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

The Cook Islands national team is preparing for the Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) U20 Women’s Championship this October with an emphasis on confidence, discipline and respect for their opposition.

Coach Jimmy Katoa says the team will go into the championship in New Zealand “approaching every game with a positive attitude.”
 
Katoa’s task has not been easy especially when he has to consistently monitor members of his squad in the outer islands and also in New Zealand.

However, he says majority of the team members are attending their training sessions at the academy, where Katoa works as the Cook Islands Football Association’s Development Officer.

Last month he took a one hour plane ride to Aitutaki to check on his players and given the circumstances of isolation, Katoa says his players have been truly dedicated to their training. 

“It is not easy to have that discipline when you are on your own, away from the coach, but our girls in Aitutaki have been very disciplined and are giving their best in whatever training programme they are provided with,” says Katoa.

“We have a couple of our girls training in Auckland and of course discipline is so crucial for them too, that is helping them all progress at this point.”

Katoa, who is assisted by Michelle Paiti, will fly into Auckland with his team early next month to meet up with the rest of the Cook Islands National U20 Women’s Football team members. The team will be managed by John Taripo.

The OFC U-20 Women's Championship 2009 kicks off at the North Harbour Stadium from 5-9 October.

The championship is also the qualifying round for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany next year.

CIFA Media

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to bring you a series of profiles featuring the international players expected to be key performers at the OFC U-20 Women's Championship New Zealand 2009 to be held at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium from 5-9 October.

Today we feature a Cook Islands U-20 Women's national team midfielder with big boots to fill, Elizabeth Harmon.

Elizabeth Harmon Biography

Occupation: 7th Form Student (final year), Tereora College, Rarotonga.

Full Name: Elizabeth Harmon

Date of Birth: 9 January, 1992

Place of Birth: Rarotonga Hospital

Height: 1.68m

Playing Position: Mid-fielder

Current Club: Tupapa Maraerenga Club

Football Years: Been playing since 2002

Favourite Soccer Star: Zinedine Zidane

Nickname: Liz

National Representation:  2007 – National Rep, Pacific Games 

2008 – Under 20 Women’s team

Special Award: 2008 Cook Islands Women Football Player of the Year

Elizabeth Harmon, or known by her nickname Liz to family and friends, is mustering all of her determination to excel equally in football and schoolwork.

Harmon is a student at the Cook Islands biggest school Tereora College where she has established a reputation for giving just as much effort to her schoolwork as she does to her football training.

There is added pressure on Liz to excel as her brother Grover Harmon is a current Cook Islands national men’s Football team member and her father is the President of the national football association. But the 17-year-old’s determination, skill and high fitness level saw her win the 2008 award as top CIFA Woman Football Player of the Year.

Selection for the Women’s Player of the Year was carried out by all CIFA clubs who sent in the names of the three top players they found outstanding over the course of the year. CIFA regulations specified that each club could only nominate players from other clubs and they were not allowed to nominate any of their own players.

National U20 Coach Jim Katoa says that Harmon is technically sound for her position and posses a good eye for reading the game in midfield coupled with a good instinct for goal scoring. He and the rest of the CIFA Technical staff have high hopes that Harmon will continue to develop at an impressive rate.

Courtesy of CIFA Media

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) has successfully completed its Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) junior coaching course in the outer island of Aitutaki, with 15 new junior coaches certified at its conclusion last weekend.

CIFA’s Technical Director Maurice Tillotson, who spent a week on the island with Development Officer Jimmy Katoa, said the course was successful for several reasons.

He said the coaching course was the first be delivered on Aitutaki for a number of years and while all the participants had football backgrounds, none had previously received expert coaching training.

“They were all committed to working with young players within their clubs; the participants were very enthusiastic, with a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to participate in all aspects of the course,” said Tillotson.

The junior coaching course has been seen by the president of Aitutaki’s football association, Tiraa Arere, as a catalyst needed to rejuvenate passion for the football there.

Arere told CIFA Media that he believes that the introduction of 15 freshly qualified junior coaches, in combination with the island’s large youth population, will soon reap rewards.

Tillotson and Katoa spent four days delivering the course with a typical day consisting of a theory seminar followed by practical sessions and the candidates also prepared, delivered, and were assessed on their own topics of discussion. 

“In the past I have found Aitutaki residents very outgoing and boisterous and this course was no exception. They were particularly responsive in role-play situations and showed us excellent skills in the practical sessions,” said Tillotson.

