fair Play Team
Libya

Matches

Standings

Fiji club Navua made history on Monday by winning the Inter District Championship for the first time in the 71-year history of the competition.

Since breaking into the premier ranks in 1990, it was Navua’s first final appearance in the IDC and the team held their nerve to win 2-0 win over Lautoka at the Vodafone Prince Charles Park in Nadi.

With two early goals from Alvin Avinesh and Shalesh Kumar, Navua then put in an impressive defensive effort to secure the victory. Lautoka had opportunities, including a penalty chance for Jone Vono Junior, but failed to capitalise.

It was an emotional moment for Navua Soccer Association President Anil Sharma who is stepping down from the position after last week being elected as one of Fiji FA’s Vice Presidents.

“During my term with Navua I have achieved what I wanted to do and now I will take all achievements to Fiji FA,” said Sharma.

“We have won the Fiji FACT and BOG titles but winning the IDC crown is the best feeling for me as it is the biggest and most prestigious tournament in Fiji.”

The Navua players will have a share of $50,000 for their historic win.

Photo courtesy of Fiji Times

The Solomon Islands national futsal team have gone down 0-6 against Asian powerhouse Iran in their final match at the Alfateh Intercontinental Futsal Championship in Libya.

With strong counter-attacking play, the Iranians caught the young Kurukuru off-guard on several occasions and were lethal with their set plays.

The Solomon Islands were in control during the opening exchanges and went close through Micah Lea’alafa whose shot went just wide.

But inside five minutes Iran were 1-0 up after a well taken set play. They followed that up with a second strike in the 8th minute, again from a dead ball situation, to double the lead.

The Kurukuru regrouped and started making advances but struggled to find a way through the Iranian defensive blockade.

With a goalkeeper in top form, Iran thwarted any shots that did make it through, and grabbed two more goals at the other end to take a 4-0 lead into the break.

Solomon Islands fought strongly in the second period using pace and skill to good effect and had the Iranians back peddling for extended periods. But Iran scored two more goals in quick succession to put the game out of reach.

The result was well deserved for the Asian champions who showed their class and strong strategic play. Nevertheless, the young Kurukuru side took heart from solid performances throughout the tournament where they had drawn huge support from an admiring crowd.

Story courtesy of SIFF Media

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert rates Saturday evening’s draw against Bahrain in Manama as the best of his coaching career and says it has put the All Whites fate in their own hands when they return to Wellington for the November 14 home leg.

Herbert’s move to play three central defenders and the three pronged attack of Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon and Chris Killen had been labelled a risk, but while the All Whites were kept scoreless – despite tireless work from the front trio – the team’s ability to soak up pressure in oppressive conditions and break up Bahraini attacks means the two nations once again start level at Westpac Stadium.

A victory on home soil would clinch a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

“We’re under no illusions what we have in front of us,” Herbert said.

“It’s in our hands now, like it was in Bahrain’s tonight. You get the chance to play in front of a fantastic home crowd like Bahrain did tonight, and we won’t disappoint you with the crowd we’ll have in Wellington.”

“Expectations around New Zealand were that an absolutely outstanding performance would be to bring a point home and a very good performance would have been a narrow loss.

“The nation will be excited that we’ve brought the tie home. We’ve got a fantastic stadium, it’ll be sold out and it’s up to us to put a couple of balls in the back of the net and win the tie”

The All Whites were under pressure for large portions of the match but the second half substitutions of youngsters Chris Wood and Michael McGlinchey helped reverse the tide. The combination of the two resulted in Wood burying New Zealand’s best chance, albeit picked up by the linesman as being from a slightly offside position.

Bahrain had their chances too, and Herbert hailed two “excellent” saves from his keeper Mark Paston that kept Bahrain at bay as well as a "gutsy" team effort.

“I like what we saw for long periods, and whilst we were under pressure I would’ve been surprised if we weren’t. Australia are the best team in Asia and they were put under pressure when they came here.

