Vanuatu striker Seule Soromon has put New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) defences on red alert after he bagged all four goals in YoungHeart Manawatu's 4-0 win over Team Wellington at Newtown Park today.
 
The win capped off the perfect start to the season for YoungHeart Manawatu coach Bob Sova, whose team moved into second place.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Auckland City remained in top spot despite a 0-0 draw at Otago United while Waitakere United moved into third thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Canterbury United. Waikato FC – thrashed 5-0 by Auckland City last week – enjoyed their first win of the season with a 4-2 win over Matt Chandler’s Hawke’s Bay United.

Soromon began the YoungHeart Manawatu rout with a 25th minute close range tap in while Team Wellington nearly drew level in the 39th minute only for Greg Draper’s effort to hit the post. Seule Soromon put the match beyond the hosts when he scored two quickfire strikes in the 54th and 55th minutes to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead.
 
YoungHeart Manawatu confirmed victory in the 73rd minute after another coolly taken finish by Soromon. Soromon could have grabbed his and YoungHeart's fifth goal after he rounded goalkeeper Jim Bannatyne only to see his effort cleared off the line by Team Wellington’s Chris Davies with eight minutes remaining.
 
Otago United’s draw with Auckland City ended a run of seven consecutive defeats against the champions that stretches back to season 2006-07. Otago has only beaten Auckland City once in their last ten attempts. Despite a draw City maintained it’s unbeaten start to the season and has yet to concede a goal in it’s three competitive matches in all competitions to date while Otago sit in 5th place in the table.

Former New Zealand international striker Brent Fisher repaid the faith of coach Neil Emblen with a debut headed goal from a Neil Sykes’ freekick after 31 minutes to hand Waitakere United an opening day NZFC victory. The 1-0 victory ensured Waitakere sit among the early leaders in the race for an NZFC play-off spot and guarantees that competition for places in United’s frontline remains intense with Fijian striker Roy Krishna only used as a late substitute.

Meanwhile, Centennial Park, Ngaurawahia was the scene of a six-goal thriller as Waikato FC defeated Hawke’s Bay United for the first time in three seasons.

Goals by Waikato FC strikers Dan Peat and Michael Gwyther helped kick-start their club’s campaign with a 4-2 win at home over the visitors.
 
A first half brace by Dan Peat in the 19th and 27th minutes complemented a 23rd minute close range header by Michael Gwyther.
 
Leon Birnie threw Hawke’s Bay a lifeline with a goal on the stroke of halftime but Waikato FC restored their two goal buffer in the 71st minute through a Joey Simpkins penalty after Mikael Munday was brought down in the box. 
 
A 76th minute Andrew Abba volley set up a tense finish but it wasn’t enough to deny a first ever NZFC win for new player/coach Che Bunce.

Story and photo courtesy NZF Media

For the latest NZFC news visit NZFC.co.nz

New Zealand have made history today by becoming the first Kiwi side to advance to the knock-out round of a FIFA World Cup tournament.

In dramatic fashion, an injury-time strike by Jack Hobson-McVeigh against Turkey in Calabar on Saturday evening gave the Young All Whites their third straight draw (1-1) of the tournament and was enough to send them through to the round of sixteen.

Even with four regular starters waiting in the wings, Turkey looked a far superior side in the early going. After just five minutes they carved out an opening via some lovely midfield interplay, but Engin Bekdemir could only hammer his shot high and wide from 20 yards. The move deserved better than the finish provided. Five minutes later, Ahmet Sari had the ball in the net, but the header was waved away for a foul on the Kiwi goalkeeper.

Just up the other end, captain Gordon Murie fired a warning by bullying the ball home from close range after a deflection. The strike, however, was also ruled out, this time for offside. The dream of keeping up with the Turks didn't last, though, as Bekdemir wriggled around his man and lobbed the keeper from 18 yards to open the scoring an t he 17th minute.

The Kiwis were keen to keep themselves in the game, but their spirits must have sunk when Josh Morrison missed the chance of a lifetime in the 29th minute. Getting first to the ball after a goal-mouth scramble, he could only conspire to hit over from five yards out.  Minutes later, Sari saw a try cleared off the line as the action was getting fast and furious.