Due to the work commitments of the candidates, the timetable was adjusted to begin in the mid-afternoon and conclude in the early evening of each day.

“Our visit was timed to coincide with the start of the Aitutaki five-a-side football season and Jimmy and I observed much spontaneous action in the villages with the players partaking in impromptu games until it became too dark,” said Tillotson

“I was assured by the (Aitutaki) football president (Tiraa Arere) that there will be 28 teams contesting their five-a-side competition and that 20 teams will participate in the 11-a-side competition which starts later in the year. These teams contain a cross-section of players from the ‘under tens’ age group up to senior players in both male and female categories.”

Courtesy of CIFA Media

Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) ‘Just Play’ football initiative has etched its mark in the Cook Islands as an annual event with the six-week programme reaching its 2009 conclusion this week.

Attracting around 200 children between the ages of five and 13 years on Saturdays, the response has overwhelmed the hosts, participants and parents who had been turning up at the Cook Islands Football Association’s (CIFA) Sports Academy.

The programme is actually on a two year pilot but after proving so popular this year many participants in Rarotonga are now requesting that the national soccer body makes Just Play an annual event.

CIFA has been praised by the public and community leaders for the programme which encourages good eating habits, physical activity, and increased enjoyment of football through technical development.

Last Saturday, members of the CIFA Executive Board were at the academy to mark Just Play’s 2009 success with a cook sausage sizzles for the youngsters and parents as they gathered feedback from the football community.

CIFA President Lee Harmon said the programme has truly taken off in the Cook Islands “not only for the young ones but also with their parents who tagged along to watch them play”.

“Of course CIFA is committed to building the capacities of our communities with football and this is one of the many programmes we are working on,” says Harmon.

“In CIFA we have committed team of staff and board members. This was evident when they would turn up on Saturdays to support this Just Play football programme. While the young ones were playing, the staff and board members were collecting balls for them, filling water containers and on the last day they all cooked for the participants, Harmon said as he acknowledged the importance of team work off the pitch as well as on it.

Oceania Football Confederation Head of Technical Development, Jim Selby visited the Cook Islands in July to oversee the implementation and progress of the project that he personally designed.  

CIFA Media

Officials from the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) are visiting the outer island of Aitutaki this week where they are conducting an OFC Junior Coaching Course for participants on the island.

CIFA’s Technical Director Maurice Tillotson and Development Officer Jimmy Katoa have ‘tailor-made’ the course to meet the needs of the participants – many of whom are relatively new to coaching.

Aitutaki is an island, prominent for its lagoon and hotels, located north of Rarotonga and approximately 55 minutes by plane.

The five-day course which finishes on Saturday, aims to qualify all participants and up-skill them with the latest coaching methods for junior players.

Tillotson, who returned to the Cook Islands four months ago after an absence of five years, said the visit has several objectives.

“It is several years since an official football coaching course was held on the island, therefore, a visit is long overdue.  Along with Jimmy (Katoa) we will be making an assessment of the state of the game in Aitutaki from a perspective of playing, coaching and infrastructure,” Tillotson said.
 
“It has been suggested that the game in Aitutaki has taken a backward step over the past few years and it is our intention to help rekindle the (football) vitality that existed there previously.”
 
Outer Islands Development is one of the many objectives embraced by the Technical Department and included in their teaching will be aspects of CIFA’s Talented Player, National Teams, Grassroots Development and Coach Development programs.

Within these strategic objectives lie many sub-categories for CIFA such as the National Youth Championship and Talented Player Academies for male and female players.

Other sub-categories include the Cook Islands national mens teams’ successful tour of Tonga, the ‘grass-roots’ Primary School Program and Just Play sessions (attracting up to 150+ children), Coach Development Program which includes the OFC Senior Community Coaching Certificate and the Outer Island visits which are currently in progress.   

Tillotson says he is looking forward to being able to asses exactly "the state of the game" when the season commences in October. The CIFA football season is being slightly delayed this year due to the World Youth Netball Championship and Pacific Mini Games which are being held in Rarotonga.

Courtesy of CIFA Media

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Technical Director, Jim Selby, has successfully completed the FIFA Member Association’s Senior Football Coaching course accreditation, in conjunction with OFC.

Last week’s course was the second and last phase for the programme in the Cook Islands first delivered before a two months recess. Selby had only words of praise for the participants.