“The back three of Sigmund, Nelsen and Vicelich were absolutely outstanding and laid the platform to give us a very precious outcome.”

Given the scale of what’s at stake over the home and away playoff between the Oceania champions and the fifth best team in Asia, Herbert rates the draw as the best yet from his four years in charge of the All Whites.

“I think it’s right up there. To come here and bring that tie home like that. I’m very proud of the players.”

“Certainly in my tenure as manager of the national team, that would be the best.”

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers

First Leg
Bahrain 0 New Zealand 0

Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets from http://www.oneshotforglory.co.nz/ or 0800 TICKETEK

Story and photo courtesy of NZF Media

New Zealand’s dream of making the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is still very much alive after the All Whites battled to a 0-0 draw against Bahrain in Manama on Saturday evening in the first of two playoff matches.

The Oceania champions will now host Asia’s fifth placed qualifier Bahrain in the crucial return-leg on 14 November in Wellington to see who will go through to FIFA’s pinnacle event.

In what was the biggest football match for New Zealand since 1982, the All Whites managed to control their nerves and settle into the game well at Bahrain’s National Stadium.

With a three-pronged attack in Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz and Rory Fallon, the Kiwis took a direct approach and looked the more physical side but had to be wary of Bahrain strikers Hussain Ahmed and Jaycee Okwunwanne who showed plenty of pace.

The first half was a tight affair with possession shared and very few chances falling to either team. Bahrain’s best opportunity came in the 20th minute when Okwunwanne blazed the ball wide of Mark Paston’s left post from just outside the area after Simon Elliot had given away possession moments earlier.

Paston spent much of the first period as a spectator but was called into action in the second half as the hosts enjoyed better ball possession and started to dictate the pace of the game.

Salman Isa missed a gilt-edged chance in the 75th minute when he rounded the All White keeper but struck the ball into the post. Okwunwanne had been waiting unmarked in the box and clearly showed his frustration at the midfielder for not turning the ball square.

Fouzi Aaish and Mohammed Hubail prompted excellent saves from Paston while another Okwunwanne strike was deflected away for a corner after a desperate defensive lunge by Ben Sigmund.

New Zealand also had their opportunities with substitute Chris Wood putting the ball in the back of the net in the 72nd minute only to be called back for offside. Killen, who was solid throughout, had his 74th minute shot sail just wide then went close five minutes later with an acrobatic effort from a Michael McGlinchey cross.

Despite late pressure from the Bahrainis, the All Whites held on for the draw with expert leadership shown by Ryan Nelson.

The Kiwis will take confidence into the second-leg which is scheduled for 14 November at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium. New Zealand last competed in a FIFA World Cup way back in 1982, with their present coach Ricki Herbert a member of that team, while Bahrain are yet to play in the showpiece event.

The tiny Gulf nation, with a population of a little over a million, came agonizingly close to playing in the FIFA World Cup four years ago but lost to Trinidad and Tobago at the same stage and at the same venue.

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying 

First Leg
Bahrain 0 New Zealand 0
Saturday 10 October
Bahrain National Stadium

Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets: www.oneshotforglory.com or 0800 TICKETEK

New Zealand: 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 4-Ben SIGMUND, 6-Ryan NELSEN (Captain), 5-Ivan VICELICH, 11-Leo BERTOS, 3-Tony LOCHHEAD, 8-Tim BROWN (12-Michael MCGLINCHEY 68), 7-Simon ELLIOTT, 9-Shane SMELTZ, 14-Rory FALLON (13-Chris WOOD 66), 10-Chris KILLEN,
Substitutes not used: 2-Aaron SCOTT, 15-David MULLIGAN, 16-Andrew BOYENS, 17-Andy BARRON, 18-James BANNATYNE (RGK).
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Cautions: Mark Paston, Ryan Nelsen

