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

Tahiti has won its 3rd/4th play-off match against Fiji after fighting back from being a goal down three times to win 6-3.

Valerio Nawatu opened scoring when he was at the end of a quick counter-attack which he finished with a powerful low shot into the far post corner of the net.

Substitute Eizo Arai equalised for Tahiti with an un-opposed header at the back post from a cross midway through the period.

But Fijian substitute Shailendra Buisena latched onto some ponderous passing at the back by Tahiti and thumped a low first time shot past the stranded Tahiti keeper for a 2-1 first period lead.

In the second minute of the second period Jean Claude Chang Koei Chang brought Tahiti level again with a follow up shot from a rebound off the Fijian keeper - who only seconds earlier had saved a penalty.

Nawatu again gave his team the lead early in the second period but Angelo Tchen again equalised for the hosts from a direct freekick and Arai scored his second goal soon after with a header deflection off of a teamate's shot at goal.  

Teva Zaveroni and Roihau Degage joined the goal scoring action in the third to give Tahiti a comfortable three goa winning margin.

Tahiti player/coach Sebastien Labayen said his team is disapointed but know what the must improve.

"It is positive to finish with a win today but we are still very disappointed. We had 33 trainings for this and we wanted to win the Championship. We have to play more with the spirit of Beach Soccer, like the Solomons, they have the Beach Soccer mentality and they respect the spirit of Beach Soccer - we must play more like that."  

Tahiti 6-3 Fiji (1-2, 4-2, 1-0)

Tahiti: 1. Rehia DAVIO; 3, Angelo TCHEN; 7. Raimana LI FUNG KUEE; 9. Teva ZAVERONI; 11. Jean Claude CHANG KOEI CHANG

Substitutes: 2. Sebastien LABAYEN; 4. John HOFFMAN; 5. Stephen LEFOC; 6. Kenny NUI; 8. Eizo ARAI; 10. Roihau DEGAGE; 12. Franck REVEL; 

Fiji: 2. Kamal HASSAN; 3. Valerio NAWATU; 8. Alvin AVINESH; 10. Taniela Evo WAQA; 12. Beniamino Mojito MATEINAQARA;

Substitutes: 1. Alivereti BALELOA; 4. Shonal Joel SHARMA; 5. Sandeep NAIR; 6. Abinesh Sailesh SAMY; 7. Shailendra BUISENA; 9. Muni Arvindra NAIDU;

The Solomon Islands have all but cemented their place in the OFC Beach Soccer Championship final with an 11-2 win over Fiji in their day three match at Temae Beach, Moorea Island, Tahiti.

Gideon Omokirio opened scoring with a double strike inside of the first minute.

James Naka added the Solomons third midway through the period and that was closely followed by Franco Nee scoring their fourth.

Naka then scored his second and third goals to complete his hat-trick and put the Biliki Boys ahead by six goal at the end of first period.

Nicholas Muri Makaa scored their seventh early in the second period, a further two Solomons goals followed before Fiji finally got one back through an excellent long range strike from Alvin Avinesh.

Fiji dug deep to hold the Solomons to just two goals in the final period and Avinesh added his second to cap off a strong individual performance.

Naka scored added another tripple (P2 & P3) to take his haul to six for the match, afterwards he acknowledged his team alway plays better under pressure.

"I don't really know why we always lose our first game to Vanuatu at the Beach Soccer qualifiers, maybe maybe it is a (mental) thing... But we also also always go on to win the final, one hundred percent success, so we still have a lot of confidence."

And Naka had an ominous prediction regarding his teams' level of play.

"Now we are building up and getting better each game and I think we are now playing our normal game, and I think we can still improve our level for the final."  

Solomon Islands: 2. Timothy WALE; 8. Gideon OMOKIRIO; 9. Robert LAUA; 10. James NAKA; 12. Fred HALE;

Fiji: 3. Valerio NAWATU; 5. Sandeep NAIR; 9. Muni Arvindra NAIDU; 10. Taniela Evo WAQA; 12. Beniamino Mojito MATEINAQARA

Vanuatu has held off a valiant Fijian comeback to win 5-4 in extra time at Moorea Island's Temae beach in Tahiti.

Aiming to make it two wins from two matches Vanuatu lept out to a two-nil first period lead via goals to Fredy Vava - after just 20 seconds of play - and then Nawal Narukave in the eleventh minute.