“At the beginning they knew it would be over an extended period of time. They had to attend the first part, return to work, and then come back for the second part. Sometimes it is outside their comfort zones and it is not easy. They have been a committed team, outstanding really.”

The coaching clinic falls in FIFA and OFC’s strategic planning of coaching programmes in the Pacific Islands.

The four-day course covered a series of topics with the aim being that coaches are now ready to organise and coach a group of players on a specific training skillsets.

Selby parted diverse and intense skills to participants in the lecture room and in the football fields on various topics, including: tactical training systems and styles of play, match analysis, principles of fitness training, goalkeeper training, attacking and defensive play, and game awareness in functional and phase practices to name a few.

“The coaching course had been an intensive one and the participants were committed. It hasn’t been easy to give up their time to attend. They have all done a fantastic job and are all looking forward to developing football in the Cook Islands,” Selby said.

In the last two years FIFA had conducted ‘Training of Trainers’ programmes that gave Cook Islands participants the qualification to deliver OFC courses such as fun football, kids, and junior and youth football courses.

Percentage wise, the course had 10 percent women participation. Selby said that this disparity is a common trend in Pacific Island countries.

“Quite often in the Pacific girls don’t play sport from an early age, they take it up in their teens, while European girls start with the sport very young.”

Selby is adamant that the Just Play football programme, which he designed, contains the best strategy aimed at bringing more female players into the game.

Courtesy of CIFA Media.

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) Sports Academy has been an array of colours and abuzz with laughter for the last two Saturday mornings as youngsters have flocked in for the 'Just Play' football programme.

Into its third week, the programme has attracted 100-plus children aged 5-13 between 9am to 11am each Saturday with sessions continuing through until 8 August. So far it has been blessed with fine and cool weather.

The 'Just Play' initiative, which started last year, is proving as popular as ever according to CIFA Development Officer Jimmy Katoa. Apart from numbers on the increase, Katoa said they have also identified some up-and-coming footballers.

“The programme is all about giving kids the round ball and watching how they fare with it. We had our second Saturday and we are seeing consistency in some of these young ones. There's a lot of good raw talent coming through,” Katoa said.

“Last year was great for the first time. This year the support from parents, coaches and player numbers has increased every Saturday and we are receiving very good and positive comments from parents saying that their young ones can't wait until the next Saturday.

“Most of the parents stay and help with the coaching, getting involved and having fun as well. Some drop the kids off on their way to the market but they do make it back to watch the kids for a while before the end of the programme.”

‘Just Play’ is the brainchild of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Technical Director Jim Selby. The programme encourages children to play football and pursue good health, good eating habits and physical activity while improving technical ability and enjoyment of the sport.

Katoa’s advertisement on local television invites parents and caregivers to “bring the kids, meet and mingle with other parents, get involved with the coaching”.

“This is what the programme is all about, creating an opportunity for parents and children to come together and enjoy the moment,” Katoa said.

Story courtesy of CIFA Media

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) national U20s training squad has assembled and begun preparations for the Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) Under 20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand this October.

The tyranny of distance will be testing the CIFA U20 Women’s perseverance and discipline as they are unable to train in one place. The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands scattered over 2-million square kilometers of ocean and to organise a full squad in any sport, in one location, would mean the decentralisation of its training programmes. 

Despite the distances between them, these training squad members are setting their eyes on the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Germany next year as a goal “to motivate them to work hard as footballers”. 
 
Fourteen players are under the watchful eyes of the Head Coach Jimmy Katoa at the CIFA Sports Academy in Rarotonga. Katoa is also CIFA’s Development Officer and is being assisted by Michelle Paiti and Team Manager John Taripo in his U20s preparations.

Nearly an hour away by plane from Rarotonga airport is the island of Aitutaki, where five other members of the training squad have their own training guided by a local football coach appointed by the Aitutaki Football Association. Another three players are training hard in Auckland together also.

The training programmes are the same for all squad members and have been specially designed by Mr Katoa and CIFA’s Technical Director Maurice Tillotson.

So trust, commitment and perseverance are the key fundamentals of this training squad.

“This is the reality here. We are many islands divided by sea so it will never be easy to bring all our players together just to train because they have their school and work to attend so we cannot shift them out easy,” said coach Katoa.

“We have to design our training programmes so that they can continue their school work. I cannot be there to watch over them all the time so there is that trust, between me, as their coach, and them, as my players, that we will be committed to me, the game, and following the programmes.