Bahrain: 1-Mohamed Jaffar, 5-Mohamed Ahmed Hubail, 6-Jayece John, 7-Sayed Mahmood Jala, 9-Husail Ali Ahmed, 10-Mohamed Ahmed Salmeen, 12-Faouzi Mubarak Aaish, 14-Salman Isa Ali (13-Mahmood Abdulrahman Mohamed 79), 15-Abdulla Ismaeel Omar,16-Sayed Mohamed Adnan, 17-Husain Ali Mohamed
Substitutes not used: 2-Mohamed Husain Mohamed, 3-Ahmed Hassan Rashed, 4-Abdulla Baba Fatadi, 8-Aala Ahmed Hubail, 11-Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaeel, 18-Abbas Ahmed Ali
Coach: Milan Marcala.

The Solomon Islands men’s Futsal team have secured their first point at the Alfateh Confederations Cup in Libya on Friday, drawing with Guatemala 6-6.

The result is the Kurukuru’s best at a major international tournament and will help to erase the pain of their agonising 5-6 opening game loss to the Cup hosts Libya.

The Solomon Islanders leapt out to a 2-0 lead which Guatemala were able to cancel out with two strikes of their own to draw level at halfime.

Guatemala continued their form revival by going ahead early in the second half, but this sparked the Kurukuru to lift their play again, establishing an imposing 6-3 lead.

But Guatemala also proved they weren’t prepared to surrender and began to utilize their goal keeper as a fifth attacker and the tactic paid off as they scored three straight goals. The final equalizing Guatemalan goal came with just 1:24 left on the clock.

Solomon Islands captain Elliot Ragomo scored four goals for his team and could have had more had he been able to capitalize on three 10 metre penalty opportunities.

Story courtesy of SIFF Media

DUBAI – One final training session at Bahrain National Stadium is all that lies between the All Whites and the biggest game of their lives – the first of two matches against the Arabic island kingdom for a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

After four intense training sessions over the first two days in camp in Dubai, the All Whites were given the chance to refresh and recharge their batteries on Thursday with just a solitary afternoon session.

It turned out to be their final run out in Dubai – the official walkover at the match venue in Manama on Friday night is still to come – but coach Ricki Herbert has sensed his players are mentally and tactically prepared and is now taking steps to ensure their physiological readiness.

“I think managers are going to have different styles,” Herbert said, “and on the brink of a massive game like this my reflections have always been it’s an important time for the players now. I was probably the same as a 21 year old going to a World Cup.

“We have some very good players here, who understand the enormity of the challenge. Friday would have been around rehearsing set plays but we extended Thursday’s session to cater for that, and instead we’ll put the players in the pool in the morning.”

“There’s a good vibrancy around the group but also a deep sense of the reality of what Saturday night’s about now.”

All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner and technical advisor Raul Blanco travelled to Bahrain a day earlier than the rest of the group to make sure there are no surprises when the All Whites fly into opposition territory.

Herbert is due to name his starting eleven on Saturday morning (NZ time).

FIFA World Cup™ Intercontinental Playoff

First Leg
Bahrain v New Zealand
October 10, kick-off 6.30pm local (4.30am Oct 11 NZDST)
National Stadium, Manama
Live on Sky Sport
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets from www.oneshotforglory.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK

Story courtesy of NZF Media

The Solomon Islands men’s Futsal team has lost a nail biting tournament opening match against host nation Libya by one goal at the Alfateh Confederations Futsal Cup on Wednesday.

The hosts came away with a 6–5 win against the young Kurukuru side despite the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) defending champions at one early stage leading their hosts by three goals.

Kurukuru team manager Mapuru Tausinga reported that the game was played with high intensity throughout, describing the pace of the match as “frantic.”

It was the Kurukuru who came out with all guns blazing as captain Elliot Ragomo netted his first and then quickly added a second. Jack Wetney added his name to the scorer’s sheet as the touring team leapt out to a 3-0 lead.

But Libya quickly adjusted their tactics and with some clever play drew level. Despite a further two goals to Solomon Islands players Micah Lea’alafa and Jenan Kapu, Libya were able to gain the lead 6-5.