The match looked to be slipping away fom Fiji early in the second period as Vanuatu captain Seimata Chillia added his teams' third but Alvin Avinesh and Valerio Nawatu both struck in quick succession to bring Fiji back into the match.

Fiji's legs again looked to be going to rubber in the third period but suddenly they turned the match on its head with two quickfire goals scored within ten seconds and the scores were locked with only ninety seconds of normal time remaining.

The match then progressed to the second extra time period in three matches where a hotly contested three minute spell saw Vanuatu come away 5-4 victors thanks to a tie-breaking individual goal by Vanuatu's Derek Malas with just over a minute remaining.

Vanuatu coach Richard Iwai was disapointed his team allowed Fiji to take the match to extra time.

"I am not happy with the game today, I mean I am happy to take the win but this is not how I expect us to play. We gave away a lot of ball and when we had a three goal lead we relaxed and didn't keep playing," Iwai said.

Vanuatu 5-4 Fiji (2-0, 2-2, 0-2, 1-0 ET)

Vanuatu 5: Fredy VAVA 11:41' (P1); Nawal NARUKAVE 0:55' (P1); Chillia SEIMATA 10:48', 4:12' (P2); Derek MALAS 1:06' (ET)

Fiji 4: Alvin AVINESH 9:08' (P1), 1:43' (P3); Valerio NAWATU 6:30' (P2); Kamal HASSAN 1:33' (P3)   

Vanuatu: 1. Chikau MANSALE; 2. Ken MASAUVAKALO; 6. Fredy VAVA; 7. Seimata CHILIA; 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO

Substitutes: 3. Robert TOM; 5. Nawal NARUKAVE; 8. Silas NAMATAK; 9. Derek MALAS; 10. Jonah TURU; 13. Francois SAKAMA; 20. Presley John GARAE

Fiji: 2. Kamal HASSAN; 8. Alvin AVINESH; 9. Muni Arvindra NAIDU; 10. Taniela Evo WAQA; 12. Beniamino Mojito MATEINAQARA;

Substitutes: 1. Alivereti BALELOA; 3. Valerio NAWATU; 4. Shonal Joel SHARMA; 5. Sandeep NAIR; 6. Abinesh Sailesh SAMY; 7. Shailendra BUISENA 

Eizo Arai got the home team on the scoresheet during the same period.

The second period saw the score see-saw with Teva Zaveroni, Raimana Li Fung Kuee and Angelo Tchen hitting the net for Tahiti while Waqa notched his second for Fiji, Alvin Avinesh notched their fourth and Shonal Joel Sharma kept his team infront with Fiji's fifth.

But Fiji's fitness appeared to fail them in the third period while Tahiti maintained their intensity and dominated the posession stakes.

The score began to look lopsided as Teva Zaveroni added a brace to his earlier goal to complete his hat-trick and a further four goals flowed as the margin blew-out.  

Tahiti 10-5 Fiji (1-2, 4-5, 10-5)  

Tahiti 10: 8. Eizo ARAI 5:25' (P1), 3:34' (P3); Teva ZAVERONI 10:06' (P2), 10:45', 10:23' (P3); Raimana LI FUNG KUEE 6:02' (P2), 4:56' (P3); Angelo TCHEN 5:20' (P2); Roihau DEGAGE 1:43 (P3); John HOFFMAN 1:09' (P3)  

Fiji 5: Kamal HASSAN 6:44' (P1); Taniela Evo WAQA 3:04 (P1), 11:05' (P2), Alvin AVINESH 4:41' (P2); Shonal Joel SHARMA 00:48' (P2)

Tahiti: 1. Rehia DAVIO; 2. Sebastien LABAYEN; 3. Angelo TCHEN; 7. Raimana LI FUNG KUEE; 9. Teva ZAVERONI;

Reserves: 4. John HOFFMANN; 5. Stephen LEFOC; 6. Kenny NUI; 8. Eizo ARAI; 10. Roihau DEGAGE; 11. Jean Claude CHANG KOEI CHANG; 12. Franck REVEL

Fiji: 2. Kamal HASSAN; 3. Valerio NAWATU; 8. Alvin AVINESH; 10. Taniela Evo WAQA; 12. Beniamino MATEINAQARA

Reserves: 1. Alivereti BALELOA; 4. Shonal Joel SHARMA; 5. Sandeep NAIR; 6. Abinesh Sailesh; 7. Shailendra BUISENA; 9. Muni Arvindra NAIDU;

The excitement is building on Tahiti’s beautiful Island of Moorea as the 2009 Tahiti Nui Beach Soccer Championship is poised to kick off tomorrow.