The hard-charging Kiwis seemed to go off the boil a bit at the start of the second half, just as the Turks began to up the tempo in search of a second goal.  Enes Baykan had a chance to score in the 60th minute, but he couldn't steer his close-range shot through a forest of legs.  Seconds later, a free-kick by the busy Bekdemir stung the palms of Coey Turipa in the New Zealand goal.
Just as it looked like it was all over for the tired Kiwis, Hobson-McVeigh fired a stunning goal to the top corner in stoppage time to, miraculously, send the islanders through when all seemed lost

The Turks are through to the round of sixteen as section winners, while Burkina Faso - who won their game in Enugu - finish second and New Zealand sneak through as one of the top third-place finishers. Costa Rica are officially out.

Photo courtesy Action Images

For the latest news and results from the FIFA U-17 World Cup visit FIFA.com

An exciting new grassroots football programme 'Just Play' has successfully kicked off at Loto Tonga Soka Centre in ‘Atele this week and oceaniafootball.com is pleased to bring you all the latest photos.  

The initiative, which aims to promote physical activity among children aged 6-13, has been developed by Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in close collaboration with its 11 Member Associations including Tonga Football Association (TFA).

With strong support from the Australian Government through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the 'Just Play' programme will be rolled out across the region over the next three years.

Activities in Tonga this week have included training workshops for over 50 teachers and volunteers who will run the project in 10 government primary schools.

The sessions, which featured dozens of eager students, were facilitated by OFC 'Just Play' project manager Franck Castillo and OFC 'Just Play' technical coordinator Yvon Avry. Local media turned out in force to cover the action.

Also taking place this week was the signing of a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Nuku’alofa between the TFA and the Tongan Government.

Present at the signing was Vice President of TFA the Honourable Moimoi Vaea, acting Director of Education Mrs Peaua Heimuli, acting Director of Sport Mr Viliami Liava’a and OFC representative Franck Castillo. The MOU defines the roles of each stakeholder in facilitating the 'Just Play' programme over the next three years.

PHOTOS

AUCKLAND – The Young All Whites can clinch a place in the second round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Calabar, Nigeria on Sunday morning (NZT) but runaway group D winners Turkey stand in their way.

Consecutive draws against Costa Rica and Burkina Faso have left New Zealand in second place in Group D needing a win over the Europeans to seal automatic qualification for the knockout phase of the competition.

A third draw may also be good enough to progress – as one of four best third-place finishes from the six groups, or in second place if Costa Rica and Burkina Faso draw – but New Zealand coach Steve Cain would prefer not to hand his team’s fate to other teams.

“The good thing about the results we’ve earned so far is that we’ve kept ourselves in the hunt and kept everything in our own hands,” Cain said.

“A draw may get us through but we can’t rely on that because we’d need to have results in our own and other groups go our way.

“An unbeaten record [with a third draw] would be a great achievement for a New Zealand team but it won’t feel like it if we’re on a plane home.”

New Zealand will be without the suspended Zane Sole after the Waitakere United midfielder picked up a yellow card in each of the first two matches.

The list of suspension casualties is longer for Turkey with defenders Furkan Seker and Onur Karakabak and impressive midfielder Orhan Gulle all ruled out while defender Okan Alkan may also sit out due to the threat of missing the round of 16 if he picks up another caution.

Turkey’s top scorer Muhammet Demir, who also led the scoring race in European qualifying is in the same boat as Alkan with one booking to his name already. Turkish coach Abdullah Ercan may be tempted to rest his influential captain to ensure he has him at his disposal when the knockout stages begin.

Turkey wrapped up top spot with a resounding 4-1 win over Costa Rica on Friday – a day after freak storms saw the first attempt to play the match called off after 20 minutes – and New Zealand coach Steve Cain is expecting his side’s biggest test so far.

“Turkey have been one of the pacesetters in the tournament so far and they won’t want to lose any momentum heading into the second round.”

“Regardless of who they put out they will be a good team. No doubt about it. And regardless of who they put out we will back ourselves like we have all tournament.”

After Thursday’s energy-sapping match in Enugu, the Young All Whites travelled to Calabar on Friday where the focus was again on restoring players physically and mentally for Sunday’s match.
Kick-off is at 7am (NZT) with delayed coverage on Sky Sport 2 at 8.30am.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009
October 25 - November 15

Group D
November 1
New Zealand v Turkey
Calabar

New Zealand: 1-Coey TURIPA (GK), 2-Matt GIBBONS, 3-Adam THOMAS, 4-Luis ESTEVEZ, 5- Gordon MURIE (captain), 6-Tim PILKINGTON, 7-Josh MORRISON, 8-Stephen KIBBY, 9-Nikolai MOLIJN, 11-Jack Hobson-MCVEIGH, 12-Tane GENT, 13-Michael BUILT, 14-Thomas SPRAGG, 15-Andrew MILNE, 16-Jamie DORIS, 17-Cameron LINDSAY, 18-Ashton PETT,19-Andrew BEVIN, 20-Alex CARR (GK), 21-Patrick GEORGE (GK).
Suspended: 10-Zane SOLE.
Coach: Steve CAIN (ENG)