As the game neared its conclusion the Libyan goal keeper made a string of excellent saves to keep his team one goal ahead in the dying minutes.

Despite the loss, Mapuru Tausinga was delighted that his young team had played at the high standard expected of them.

“When we arrived many people here had no idea where the Solomon Islands are. But now I believe they will want to find out,’ Tausinga said.

“The boys, especially Elliot Ragomo and Jack Wetney, made a big impression on the crowd with their skills.”

On day two of the tournament the Kurukuru struggled to back-up their opening day form and were soundly beaten 11-1 by Uruguay.

Courtesy of SIFF Media 

Influential All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has been declared fit to start New Zealand’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Manama on Saturday night.

Nelsen took full part in a training session on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning NZT) and showed few signs of the back injury that ruled him out of Blackburn Rovers match against Arsenal last week.

Team medical staff monitoring the central defender’s fitness later gave Nelsen the all clear to start in the first leg of the FIFA World Cup playoff with assistant coach Brian Turner describing it as a significant lift.

“Ryan’s a huge influence on this team. His presence on and off the park is immense and it would’ve been a body blow if he wasn’t available. He’s the consummate professional, he’s looked after himself and he’s 100 percent fit so that’s a real bonus for us,” Turner said.

Nelsen’s presence means Ricki Herbert and his coaching staff can pick from the full quota of senior players and draw on their collective experience of professional football in England, Holland, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

“This team’s been four years in the making," Turner said.
 
"The players are now in their twenties some of them late twenties so there is a lot of experience, and in games like this you need to tap into that experience of playing in big leagues around the world because we’ll need it on Saturday night.”

FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoff

First Leg
Bahrain v New Zealand
October 10, kick-off 6.30pm local (4.30am Oct 11 NZDST)
National Stadium, Manama
Live on Sky Sport
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Courtesy of NZF Media

DUBAI – The All Whites have wasted no time in switching on for the first leg of their crucial World Cup playoff against Bahrain, hitting the training pitch almost as soon as they reached their plush Dubai hotel.

The final eight players of a 19-man All Whites squad touched down in the UAE early Tuesday morning and were soon lacing up their boots for the first of six precious trainings before Saturday night’s mammoth playoff for a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

“Every second we have together is priceless,” said All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, “and so it’s important to get everyone into the environment and switched on to what we need to do on Saturday night.”

Herbert, Shane Smeltz and five Wellington Phoenix players arrived in Dubai on Sunday, joined by five US- and UK-based squad members a day later.

Influential captain Ryan Nelsen – who missed Blackburn’s weekend fixture through injury – took part in light activities in a positive start to his race to be fit for Bahrain.

Temperatures topped 30 degrees centigrade in a short but sharp mid morning session, not that fazed Herbert or the players.

“We’ve played in similar conditions – if not more humid – during the qualifying campaign in the Pacific so we’ll adjust quickly, and it’ll be a productive week on the training pitch,” Herbert added.

FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoff

First Leg
Bahrain v New Zealand
October 10, kick-off 6.30pm local (4.30am Oct 11 NZDST)
National Stadium, Manama
Live on Sky Sport
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Scond Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets from www.oneshotforglory.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK

Story courtesy of NZF Media

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

Oceania referees will feature prominently in the crucial knock-out stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt this week.

New Zealand referee Peter O’Leary and his assistants Brent Best (NZL) and Matthew Taro (SOL) have been appointed to the Round of 16 match between Ghana and South Africa kicking off at 16:30 (local time) on Tuesday 6 October in Ismailia.

The trio, who performed credibly during the group stages of the tournament, are in the running for an appointment at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and Tuesday’s match will act as an important part of the screening process.

Meanwhile, FIFA Referees’ Committee member Harry Atisson from Vanuatu will also be representing Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in Egypt after being selected as a referee assessor for the clash between Brazil and Uruguay in Port Said on Wednesday. Atisson says it will be an honour to fly the flag for Oceania.