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will bring you a series of profiles throughout the week to help you familiarise yourself with some of key players in each of the four competing national squads.

Our second profiled player is the most experienced member amongst this year’s OFC Beach Soccer newcomers, Fijian lynchpin Valerio Nawatu.

Age: 24

Home town: Latouka

Favorite type of music, or musician?

“I love reggae, but I don’t have a favorite musician.”

Favorite type of food?

“Fish - all the fish dishes from home.” 

What Beach Soccer club do you play for in Fiji?

“Navua.”

What is your favorite/most satisfying Beach Soccer memory or moment?

“Winning the Fiji Open Beach Soccer tournament twice.. and beating the (Fiji Beach Soccer coach Intiaz Khan) coach’s team in the final!”

Do you have a team you like competing against the most?

“I think all the teams at the Championship this year will be very hard to beat, we will treat all the games the same. Obviously the Solomon Islands will be very tough with their World Cup experience. If we can qualify for the World Cup I would love to play against Italy, they are one of my favorite teams.”

Who is your favorite football player?

Zidane!

What is it that you specifically like about Beach Soccer as opposed to eleven aside football?

I find Beach Soccer more relaxed than eleven aside football. There is less emphasis on running and more on really skillful passing and taking lots of shots on goal. I like that there are always a lot of goals scored.

What are your expectations for your team this year?

I am aiming to help my team qualify, we expect to qualify, and we really want to represent Fiji in Dubai. 

In its bid to secure the prestigious Battle of the Giants title, Fiji club Navua have shopped early and recruited sensational Solomon Island Futsal star Jack Wetney.

The 19-year-old has already made an impact helping Navua to a 2-0 win over Ba at TFL National Stadium on Sunday in this weekend's feature match of the NewWorld National Soccer League.

Wetney made a good start upfront setting up the opening goal of the match in the 40th minute which was finished off well by his strike partner Jesoni Takala. Pita Bolaitoga then headed home in the 58th minute to secure the victory for Navua.

Club President Anil Sharma was ecstatic with the win and acknowledged Wetney's strong performance on debut.  

“I am happy with Jack Wetney’s performance as he played well despite not being used to playing on a wet and slippery pitch like this.”

Wetney caught the eye of Sharma last week at the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva where he scored seven goals for the Solomon Kurukuru as they defended their Oceania title. He earned the Futsal Golden Ball award for best player and awed fans with his blistering pace and silky footwork.

The performance prompted Sharma to make a trip to the Solomon Islands and recruit the talented youngster.

“I flew to the Solomon Islands earlier in the week and after talking to his family and officials, I was able to bring him over to Fiji and am certain he will deliver for Navua in both the National Soccer League and Battle of the Giants,” said Sharma.

“He is young and has a lot to offer to Navua and I am happy to see him excel further in his football career.

Wetney will eventually pair up with compatriot James Naka who is currently training with the Solomon Islands Beach Soccer team in preparation for the OFC Beach Soccer Championship Tahiti Nui 2009 from 27 - 31 July. Following his Beach Soccer commitments, Naka will join Navua for the Battle of the Giants.   

In other National Soccer League action this weekend, Tavua drew 1-1 with Rewa, Suva beat Nadi 4-0 and Lautoka beat Nadroga 1-0.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

The Solomon Islands have defended their Oceania Futsal title with an 8-1 win over host nation Fiji in the final at the OFC Championship in Suva tonight.

It was another goal fest for the Solomons who took their over-all tournament ledger to 32 goals scored, seven goals conceded in four matches.

"I am so proud of the boys that we came back and defended our title and we really deserved to win this because we shook off some rust after our first game and we have played better and smarter each game since."

"Now we have to look forward to the (invitational) tournament in Libya later this year and continue to lift our game. It’s another big step forward for us and we are proud to be Futsal ambassadors for the Pacific."

"I just want to thank all our supporters here in Fiji and at home and all our families and I think we will continue to grow this game and one day we will make a statement to the rest of the world about what Oceania can do," Ragomo said.  

It was Lea’alafa who opened the goal scoring account for his team on six minutes with a powerful shot that deflected off of a Fijian defender and bamboozled the unsighted Simione Moce Tamanisau.