Turkey: 1-Deniz MEHMET (GK), 2-Okan ALKAN, 3-Nurettin KAYAOGLU, 5-Ogulcan GOKCE, 7-Berkin ARSLAN, 8-Kamil COREKCI, 9-Muhammet DEMIR, 10-Engin BEKDEMIR, 11-Omer Ali SAHINER, 12-Sercan HACIOGLU (GK), 13-Sezer OZMEN, 14-Gokay IRAVUL, 15-Enes BAYKAN, 16-Suleyman OZDAMAR, 17-Gokay ISITAN, 18-Ufuk OZBEK, 20-Ahmet SARI, 21-Omer KAHVECI (GK)
Suspended: 4-Furkan SEKER, 6-Orhan GULLE, 19-Onur KARAKABAK.
Coach: Abdullah ERCAN (TUR)

GROUP D STANDINGS

AUCKLAND – New Zealand’s chances of making the second round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup are still alive following a rain-affected 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso in Enugu, Nigeria on Wednesday night.

Blistering heat sapped levels of both energy and concentration in the first half, but the heavens opened dramatically after the restart, leaving the artificial pitch unplayable and stopping play for over an hour only minutes after New Zealand captain Gordon Murie had headed his side level.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said New Zealand coach Steve Cain after the match.

“The first half was played in 32 degree heat, and humidity that took it through the roof. Plus, we played on a black rubber mat that made it feel like a sauna, and they were all over us to be honest.”

“We were out on our feet in that first half. We were like that after the warm up. That’s how hot it was.”

“But as soon as we once we turned round in the second half and the wind and the rain started it was their side who didn’t adapt to the more New Zealand conditions.

“We scored an equaliser and probably should have had another one but the game was probably 50-50 once we returned to the game.”

The Young All Whites’ second draw momentarily gave them sole ownership of second spot in Group D – Costa Rica and group leaders Turkey clashed after New Zealand’s match – and now can secure a breakthrough place in the knockout phase with an upset win over Turkey in Calabar on Saturday.

“The best thing is that it’s still in our hands. We went for the win today after the break to try and get the points that would have sent us through but in the end we settled for a draw. But we’ve kept ourselves in contention – we’re still alive.”

A third consecutive draw may yet be enough to qualify for the round of 16 as one of four best third placed teams but the Kiwis would then need to rely on results in other groups.

The Young All Whites endured a torrid first half with the Burkinabe dominating in familiar West African conditions.

New Zealand were guilty of giving away possession often and far too cheaply in all areas of the pitch, feeding wave after wave of attack from the Africans.

Predictably, it was a turnover that led to the opening goal with Victor Nikiema dispossessing a New Zealand defender within sight of goal and smashing the ball past Coey Turipa.

English Premier League referee Howard Webb stopped play at regular intervals to allow players to rehydrate, but the sight of underutilised striker Andrew Milne going down with cramp in the 38th minute was a sign of just how much the conditions were affecting the New Zealanders.

The kiwis rode their luck to stay within touch at halftime and initially welcomed the deluge of rain that arrived just minutes into the second spell.

New Zealand’s renewed energy led to their first real chance of the match. Milne earned a free kick, with Murie claiming a faint but decisive touch on Zane Sole’s delivery to draw the teams level in the 57th minute.

New Zealand’s momentum was halted shortly thereafter with rain driving teams from the field, but the fears of abandonment were allayed when play restarted 90 minutes later.

New Zealand returned with the bit still between their teeth and a second striker, Tim Pilkington, introduced to chase a win that would all but book a place in the second round.

Pilkington had an early chance but the reinvigorated kiwis couldn’t break through, while the Burkinabe found their feet again to draw a pair of classy saves from Coey Turipa and series of desperate blocks by New Zealand defenders.