“But we will always have someone guiding them in their training.”

In August Mr Katoa and Mr Tillotson will travel to Aitutaki to assess players progress and narrow down who their final team members will be.

Mr Katoa says that he will trim the training squad to around 14 players and the full squad will assemble in Auckland in October before the OFC qualifiers.

Courtesy of CIFA Media.

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) had every reason to celebrate at the weekend with the inauguration of its newly completed national headquarters at Matavera on the main Island of Rarotonga.

Seven years in the making, the Cook Islands ‘House of Football’ now includes an all-purpose complex for players, officials, media and spectators as well as international-standard playing facilities and administration offices for CIFA.

No less than100 people turned out for the festivities on Saturday which included vibrant cultural performances set amongst the tropical palm trees and a backdrop of majestic volcanic peaks. Following the opening prayer, CIFA President Lee Harmon gave a stirring speech in which he said the inauguration was perhaps the most momentous occasion for the Cook Islands since the country gained FIFA recognition in 1994.

“This inauguration dawns a new day for the Cook Islands, a new day for our people and for football. These facilities will give our young people the opportunity to achieve their full potential at national and international levels – it really is a ‘Field of Dreams’,” said Harmon.

The inauguration marked the second and third phases of the Goal Programme introduced by FIFA in 1999 as an initiative of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter to elevate national football associations around the world.

Representing President Blatter at the ceremony was FIFA Vice-President and OFC President Reynald Temarii who expressed his appreciation to CIFA for their tireless efforts to see the project through from infancy to completion.

“These objectives were shared to me by the CIFA President Lee Harmon when we met 12 years ago for the first time in Auckland, as young presidents in the Oceania Confederation. He did not stop and with the support of a very committed Executive Committee, together, they achieved. Congratulations”, said President Temarii.

Cook Islands Prime Minister, the Honourable Jim Marurai, was also on-hand as the keynote speaker to say what the football facilities meant to such a proud sporting nation.

“I congratulate CIFA and its development partners for realising this outstanding football complex. This is not the end of the road with continuing support, activities, education courses and other essential resources to look forward to. I am honoured to be here to witness the occasion and also to officially open the facilities with the FIFA Vice-President”.

FIFA Development Officer for the Oceania region Glenn Turner was full of praise for the CIFA officials, the local contractors and other partners who he says have worked together harmoniously to achieve the ambitious vision of creating a truly unique ‘House of Football’.

The ceremony concluded with an unveiling of the plaque, a blessing from Pastor Eliu Eliu and the ceremonial cutting of banana leaves before distinguished guests were given a tour of the various complex facilities.

From humble beginnings

The official ground-breaking on what is now the ‘Home of Football’ took place on 16 April 2003. With coastal land scarce and traditionally owned by families and handed down through generations, officials had spent an exhaustive two years securing the low-lying plot of land which then took months to implement underground irrigation and drainage systems.

Less than a year later on 2 April 2004, the doors of CIFA’s new home were open. The Cook Islands football community finally had a centralized facility – an important step for a country made up of island groups scattered as far as 1200km from Rarotonga.

CIFA’s administrative offices were integrated into the new building and the association amped up activities, especially in the area of development. Cook Islands may be one of FIFA’s smallest member associations with a mere 15,000 inhabitants, but it has an impressive track record of development programmes in a variety of areas including junior, youth, women’s, coaching and refereeing.

With the completion of the second and third phases of the Goal programme, the complex now has dressing rooms for players and officials, spectator tribune with covered seating for 500 people as well as media rooms and PA capabilities.

Photo gallery

A proud moment for CIFA President Lee Harmon and wife Tokoa

OFC President Reynald Temarii speaks with Cook Islands Sports Minister Ngamau Munokoa

Cook Island dancers entertain the distinguished guests

The festivities continue

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.

Oceania Football Confederation’s senior coaching course is being held in the Cook Islands for the first time this week offering coaches essential training tips.
 
Around 15 coaches are setting out on the path towards a senior coaching badge as OFC Technical Director Jim Selby takes them through the course this week and will then return in July to give assessments before awarding the OFC badges.
 
Selby says coaches will be able to call on local mentors for assistance leading up to the July assessments.
 
“Straight after this course, each coach can put the training into practice with their local team and be mentored by newly appointed CIFA Technical Director Maurice Tillotson now based in the Cook Islands,” says Selby, who is usually based at OFC Headquarters in Auckland.
 