“We are very proud to represent Oceania Football Confederation in this important FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament in Egypt,” says Atisson, who officiated at the FIFA U-17 World Championship Trinidad and Tobago 2001. 

OFC places high importance on developing world class match officials. In 2008 referee development received a huge boost thanks to a brand new FIFA-funded Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP).

Under the supervision of Referee Development Officer Massimo Raveino (TAH), Referee Instructor Neil Poloso (SOL) and Fitness Trainer Kader Touati (FRA), the programme is helping to create a more organised, professional approach to refereeing in Oceania.

The RAP team facilitates a range of courses throughout the region aimed at the wide spectrum of match officials – from elite to community referees, from futsal to beach soccer referees. These initiatives have helped to increase the level of representation for Oceania at international tournaments.

Two of the world’s top women’s football coaches are in New Zealand this week to impart their knowledge with 30 elite coaches selected from around the Oceania region.

Belgium’s national women’s coach Anne Noë and former USA national coach April Heinrichs are leading the FIFA/OFC follow-up technical course for women’s football from 5-10 October at Kristin College on Auckland’s North Shore.

With participants from the member associations of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the course aims to build on the success of the FIFA/OFC women’s football coaching course held in Auckland last October as part of the ‘legacy’ activities surrounding the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008.

A minute silence was held during the opening on Monday as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in last week’s tsunami tragedy in American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga. FIFA Development Officer for Oceania Glenn Turner then addressed the audience followed by Kristin College Executive Principal Peter Clague and New Zealand Football CEO Michael Glading before OFC Deputy General Secretary Greg Larsen officially opened proceedings.

FIFA Instructor Anne Noë, who has returned to New Zealand after leading the initial course, says she is looking forward to seeing how the coaches have developed over the past 12 months. 
 
“Last year we had the opportunity to watch and analyse some of the World Cup matches in New Zealand and we asked the participants to take what they had learned into their own environments,” says the former goalkeeper who gained 60 caps for Belgium.

“Now this week’s course will be more advanced and the participants will be challenged to go deeper in their way of thinking about the game.”

Assisting Noë is American April Heinrichs who has experience as a national team player, captain, coach and technical director. She was the first female player to be inducted into the USA National Soccer Hall of Fame. Her glittering career included 47 national caps, a FIFA Women’s World Cup title in 1991 (as captain) and a Gold medal at the 2004 Olympics (as coach).

Heinrichs says the course is about raising the level of professionalism within each member association.

“These coaches already have the passion to develop the women’s game, now it’s about equipping them with the tools they need to improve the overall standards.”

Heinrichs says the course is based around seminars, videos, demonstrations and practical sessions but what happens outside of that structure in terms of social interaction and networking is just as important.

Diane Justus, who works as the women’s development officer for Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), says they are encouraged to share strategies with other participants.

“Last year was my first FIFA coaching course and I learned a lot from the instructors as well as the other coaches.”

Justus, who currently holds a senior coaching licence, says she is delighted to be back in New Zealand participating in her second FIFA course.

“My goal is to help develop women’s football across the Solomon Islands including the provinces and rural areas. I also hope to achieve the highest level coaching licence.”

OFC U-17 champions New Zealand will travel to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria later this month with a clear aim of creating a small slice of history for the local game.

Never before has a New Zealand team reached the knockout stages at any FIFA tournament but Young All Whites coach Steve Cain and his charges are quietly aiming on being the generation to make the breakthrough.

The tournament, including 24 of the world's best teams, will be held across eight venues from 24 October to 15 November.   

The Young All Whites may have avoided some traditional heavyweights but still face a challenge in Group D, based in the southern city of Enugu. The Kiwis will open against Costa Rica, before taking on African qualifiers Burkina Faso and rounding out their group fixtures against Turkey.