New Zealand’s final group match will be against Turkey on Saturday evening.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009
October 25 - November 15

Group D
Enugu
October 28
New Zealand: 1 (Gordon MURIE 57)
Burkina Faso: 1 (Victor NIKIEMA 12)
Halftime: 0-1

New Zealand line-up: 1-Coey TURIPA (GK), 3-Adam THOMAS, 5- Gordon MURIE (captain), 7-Josh MORRISON, 8-Stephen KIBBY (6-Tim PILKINGTON 63), 10-Zane SOLE, 13-Michael BUILT (4-Luis ESTEVEZ 75), 14-Thomas SPRAGG, 15-Andrew MILNE, 17-Cameron LINDSAY (11-Jack Hobson-MCVEIGH 80), 18-Ashton PETT.
Substitutes not used: 2-Matt GIBBONS, 9-Nikolai MOLIJN, 12-Tane GENT, 16-Jamie DORIS, 19-Andrew BEVIN, 20-Alex CARR (GK), 21-Patrick GEORGE (GK).
Coach: Steve CAIN (ENG)

Burkina Faso line-up: 1-Germain SANOU (GK), 2-Adama HAIKI, 3-Mouhamed OUATTARA, 6-Ismael ZAGRE, 8-Victor NIKIEMA, 9-Abdoulaye IBRANGO, 10-Fadil SIDO, 14-Dalhata SORO, 15-Ousmane DERRA, 17-Bertrand TRAORE (7-Louckmane OUEDRAOGO 46 / 5-Ibrahim BARRY 73), 19-Aboubacar TRAORE.
Substitutes not used: 4-Delwende YANOGO, 11-Abdoul NIKIEMA, 12-Zidane ZOUNGRANA, 13-Moussa DAO, 16-Lassane NIKKIEMA (GK), 18-Farouck KABORE, 20-Patrick MALO, 21-Abdouraziz GUIRE (GK).
Coach: Rainer WILLFELD (GER).

Cautions: Abdoulaye IBRANGO (BFA), Zane SOLE (NZL).

Group D Standings

FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 – New Zealand results/fixtures
October 25 - November 15

October 26
New Zealand 1 (Michael BUILT 18) Costa Rica 1 (Joel CAMPBELL 35)

October 29
New Zealand 1 (Gordon MURIE 57) Burkina Faso 1 (Victor NIKIEMA 12)

November 1
New Zealand v Turkey
Calabar

Story courtesy NZF Media

Photo courtesy Action Images

For the latest FIFA U-17 World Cup news visit FIFA.com

Another milestone in grassroots football has been achieved in the Pacific with the launch of Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) ‘Just Play’ programme in Tonga.

OFC has worked closely with Tonga Football Association (TFA) and the Tongan Government to introduce the programme which promotes physical activity (especially, but not only, football) for children aged 6-13 and encourages community involvement.

OFC President Reynald Temarii says introducing the ‘Just Play’ Active and Healthy Kids for Life project will see a range of benefits for local communities.

“Through this initiative, we will be able to use the development of football to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities in Tonga,” said President Temarii.

The programme, which started on Monday at Loto Tonga Soka Centre in ‘Atele, involves primary-aged children who receive guided tuition on developing games skills by teachers and volunteers trained by OFC and TFA.

Participants are also given a valuable sports kit containing balls, cones, bibs, an activity manual and other resources.

Franck Castillo, OFC head of social development and project manager for ‘Just Play’, says the programme would not be possible without key partners.

“With the assistance of Football Federation Australia (FFA), OFC has signed a partnership agreement with the Australian Government through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). We are sincerely grateful for their support,” said Castillo.

The agreement with the Government of Australia amounts to AU$4 million over a three-year period and covers the implementation of ‘Just Play’ throughout the region. Also supporting the programme are UEFA, Cue Sports and Manukau-based charity Find Your Field of Dreams.

In Tonga, the government put their full backing behind the project on Tuesday when they signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Nuku’alofa.

Present at the signing was Vice President of TFA the Honourable Moimoi Vaea, acting Director of Education Mrs Peaua Heimuli, acting Director of Sport Mr Viliami Liava’a and OFC representative Franck Castillo. The MOU defines the roles of each stakeholder in facilitating the programme over the next three years.

‘Just Play’ in Tonga will involve 10 government primary schools including Kolomotu’a, Longolongo, Ngeleia and Nuku’alofa in the Central District, ‘Atele, Veitongo, Vaini in the Eastern District and Tokomololo, Pea and Halalo in the Western District. To kick things off, OFC 'Just Play' technical coordinator Yvon Avry is delivering workshops in Tonga this week for teachers and volunteers who will run the activities. 