“Those that show they are competent will achieve the OFC Senior Coaching Certificate and those that are not quite up to the standard will have a chance to be reassessed later in the year.”
 
This week’s training follows on from youth and junior courses facilitated by Selby in the Cook Islands over the past two years. He says the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) has been systematic in its approach to coach education.
 
“CIFA has shown exemplary support for these courses and that has resulted in coaches having ample opportunities to improve their skills. OFC continues to work closely with CIFA to deliver the full range of courses to further lift the technical standards of football in the Cook Islands.”
 
One coach who has directly benefited is Jimmy Katoa. Through participating in OFC courses, Katoa has achieved the qualifications to deliver courses for community coaches and junior coaches.

In May he is set to become the first Cook Islander qualified to run youth coaching courses. Selby says this is an example of the Technical Department’s commitment to see local people deliver local courses in the future.
 
On Sunday, Selby will fly from the Cook Islands to Samoa where he will meet with the Normalisation Committee to put together a plan of action for 2009 including grassroots programmes, player identification strategies, football in schools and other initiatives.




 

AUCKLAND - The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) wishes to advise the global football family that the general secretariat will shut for the holiday season on Monday 22 December 2008 - Monday 5 January 2009.

OFC wishes everyone around the world a happy and peaceful holiday season and a safe and prosperous 2009.

AUCKLAND - Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), Auckland Regional Council (ARC), Sky Television New Zealand (Prime Television), Fiji TV and Sky Pacific and all "Beautiful Game" associated partners are pleased to announce the live broadcast details of Oceania All Stars vs. LA Galaxy.

Thirteen broadcasters from around the region will take live coverage of this groundbreaking event from Mount Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland, as a squad of players from around Oceania plus invited guest players from Australia and Netherlands take on the stars from Major League Soccer (MLS) to help raise funds for Kids Can, John Walker Field of Dreams and promote OFC Football for Life.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas said the match would create television and football history around the Oceania region.

"The fact we have thirteen of our regional broadcasters taking this match live is historic in itself. The Karembeu Jubilee match in Noumea was distributed delayed.

We at OFC are delighted to bring our regions footballers together like this, but even happier the people in the countries will be able to see them alongside the LA Galaxy, Christian Karembeu, Mark Bosnich and Edgar Davids.," Nicholas said.

The broadcast will reach a potential audience of just over 6 million people.

OFC Media and Communications Officer Gordon Glen Watson said New Caledonia had the option of taking a tape of the match delayed.

"At this stage the technology to bring the match live to New Caledonia is not in place. However, Fiji TV and RFO are in dialogue about solving this problem as a result of this event - that is a strong indication of the power and attraction of football in our region," Watson said.

Live internet audio broadcast of this match is available at www.radiosport.co.nz

For full listings in your country or territory please consult local listings.

MATCH DETAILS

Saturday 6 December 2008

"The Beautiful Game"

Oceania All Stars vs. LA Galaxy

Mount Smart Stadium

Penrose

Auckland

Kick-Off: 19h35 (New Zealand Time)

Oceania All Stars coach Jim Selby at yesterday's press conference

BROADCASTERS TAKING THE LIVE FEED

American Samoa - Pacific Channel Samoa

American Samoa - Pacific Island Cable

Cook Islands - Cook Islands Television

Kiribati - Television Kiribati Ltd

New Zealand - Prime Television/Sky Television

Niue - Broadcasting Corporation of Niue

Papua New Guinea - EMTV (Media New Guinea Limited)

Solomon Islands - One News Ltd/Solomon Telekom Co. Ltd

Tonga - Tonga  Broadcasting Commission

Tonga - TONFON Entertainment Ltd

Vanuatu - Vanuatu Broadcasting & TV Corp

Samoa - Samoa Broadcasting Corporation

AUCKLAND - The FIFA Futuro III Referee Instructors course began yesterday in Auckland with 21 participants from eight OFC Member Associations (MA’s) in attendance.

The aim of the course that runs from November 27 – December 3, is to provide instructors with the necessary tools and training to enable them to impart similar courses to referees/assistant referees at local level under the auspices of their national association.

The course was run by FIFA Instructors Massimo Raveino (TAH), Neil Poloso (SOL) and Shamsul Maidin from Singapore.

It was the first FIFA Futuro course organised in Oceania where an instructor came from outside of the confederation, and Maidin’s experience of four FIFA Futuro Courses in the Asian Football Confederation was a welcome addition to the group.