On 11 minutes a clever long chip pass from James Egeta found teammate Jenan Kapu unmarked and he side stepped the onrushing Tamanisau and walked the ball into the Fijian net.

Just shy of the quarter hour Ragomo set-up Wetney for a simple finish after a weaving run down the sideline.

On 17 minutes Tamanisau had a measure of revenge with an audacious long range chip shot from just outside his own circle that caught his opposite, Solomon goalkeeper Alick Lioka, well off his line.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

ENDS.

With two weeks to go until the OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009, defending champions Solomon Islands have stepped up preparations in their bid to secure back-to-back victories at the prestigious event.

The round-robin competition involving Fiji, New Caledonia, the Kurukuru from Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, is set to take place from 6-10 July at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji.

Solomon Islands will go into the championship as hot favourites with 11 of their 12 squad members being part of the 2008 winning team that went on to represent Oceania at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil last year.

Recently appointed head coach Dickson Kadau says his players have undergone intensive training in recent weeks.
 
“We train six days a week and the focus areas in our sessions are mainly on speed, strength and the team’s defense,” said Kadau.
 
The Kurukuru side has also received a huge boost from Scott Gilligan, ‘Win in Oceania’ Project Manager for Futsal, who has spent time in the Solomon Islands this month working closely with the team.
 
“The boys have improved a lot from where they were during the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil,” said the former Australian futsal international who has also coached the Australia national men’s side.
 
“When I came to Honiara early this year for a futsal coaching course under the ‘Win in Oceania’ development programme, I left a training plan with them and what I’ve seen is incredible progress.”
 
The OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 marks the sixth time Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has staged the event.  Since its inception in 1992, the championships have been held every four years as part of the qualification process for the FIFA Futsal World Cup tournaments.

Fiji 2009 marks the first year of the new annual format for the championship which shows OFC’s commitment to developing futsal by providing regular competition for Oceania’s top teams.

The popularity of futsal – an indoor form of football played with five players per side and a weighted ball – continues to grow throughout the region as a number of OFC’s eleven member associations start to develop domestic competitions to support the game.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 – Official Teams Lists

FIJI

1. Asmat BEGG
2. Mira SAHIB
3. Sandeep NAIR
4. Dinesh Chand MUDALIAR
5. Shivam NATHAN
6. Mohammed SHALMEEN
7. Joseph MISHRA
8. Aisea Dauivalu CODRO
9. Kamal HASSAN
10. Uraia Raimulo LOKI
11. Osea VAKATALESAU
12. Simione Moce TAMANISAU  

Coach: Imtiaz KHAN
Assistant Coach: Melvin ANAND

NEW CALEDONIA

1. Ronan EUZEN (GK)
2. Jerry IARUEL
3. Adrien GUILLAMO
4. Louis WAISHITINE
5. Anderson PAULIN
6. Cédrick HUMUNI
7. Rodrigue Poiwi
8. Ismaël TCHOVAMILI
9. Christophe WHOAP
10. Loïc CAUNES
11. Ivann POUROUORO
16. Arnaud LLAMBRICH (GK)

Coach: Eric MICHALAK
Assistant Coach: Alexandre WEMA

SOLOMON ISLANDS

1. Alick LIOKA (GK)
2. Philip HOUTARAU
3. Elliot RAGOMO
4. Paul HUIA
5. Jenan KAPU
6. Moffat SIKWA'AE
7. James EGETA
8. Francis LAFAI
9. Micah  LEA'ALAFA
10. Stanley PUAIRANA (GK)
11. Ron GINIO
12. Jack WETNEY
Coach: Dickson KADAU
Assistant Coach: Jerry SAM

VANUATU

1. Daniel MANSALE (GK)
2. Reynold ABEL
3. Don MANSALE
4. Marco Andre Junior HERROMINLY
5. Lui SIFAS
6. Terry QUARE
7. Ben HUNGAI
8. Louis DOMINIQUE
9. Junior MALAS
10. Vira  Jack ALA
11. Ben EDWARD
23. Pascal PALA (GK)

Coach: Marco HERROMINLY
Assistant Coach: Marcellino BARTHELEMY

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

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

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

National Soccer League defending champions Ba have narrowed the gap on the points table against leaders Lautoka after beating Rewa 2-0 in the lone fixture of the weekend at Govind Park in Ba.