The programme is expected to roll out across Oceania over the next year including American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand (Manukau), Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

AUCKLAND – The chance to achieve two notable firsts is driving the Young All Whites in the FIFA U-17 World Cup clash against Burkina Faso in Enugu, Nigeria on Thursday morning (NZT).

After a promising draw against Costa Rica on Monday, the heat goes on the Young All Whites in more ways than one as a victory over the Africans in mid afternoon Enugu heat and humidity will almost certainly earn them a place in the second round – a first for a New Zealand team at a FIFA event.

But victory over an African team on their home continent would be another first, and New Zealand coach Steve Cain is weary of a side wounded after a 0-1 loss to Turkey on Monday morning.

“It’s shaping as a mini final this one as both teams will be looking for three points to get some sort of foothold in the final 16,” Cain said.

“We’ve never beaten an African team in Africa and playing at four o’clock in 30 degree temperatures and 95 per cent humidity so it’ll be difficult but these are the things we have to deal with.”

Thunder storms are scheduled for the region on match day but the Young All Whites are brimming with a quiet belief that they can produce another lightning strike after leading the Costa Ricans early in their Group D opener.

“We have to back ourselves heading into this game and if we can repeat the defensive effort from the Costa Rica match and can be a bit more sensible and positive with the ball at our feet then we can get something out of this game.”

Recovery has been the focus in the immediate 24 hours of a match that saw New Zealand lose three players to cramp in the stifling conditions. Birkenhead midfielder Jack Hobson-McVeigh returns from a suspension he picked up in qualifying to give Cain the option of fresh in midfield, although the performance of Jamie Doris, Cameron Lindsay and the combative Zane Sole may prompt a retention of the status quo.

While Nigerian and Ghanaian teams have dominated previous World Cups and the Burkinabe finished third in 2001, the current side remain somewhat of an unknown quantity for the Young All Whites although video analysis will go someway to removing that mystery.

But a brief glimpse of their opponents at the stadium hasn’t changed the New Zealand players’ view that they can rise to the challenge.

“From the 20 minutes of the match we saw before our game it was clear they press high and all over the pitch,” said New Zealand winger Thomas Spragg.

“While we need to treat them with respect there is not reason not to go into the game confident of causing an upset.”

FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009
October 25 - November 15

Group D
New Zealand vs. Burkina Faso
Enugu
October 29

New Zealand: 1-Coey TURIPA (GK), 2-Matt GIBBONS, 3-Adam THOMAS, 4-Luis ESTEVEZ, 5- Gordon MURIE (captain), 6-Tim PILKINGTON, 7-Josh MORRISON, 8-Stephen KIBBY, 9-Nikolai MOLIJN, 10-Zane SOLE, 11-Jack Hobson-MCVEIGH, 12-Tane GENT, 13-Michael BUILT, 14-Thomas SPRAGG, 15-Andrew MILNE, 16-Jamie DORIS, 17-Cameron LINDSAY, 18-Ashton PETT,19-Andrew BEVIN, 20-Alex CARR (GK), 21-Patrick GEORGE (GK).
Coach: Steve CAIN (ENG)

Burkina Faso: 1-Germain SANOU (GK), 2-Adama HAIKI, 3-Mouhamed OUATTARA, 4-Delwende YANOGO, 5-Ibrahim BARRY, 6-Ismael ZAGRE, 7-Louckmane OUEDRAOGO, 8-Victor NIKIEMA, 9-Abdoulaye IBRANGO, 10-Fadil SIDO, 11-Abdoul NIKIEMA, 12-Zidane ZOUNGRANA, 13-Moussa DAO, 14-Dalhata SORO, 15-Ousmane DERRA, 16-Lassane NIKKIEMA (GK), 17-Bertrand TRAORE, 18-Farouck KABORE, 19-Aboubacar TRAORE, 20-Patrick MALO, 21-Abdouraziz GUIRE (GK)
Coach: Rainer WILLFELD (GER)

Group D Standings

October 29
New Zealand v Burkina Faso
Enugu

November 1
New Zealand v Turkey
Calabar

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to confirm the FIFA-appointed match officials for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ second leg play-off match between New Zealand and Bahrain in Wellington on 14 November.

Urguay’s Jorge Luis Larrionda Pietrafesa will referee the match at Westpac Stadium with compatriats Pablo Javier Fandino Abate and Mauricio Espinosa Rodriguez as his assistants plus Roberto Carlos Silvera Calcerrada, also from Uruguay, as the fourth official.

Larrionda has been an international referee since 1998 and has officiated at a number of FIFA tournaments including the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. 