Participants from New Zealand, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, American Samoa, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea took part in the course which was split into technical classroom style technical courses in the morning and practical field based sessions in the afternoon.

Raveino said that the vision for the course was to change the mindset of participants.

“Today our vision regarding referee development in the MA’s is to change the refereeing philosophy, and to change the mindset in the islands,” he said.

“FIFA want results in OFC over the next four years and we need to provide them.

The criteria for selecting referee instructors are numerous and varied.

“The first criteria for involvement is that they must have the ability to work in the MA to teach, instruct organize, coach, monitor and assess,” Raveino said.

“Second they must agree to a targets contract and a moral contract which means they must want to assist the MA and work with the co-operation of the referee development officer in the national associations.

Raveino said the success of this week will be based on how the courses get run in the member associations.

“During this week the participants will organise the technical and practical sessions because they are not here to learn how to instruct, teach and coach, they are here to improve their abilities and that is a key difference. We told the MA’s we need instructors, we don’t need referee’s coming here to learn to be instructors.”

During the course the participants will be taught the FIFA Philosophy regarding the laws of the game, uniformity in understanding how to improve performances of the match officials, methodology, how to organise a course and the management of the calendar program.

Raveino said the instructors have to be flexible because situations in some of the member associations are likely to be unique.

“We have to be flexible and adapt to each situation. For example if you are in American Samoa, it will not be the same as if you are in PNG. In PNG you have no laptop or projector and so the only material at your disposal may be the blackboard and they need to be able to adapt to this change.”

Raveino said it is important to change the mindset in Oceania, and said there would be no one coming over for a holiday.

“We don’t want travellers on our course, or people not here for the right reasons. The lesson that we have learned from the islands is that some participants want to come to Auckland to find their families and visit the city. It is time to change.

“In Fiji in 2004 we ran a course and had 38 candidates. Today we only have 12 instructors who continue to work in their MA. So we don’t want to find this situation again.”

“Next year we will travel to each MA to organize the course with the referee instructors and also to follow up with these candidates.”

Photos: Shane Wenzlick

FIFA Instructor Shamsul Maiden from Singapore

FIFA Instructor Massimo Raveino gives a techincal lecture

Pics above: FIFA Futuro III course participants take in the techincal sessions

RAROTONGA - The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) has ordered Tupapa and Takuvaine to replay last Saturday's abandoned CIFA Round Cup. Referee Maara Kaukura abandoned the match in the 40th minute after issuing three red cards, one to Matthew Titoa of Takuvaine after the midfielder allegedly twice punched Tupapa goalkeeper Nga-tokorua Elikana.

The incident was exasperated when supporters became embroiled in the fracas leaving Kaukura with no no choice but to abandon the match. Takuvaine led 2-1 when tensions boiled over.

CIFA president Lee Harmon said a replay was the most logical decision to take with Victoria Park, Tupapa, the likely venue. Matthew Titoa - the player at the centre of allegations - would be suspended from playing as a result of his red card.

Harmon said that under the competition rules, the game must be replayed as it was called off in the first half.

"The referee will submit a report on the incident and the CIFA Discipinary Committee will conduct a hearing to determine whether or not further action will be taken," Harmon said.

Maara Kaukura would not officiate the replayed fixture with CIFA naming referee Robert Savage and assistant referees Michael Mouauri and Lai Gukisuva as match officials.

At its meeting in Zurich on 23and 24 October, the FIFA Executive Committee primarily discussed finances, competitions, the international match calendar, social responsibility and political and legal matters.

On the subject of finances, a detailed analysis of the potential impact of the ongoing international financial crisis was presented, first to the Finance Committee and then to the Executive Committee. According to this analysis, FIFA has not suffered any losses, and is well equipped to weather the current crisis thanks to a number of factors, including: the diversification of its financial assets; low exposure to currency fluctuations; the fact that 95 per cent of the 2007-2010 income budget is under contract; good cost management; and the diversity of its portfolio of commercial and TV partners. The figures will, as usual, appear in the financial report at the end of the current financial year.

As was the case for previous FIFA World Cups™ since 1998, the Executive Committee approved the Finance Committee's recommendation that FIFA take out an insurance policy to provide cover of USD 650 million in the event of the postponement and/or relocation of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. This policy will only provide cover against terrorisms, natural disasters, epidemics, war, accidents or turmoil.