The Men In Black showed their class and experience against the Delta Tigers who despite putting on a brave performance were not able to break the Ba defence and get on the score sheet.

Veteran striker Josaia Bukalidi who is fighting hard to retain his position in Coach Yogendra Dutt’s starting line up scored the only goal of the first spell to give the hosts the advantage at the break.

Maciu Dunadamu doubled the advantage in the second spell to give Ba another impressive victory and keep the pressure on Lautoka who are riding high after topping round one and qualifying for the 2010 O-League.

With a number of talented players in his squad, Dutt faces a daunting task in naming his final squad for the Fiji FACT cup competition which kicks off in Suva on 11 June.

Meanwhile Ba received good news that prolific striker Osea Vakatalesau will be free to feature in the opening match of the Fiji FACT against Nasinu. The Wailotua native had copped a red card against Tavua last weekend but served his suspension by missing the encounter against Rewa this weekend.

Ba has been grouped in Pool 2 for the upcoming Fiji FACT with defending champions Navua, IDC winners Lautoka, last season’s finalist Labasa and Nasinu.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

Fiji's Lautoka have gained two more valuable points in the National Soccer League to extend its lead by five points after winning its protest over Tavua.

The Blues drew 1-1 with Tavua in the opening rounds of the league but lodged a protest with Fiji Football Association claiming their opposition fielded unregistered players.

In its sitting this week, the Fiji Football Association Disciplinary Committee ruled in favor of Lautoka.

Lautoka have already qualified for the 2010 O-League after topping the first round but have now extended their points to 28 points after 10 matches.

Second placed Ba has registered impressive wins in its last three encounters a now have 23 points.

Navua have slipped to third after their disappointing draw against Nadroga last weekend.

Ba, who are set to take on Rewa in the lone National League fixture this weekend, have the chance of narrowing the gap further tomorrow.

They will have to win against the Delta Tigers who have been inconsistent so far in the season.

The Ba-Rewa match kicks off on Sunday.

Meanwhile the National League commences proper after the Vodafone Fiji FACT will be played at Suva’s TFL National Stadium from June 11 to 15, 2009.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

Captain of the Solomon Islands Biliki team James Naka who has been drafted by Navua for the Fiji FACT competition says he is willing to share his knowledge and expertise in developing beach football in Fiji.

The 25-year-old striker, who has featured in three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups for the Solomon Islands, played last weekend in the Fiji FA Beach Soccer tournament in Laucala for Navua's Red Devils and successfully guided the team to victory.

This weekend, Naka will make his debut for Southern Forest Navua in the National League fixture against Nadroga before appearing in the Fiji FACT next month in Suva.

Naka says he would like to help other Fijian players during his stay in the country. 

“I am more than willing to assist Fiji Beach Soccer in developing and raising more awareness of the sport around the country” said Naka.

“Back in the Solomon Islands, Beach football is really popular and one of the most contested sports.

“We have so many teams there and competition is very intense among the clubs in an organized tournament.

“With my experience of playing in three world cups and having captained the team to Brazil last year, I will be able to discuss my experience and raise more awareness about the sport.

“Beach soccer is well suited for the Pacific as we have perfect beaches to play the sport on and enhance our football skills,” he added.

Navua soccer president Anil Sharma said he has already informed Fiji FA president Dr Muhammad Shamsud-din Sahu Khan about Naka’s availability and interest in helping Fiji Beach Football and remains hopeful the parent body will utilize the skills and knowledge of the talented marksman.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

In a bid to field the strongest team at the OFC Futsal Championship in July, Fiji's Futsal Commission has organized a Super 5-a-side tournament which kicks off this week.

The tournament, sponsored  by Fiji FA Sun and Sharma in association with Pillay Garments Manufacturing, will be played on Mondays and Thursdays at the Vodafone Arena where the OFC Futsal Championship will be held from 6-10 July 2009.

A national trials team will compete with 11 other clubs for the $1000 prize money up for grabs for the winner.

Fiji Futsal secretary Jainendra Sukhu said the tournament will act as a perfect way to gauge the progress and fitness of the players selected in the extended squad for the championship.

“Coach Intiaz Khan and his panel will be closely monitoring the performances of all the players that have been selected in the squad in the tournament before deciding on the final team,” says Sukhu.

“Players that have missed out also have a chance to showcase their talent and impress the panel as the final team is yet to be finalized.”