The referee assessor will be Carlos Alberto Alarcon Rios from Paraguay while USA’s Joseph Machnik will serve as the match commissioner.

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA™ – PRELIMINARY COMPETITION

Intercontinental Play-off Matches – Second leg

New Zealand vs. Bahrain
14 November 2009
Westpac Stadium
Wellington
Local kick-off: 20H00

Referee: LARRIONDA PIETRAFESA Jorge Luis [Uruguay]
Assistant Referee 1: FANDINO ABATE Pablo Javier [Uruguay]
Assistant Referee 2: ESPINOSA RODRIGUEZ Mauricio [Uruguay]
Fourth Official: SILVERA CALCERRADA Roberto Carlos [Uruguay]
Referee Assessor: ALARCON RIOS Carlos Alberto [Paraguay]
Commissioner: MACHNIK Joseph [USA]

Photo courtesy FIFA.com

AUCKLAND – The chances of Mike Hester and Peter O’Leary officiating at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa have been boosted by extra appointments at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

Hester, along with his assistants Jan Hintz (New Zealand) and Tevita Makasina (Tonga) were in charge during Switzerland’s 2-0 upset of Mexico on Sunday and their performance has been rewarded with an appointment to Thursday morning’s clash between Group C leaders Iran and Colombia in Calabar.

Meanwhile, Peter O’Leary, who has barely finished refereeing duty at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt with assistants Brent Best (New Zealand) and Mathew Taro (Solomon Islands), was given the role of fourth official for a pair of matches at the U-17 edition in Kaduna today.

O’Leary has previously refereed at the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada and both of the previous two FIFA Club World Cups in Japan, while Hester has officiated at the Beijing Olympics and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Both Kiwi-led trios are on a FIFA shortlist of 38 vying for selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Story courtesy NZF Media

Photo courtesy FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

oceaniafootball.com brings you photos of all the action at Stade Numa Daly in Noumea where AS Magenta held Waitakere United to a 1-1 draw in their Group A clash on Saturday.

The draw on Match Day 1 of the 2010 O-League leaves both teams second equal behind Group A leaders Auckland City FC while Lautoka sit top of Group B ahead of Hekari United FC, Tafea FC and Marist.

All photos courtesy of AS Magenta official photographer Alain Vartane. 

O-League newcomers AS Magenta have held Waitakere United to a 1-1 draw at Noumea’s Stade Numa Daly on Saturday afternoon to leave Auckland City FC two points clear at the top of Group A after the first round of matches.

The New Caledonians had fortune on their side when United defender Aaron Scott inadvertently headed the ball into his own goal in the 78th minute to cancel out Brent Fisher’s first-half strike. Moments earlier Fijian speedster Roy Krishna had been shown a red card leaving the visitors with 10 men to defend the slender lead. 

United, who won the O-League title in 2007 and 2008, will now have to play catch up after cross-town rivals and defending champions Auckland City beat Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura 5-0 at Kiwitea Street last Saturday.

Coach Neil Emblen says he was disappointed not to get a result but was pleased with how his side played in what was their first competitive match of the season. 

“We dominated for three quarters of the match but obviously the sending off and own goal changed things,” said Emblen, who has taken over the coaching role after the departure of Chris Milicich last season.

“They were bigger and more physical than I had expected and fair play to them because they came back into it at the end.”

United dominated the first half playing into a strong breeze and found the breakthrough in the 37th minute when Neil Sykes drove a corner clearance back into the box for Fisher to head over goalkeeper Jean Yan Dounezeck. It was his first goal for the club after playing three seasons for Bodens BK in Sweden.

In a contrasting second half, AS Magenta started to exploit United down the flanks and enjoyed plenty of possession through midfield standouts Noel Kaudre and Pierre Wajoka.

With much at stake for both teams, tempers flared in the 75th minute when Krishna was shown a red card for retaliation. The send off proved costly as AS Magenta went on a fast break minutes later and a deep cross found United defender Aaron Scott whose unchallenged header went into the back of his own net.

United and Magenta now sit second equal in Group A behind Auckland City while Fiji’s Lautoka are top of Group B ahead of Hekari United FC, Tafea FC and Marist FC.