With regard to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Executive Committee decided that, in order to protect the welfare of the players, they should play their last club matches on 16 May 2010 at the latest. A mandatory rest period will be in place from 17 to 23 May 2010. The final of the UEFA Champions League - scheduled to be played on 22 May 2010 - will be the only exception to this rule. A similar approach was adopted prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA Executive Committee also discussed the possibility of announcing the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups simultaneously. The proposal was accepted in principle, but a final decision on this matter will not be taken until the Executive Committee's next meeting in Tokyo, on 19 and 20 December 2008.

The Executive Committee also received a report from the Players' Status Committee on an issue FIFA considers fundamental: the protection of minors and training clubs. A series of measures, which you can view by clicking on the links to the right, is being considered in order to provide young players with greater protection and to monitor the application of FIFA regulations. In particular, steps to control youth academies were approved.

The Executive Committee once again expressed its support for the 6+5 proposal approved by the FIFA Congress in Sydney.

The Executive Committee stressed the importance of social responsibility for FIFA, which through the Football for Hope programme develops humanitarian projects all over the world. For further information, see the Football For Hope link on the right.

With regard to member associations, the Executive Committee decided to suspend the Samoa Football Soccer Federation, as the problems within the federation persist despite the establishment of a normalisation committee. The Executive Committee also renewed the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) because the elections that were due to be held before mid-October have not yet taken place. The KFA is therefore suspended until further notice.

A report on the situation in a number of other member associations, including Indonesia, St Kitts and Nevis, Peru and Spain, was also presented. FIFA will suspend the Peruvian football association if government interference does not stop by 21 November.

An application for affiliation from the Kosovo football association was deemed not to comply with art. 10 of the FIFA Statutes, which stipulates that only "an independent state recognised by the international community" may be admitted. In accordance with the Statutes, Kosovo cannot play any friendly matches.

The committee took note of progress in the discussions on the possible affiliation of the Turkish-Cypriot Football Association (CTFA) to the Cyprus Football Association (CFA).

Other matters:

- FIFA U-17 World Cup 2009: the government of Nigeria has informed FIFA that it is no longer in a position to provide its support for the organisation of the tournament. FIFA is looking into the situation.
- 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: as part of efforts to promote the competition on every continent, a global Fan Fest project is under way. 16 cities have been chosen for the project.
- 2009 international match calendar - the following dates have been added to the 2009 international match calendar:

AFC (Asian Football Confederation): 17 June 2009
CAF (Confederation of African Football): 20-21 June 2009

In addition, owing to the participation of these teams in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, the following amendments have been approved:
- for the USA, the period from 3 to 6/7 June has been reserved to replace 6 and 10 June
- for Egypt, the date 4/5 July has been reserved to replace 20/21 June.

The next meeting of the Executive Committee will take place in Tokyo on 19 and 20 December.

RAROTONGA - A tenacious performance from a brave Matavera FC ensured Takuvaine had to work hard for their 3-2 win at the Takuvaine Valley Field in Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) Round Cup action last week.

Bottom-placed Matavera FC were a thorn in Takuvaines sides as there unwavering determination made up for their technical flaws and unsettled the more highly fancied Takuvaine.

Matavera FC were rewarded for their fast-paced start to the match when they took the lead after 10 minutes from the penalty spot. But, as ever for team's struggling at the wrong end of the table, they were quickly in trouble when Takuvaine won and converted a penalty of their own within minutes.

Takuvaine became increasingly frustrated as Matavera foiled several goal attempts thanks to Mataveras hardworking back John Pareanga and goal keeper Morning Winnie.

Takuvaine coach Kevin Holt delivered a stinging broadside to his team at the break.

"I told them to stop over playing and start showing the class and quality that has made us top of the table so far this season," Holt said.

Holt's  words certainly worked as Takuvaine started their second half with a well worked goal within seconds of the restart.

Matavera FC kept up their dogged pursuit and Takuvaine's 2-1 lead looked precarious at the best of times during the second-half.

Takuvaine's nervous disposition seemed sure to encourage opportunities for Matavera FC and it wasn't long before a chance materialised for Cook Islands struggling club.

What looked like a botched cross kick from Mataveras Pakia Willie turned into an awe-inspiring goal, the ball overshooting its intended destination - a clutch of players in the box - and ending up in the back of Takuvaine's net to make it 2-2, much to the delight of their cheering fans who sensed an the possibility of an  impending upset.