"African teams have won it five times so on African soil I think Burkina Faso will be the team to watch in our pool. Turkey knocked out England in qualifying and have got the potential to go all the way in this World Cup, while Costa Rica's stock is rising quickly in world football and will no doubt bring a technically gifted team to the event."

Looking for history
New Zealand have competed at three previous FIFA U-17 World Cups, including the last tournament in Korea Republic, but have yet to progress beyond the group stage at any level. The Young All Whites debut in 1997 ended in disappointing manner with a record loss against Spain. Two years later as host nation proved a different story, but New Zealand again fell short of progressing despite recording the nation's first FIFA World Cup win with a 2-1 triumph over Poland. Two years ago the New Zealanders lost all three group games, including a slim 1-0 defeat against Korea DPR.

After the disappointment of the Under-20s side missing out on Egypt 2009, the nation's youngest national team have a steely resolve to create their own niche. "I said to this group from the start, we will be looking to be the first New Zealand team to qualify out of the group, so that is our stated ambition," says Cain, who is renowned in New Zealand for a strong coaching record on the domestic front.

"We are not going to make up the numbers, though we fully realise the extent of the challenge ahead of us. Each opponent will present their own challenge, but we will back ourselves. We are tactically st

rong, we have a few players capable of really making things happen and we back ourselves to get into the next stage."

Team building
Since the qualification campaign earlier this year the majority of the squad have been competing on a weekly basis in a regional Auckland league. The team spirit further enhanced with solid recent showings against local OFC O-League representatives Waitakere United and Auckland City. "The benefits (of the competition) have been to get the boys battle hardened in term of physical contests and also team strengthening so it has been a very useful exercise," says Cain.

New Zealand have just a handful of players at overseas clubs with midfielder Cameron Lindsay at Blackburn Rovers and forward Andrew Milne at Rangers. More recently flanker Michael Built joined Northampton Town and midfielder Jamie Doris linked with Scottish club Hibernian.

"We have had the advantage of keeping the squad together, except for a handful of players who are based in professional leagues," Cain continues. "Many other countries have the advantage of having their players in a professional environment, but we have the advantage of staying together and playing as a group, which obviously has its own advantages."

Striker Chris Wood, who has started to make waves with the senior national team and at his club West Bromwich Albion, is a graduate of the class of 2007 and is making the kind of impact which Cain hopes to see from the current squad. "One of our markers will be seeing players progress after the tournament," he says.

"We have some players capable of picking up a contract overseas after the tournament, similarly players looking to gain a USA university scholarship. In the next two or three years we would hope to see some of these players in the senior team, certainly the Olympic team, and then go about making a mark on the world stage."

Story courtesy of FIFA.com

All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner is confident New Zealand skipper Ryan Nelsen will be fit to lead the side out against Bahrain in the first leg of a FIFA World Cup playoff in Manama on Sunday morning (NZT).

Nelsen missed Blackburn’s 6-2 English Premier League defeat to Arsenal this morning with a back injury sustained against Aston Villa last week, but Turner said the team’s influential captain was determined to win his fitness race and start what is the most important match New Zealand has played since qualifying for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

“Our physio Roland Jeffery spoke to Ryan overnight and while he couldn’t take part against Arsenal, he’s having treatment and we’re confident he’ll be right to play against Bahrain,” Turner said.

The All Whites will base themselves in Dubai until the eve of the match, with players and staff arriving in the emirate by Tuesday morning local time.

Nelsen is expected to miss the first few training sessions and his progress will be closely monitored by New Zealand medical staff.

While coach Ricki Herbert and the All Whites’ Wellington Phoenix have already touched down in Dubai, Turner and the remaining New Zealand-based players departed Auckland this afternoon.


201 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Intercontinental Playoff

First Leg
Bahrain v New Zealand
October 10, kick-off 6.30pm (4.30am Oct 11 NZT)
National Stadium, Manama
Live on Sky Sport
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets from www.oneshotforglory.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK

Story courtesy of NZF Media

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