AS Magenta: 1 (own goal 78)
Waitakere United: 1 (Brent FISHER 37)
Half time: 0-1
Saturday 24 October 2009
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia

Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant Referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant Referee 2: Mahit CHILIA [VAN]
Fourth Official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]

Crowd: 2,000

AS Magenta line-up: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK  [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 3. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 14. Jules WEA, 17. Andre SINEDO, 24. Lamo XEWE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 32. Ludovic BOIT
Substitutes: 4. Emmanuel DIANAI, 6. Jedidja SAIKO, 12. Poulidor TOTO, 18. Jean Chrys XENIE, 26. Fabrice WACAPO, 27. Cedrickson CARIOU, 33. Philippe KOKONE
Coach: Alain MOIZAN

Waitakere United line-up: 1. Danny ROBINSON  [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 11. Neil SYKES, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 14. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 17. Jake BUTLER,
Substitutes: 5. Ash SOLLY, 10. Allan PEARCE, 13. Dimas MORALES DA SILVA, 15. Craig WILIE, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 22. Liam LITTLE  [GK], 27. Dan JONES
Coach: Neil EMBLEN

2010 O-LEAGUE TABLE 

Group A 

Group B

2010 O-LEAGUE LEADING GOAL-SCORERS

3 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC
1 – Nahuel ARRART
1 – Chad COOMBES
1 – Brent FISHER
1 – Kamal HASSAN
1 – Abraham INIGA
1 – Kema JACK
1 – Samuela KAUTOGA
1 – Tuimasi MANUCA
1 – Benjamin MELA
1 – Silas NAMATAK
1 – François SAKAMA
1 – Robert TOM
1 – Ivan VICELICH

The Cook Islands 2009 Football season kicked off with an action packed start at Matavera Village last weekend.

Organised by the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA), players and supporters flocked to the Matavera football grounds to watch the first two matches of the new men’s and women’s  seasons as home team Matavera and visitors Nikao competed.  

First on the Matavera pitch were talented up-an-coming U-13 and U-16 age grade players who showcased their skills in front of CIFA’s Technical Director Maurice Tillotson and National Development Officer Jimmy Katoa.

These youngsters were then followed by their senior male counterparts with the visiting Nikao team securing a 2-0 win over Matavera. The visiting side took an early lead before proceeding to squander a host of goal scoring opportunities. The second half pattern followed the first half with Nikao again scoring early but failing to add further goals despite plenty of opportunities.

Also in action in the men’s senior open division, Avatiu came away with a convincing 4-0 win over Arorangi. The home side took the lead early in the game when Marcelo Rairoa latched on to a through ball and slotted it past the Arorangi keeper.

Avatiu continued to dominate the play and added a second goal from a corner. Conversely Arorangi thought they had pulled one goal back only to have the goal disallowed after an offside decision. In the second spell Avatiu continued their domination of the match, adding a further two goals.  

Rounding out theweekend’s play, Takuvaine beat their hosts Titikaveka 2-1 and in the women’s division Aorangi defeated Avatiu 1-0 in a closely contested game at Raemaru Park.

The start of the new football season was delayed, due to the biennial Pacific Mini Games being hosted in the Cook Islands for three weeks from September to October.

Over 1000 athletes flew to Rarotonga to participate in the Mini Games. CIFA played a part in the games by offering the FIFA Goal sponsored football academy to host Mini Games officials.

The second round of senior men’s and women’s competition gets underway this Saturday.

Courtesy of CIFA Media

New Caledonia’s AS Magenta face a tough test to kick off their debut O-League campaign with a clash against two-time champions Waitakere United in Noumea on Saturday.

The Super Ligue winners will look to New Caledonia captain Pierre Wajoka for inspiration tomorrow while drawing on home support at the 10,000-seater Stade Numa Daly.

Wajoka is the midfield mainstay of the national team and claimed a little piece of history by scoring the first ever goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualification process with a penalty against rivals Tahiti at the XIII South Pacific Games on August 25, 2007. “Les Cagous” went on to win gold at the tournament and finished runners-up behind New Zealand in the 2008 OFC Nations Cup.

Waitakere United manager Neil Emblen is well aware of the danger Wajoka can cause and says his side will need to be on guard in defense.

“Pierre is a classy player and put in impressive performances against New Zealand last year during the World Cup qualifiers,” said Emblen.

“Magenta also have a number of other former and current internationals so we’re expecting a competitive match.”

Emblen would himself be the stalwart of United’s defense but a carry-over suspension has ruled him out. The English-born manager, who takes over from Chris Milicich, believes it won’t be such a bad thing to miss tomorrow’s game.

“Obviously I’d love to be playing but this way I have the opportunity to be coach rather than player-coach for the opening match and I can make a good assessment of the team from the sideline.”