Takuvaine were rattled by events and sparked into attacking action and the test for Matavera FC would be whether they could hang on and secure a desperately needed point.

There was to be no relief, though, as a classy solo effort by Takuvaine youngster Sema Robati late in the match finally broke Matavera hearts.

There were scenes of relief amongst the Takuvaine players upon the final whistle and although Matavera FC ended up beaten there was enough encouragement based on this stirring performance to suggest they may yet climb higher in the table.

– Matariki Wilson and OFC Media and Communications

- For the latest sports news from Rarotonga please visit www.cinews.co.ck

CIFA ROUND CUP results Saturday 13 September 2008

Men

Tupapa vs. Arorangi                   7-0
Takuvaine vs. Matavera FC        3-2
Nikao Sokattak vs. Titikaveka    6-1

Women

Tupapa vs. Arorangi                   0-2
Takuvaine vs. Matavera             2-0
Nikao Sokattak vs. Titikaveka    1-1


Age Group

Tupapa vs Arorangi-Under 14 Girls 1-0, Under 13 Boys 0-2, Under 16 boys 4-0, Senior B Men 4-0.
Takuvaine vs Matavera Under 13 Boys 1-1, Under 16 Boys 3-0, Senior B Men 3-2.
Nikao vs Titikaveka-Under 14 Girls 2-0, Under 13 Boys 9-0, Under 16 boys 2-0, Senior B Men 2-0.
 

AUCKLAND - As Lynn Avon celebrated yet another New Zealand Women's Knock-Out Cup victory at North Harbour Stadium at the weekend, there was sadness for 19-year-old Cook Islander Dayna Napa as defeat signalled the end of Western's brave cup-run.

Dayna - daughter of Cook Islands football boffin, Alex Napa - was the sole representative from the pacific territory in action that saw Western AFC's romantic cup run come to a sad end.

Western AFC had earlier defeated Seatoun 2-1 in the semi-final last month with Dayna Napa an integral member of the team.

Dayna Napa played in the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) Women's competition for Puaikura up until 2006 when she relocated to Christchurch and Canterbury University where she is a sports education undergraduate student.

Photograph courtesy www.westernsoccer.org.nz 

Story courtesy www.cookislandsnews.com 

RAROTONGA - The new uniforms sported by the Nikao Sokattak on Saturday could have been the secret formula to their 2-0 win against Tupapa but the team will tell you that defence won them the game.

Nikao Sokattak and Cook Islands international goalkeeper Remmie Wearing was kept on his toes throughout the entire match but has his resolute back four to thank for their brilliant defence to keep Tupapa scoreless.

Tupapa had the majority of the ball possession but they weren’t able to capitalise on these as attempts at  goal went everywhere except in the net.

Nikao played a more consistent and structured game that resulted in a goal halfway through the first half.

While the Sokattak fans celebrated on the sideline the players went straight back to work hunting for another goal.

Nikao’s second goal came late in the second half from a penalty kick after the Tupapa goal keeper ploughed into a Nikao striker.

Despite being up 2 nil, Nikao still did not celebrate and instead they stepped up the tempo of the game in pursuit of a third goal that would all but gaurentee a result.

With time running out, Tupapa finally came to life with another Cook Island international Paavo Mustonen ably getting the ball down to within striking distance of the goal but once again the Nikao defence was just too good.

Opportunity after another came and went for Tupapa who will have to do a lot better if they want secure a top spot this season

Despite their 2-0 win, Nikao officials were still critical of their game and indicated they want to analyse  errors made during this match before they take to the field again next week.

In other CIFA Round Cup matches on Saturday, it was a goal scoring bonanza in the Titikaveka vs Matavera match with Titikaveka walking away the eventual winner 5-4.

Avatiu also registered a win on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat over Arorangi.

Story and photographs courtesy of Cook Islands News and Matariki Wilson

Weekend soccer scores: Nikao vs Tupapa-Under 14 Girls 1-0, Women 1-3, Under 13 Boys 2-1, Under 16 boys 1-2, Senior B Men 2-2, Senior A Men 2-0, Avatiu vs Arorangi-Under 14 Girls 0-4, Women 0-6, Under 13 Boys 0-5, Under 16 Boys 5-0, Senior B Men 1-1, Senior A Men 1-0, Matavera vs Titikaveka-Women 0-5, Under 13 Boys 2-0, Under 16 boys 0-1, Senior B Men 1-1, Senior A Men 4-5.