Emblen has most of his 30-strong squad available for selection but is without his three New Zealand U-17 players Jack Hobson, Zane Sole and Tim Pilkington who are preparing for kick-off in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria this weekend. Assistant coach Darren Bazeley is also in Nigeria leaving Carl Jorgensen as Emblen’s assistant in Noumea.

Star strikers Benjamin Totori and Roy Krishna, both with three O-League goals to date, are likely to provide problems for the AS Magenta defense while former Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand player Jeremy Christie will marshal the midfield.

Meanwhile AS Magenta will be led in defense by experienced campaigner Benjamin Longue who is one of a long line of New Caledonian-born players to have made an appearance in French Ligue 1. The 28-year-old tough-tackling defender played for Bastia in France before returning home to star for AS Magenta. Longue opted for a premature retirement from international football following the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualification trail.

AS Magenta have never appeared in the O-League but did reach the final of the previous incarnation of the Oceania competition in 2005. They are five-time champions of their domestic league and have won the ‘Coupe de Calédonie’ seven times. The last New Caledonian club side to appear in the O-League was AS Mont Dore in the inaugural 2007 season with a 6th place finish. Waitakere United have won the O-League title on two occasions in 2007 and 2008.


AS Magenta [NCL] vs. Waitakere United [NZL]
Saturday 24 October 2009
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia
Local kick-off: 16H00

Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant Referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant Referee 2: Mahit CHILIA [VAN]
Fourth Official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]

AS Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK  [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 3. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 4. Emmanuel DIANAI, 6. Jedidja SAIKO, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 12. Poulidor TOTO, 14. Jules WEA, 17. Andre SINEDO, 18. Jean Chrys XENIE, 24. Lamo XEWE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 26. Fabrice WACAPO, 27. Cedrickson CARIOU, 32. Ludovic BOIT, 33. Philippe KOKONE

Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON  [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 5. Ash SOLLY, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Allan PEARCE, 11. Neil SYKES, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 13. Dimas MORALES DA SILVA, 14. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 15. Craig WILIE, 17. Jake BUTLER, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 22. Liam LITTLE  [GK], 27. Dan JONES

2010 O-LEAGUE RESULTS/STANDINGS

Group A
17/10/09 Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura    5-0

Group B
17/10/09 Tafea FC vs. Hekari United FC    3-3
18/10/09 Marist FC vs. Lautoka    1-3

Group A

Group B

2010 O-LEAGUE – LEADING GOAL-SCORERS

3 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC
1 – Nahuel ARRART
1 – Chad COOMBES
1 – Kamal HASSAN
1 – Abraham INIGA
1 – Kema JACK
1 – Samuela KAUTOGA
1 – Benjamin MELA
1 – Tuimasi MANUCA
1 – Silas NAMATAK
1 – François SAKAMA
1 – Robert TOM
1 – Ivan VICELICH

Two new staff appointments have added to the cultural diversity of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) with the General Secretariat now represented by at least six nationalities.

Caroline Pohahau, of Tongan decent, comes onboard as the new receptionist while French citizen Xavier Audu joins the OFC media and communications department.

The recruits add to an already diverse Auckland-based staff with representatives from Australia, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Tahiti.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says he is delighted to have a mix of people representing the confederation’s 11 member associations.

“The Pacific region is rich in its cultural heritage with thousands of different identity groups spanning across a vast geographical area,” says Nicholas.

“It is important for us to reflect that diversity here at OFC as we work to raise the standards of football, both on and off the field, and use the sport to positively impact Pacific communities through our social responsibility programmes.”

“I am delighted to welcome Xavier and Caroline to the team and am confident they will boost the administrative and media operations of the organisation.”

Audu will work alongside Priscilla Duncan and Joel Tiller to assist with internal and external communications for OFC including translation work when required. The keen football and rugby fan brings with him relevant experience in event promotion and public relations working most recently in Bordeaux and Toulouse.

After moving to Auckland earlier this year, Audu says he would like to make New Zealand his permanent home.

Meanwhile Pohahau, who has grown up in Auckland, says she is looking forward to taking on a variety of administrative duties and being part of multi-cultural team.

OFC is currently going through an exciting growth period in large part due to ‘Win in Oceania’ – a three-year development programme worth $US 8million. The FIFA-funded initiative, currently in its first year of operation, aims to assist OFC’s member associations in a variety of areas including national competitions, infrastructure, media operations, finance, administration, futsal and grassroots football.