“The more games the players will play, the more confident and experienced they will get and this will keep the team fit and focused on the task at hand which is to top the championship and qualify for the world stage events” he added.

The National Trialists will play in Pool 1 with the likes of Nadogo, Extreme Stationery, Youth, Pillay Garments and Central Vuci.

Pool 2 features North Pole, Civic, Fiji Sun, Savusavu, Combine Brothers and Lokia.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

Ba have long been the powerhouse of Fijian club football but the balance of power looks set to shift as Lautoka are just one win away from securing the all-important 2010 O-League spot.

The 'Sugar City' is waiting in anticipation for today’s showdown where its Lautoka heroes take on Nadi in the crucial National Soccer League fixture which will decide whether they will be the Fijian side to take part in Oceania Football Confederation's Champions League.

“We are hungry, very hungry for the win,” Says Lautoka Soccer Association president Shalen Prasad.

“This is the first time Lautoka has been in this position to qualify for the O-League and we are not going to let it slip from our fingers,” he said. 
   
Prasad says his team will not settle for a draw against the Jetsetters.

The do-or-die match kicks off at 7pm at Churchill Park and it may well be Lautoka’s last chance of making their much awaited debut in the O-League.

The Blues will field their strongest team tomorrow with the likes of Valerio Nawatu, Jone Vono junior, Kamal Hassan, Ilaitia Tuilau, Samuela Vula and Samuela Kautoga.

Prasad says his Nadi counterpart Jitendra Kumar has issued him a challenge saying that the Jetsetters will be giving their best, looking for an upset.

“Nadi has promised an upset. Their president Jitendra Kumar called me up and said they were not going to let us qualify for the O-League,” Prasad said.

“But they’ll have to try their hardest because we do not want to taint our undefeated record and we want that qualification spot.”

The Blues will select a team captain hours before the game but Prasad revealed it was likely to be goalkeeper Laisenia Tuba.

“Tuba is still a question mark for the game because of a death in his family but if he does play then the captaincy role will definitely go to him.”

Prasad said while a draw could still ensure they qualify for the O-League he said they only wanted a win.

“We don’t underestimate Nadi, they have been our toughest opponents in the past and with a game as important as this we know they’ll be going all out to upset us.”

“A draw is not an option for Lautoka, we’ve been undefeated and we want to stay that way going into the O-League competition.”

Fixtures for NSL this week:

Friday 8: Nadroga v Labasa 7:30pm (Lawaqa Park), Nadi v Lautoka 7pm (Churchill Park),

Sunday 10: Nadroga v Rewa 3pm (Lawaqa Park), Navua v Tavua 3pm (Thomson Park), Suva v

Nasinu 1pm (TFL Stadium), Labasa v Ba 3pm (TFL Stadium).

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com

AUCKLAND – All Whites striker Shane Smeltz and 15-year-old Football Ferns forward Rosie White were the big winners at the New Zealand Football Awards luncheon in Auckland on Tuesday while Fiji striker Roy Krishna from Waitakere United has been recognized as the NZFC Player of the Year.

New Zealand’s newest Premiership player Chris Wood was also honoured.

Smeltz picked up Nike Men’s Player of the Year for the second year running, while White stormed to the Nike Young Women’s Player of the Year title with hat-tricks at both the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups.

And their respective nights were topped by adding international recognition – in the form of an Oceania Football Confederation Player of the Year gong – to their collection.

West Bromich Albion striker Chris Wood claimed the Nike Young Men’s Player of the year award for securing a move to a Premiership academy in 2008 although his subsequent achievement in breaking into the first team squad at the Hawthorns have already made him a front-runner for the 2009 award as well.

The voting process for the NZF awards was opened to a wider panel than ever before with a range of commentators, NZFC and national coaches, regional administrators and former players making their picks for the best performers of 2008.

A departure from the normal November date for the awards meant Smeltz’s three goals in two games against Vanuatu to finish 2007 were considered for 2008 along with four more goals in two World Cup qualifiers against New Caledonia as the All Whites qualified for the 2009 Confederations Cup and a World Cup playoff against the fifth best Asian nation later this year.

Fourteen goals for his former employers Wellington Phoenix over the timeframe also swayed the judges.

Back in New Zealand from his new Gold Coast base, Smeltz paid tribute to his coach at club and country throughout 2008, Ricki Herbert, while looking ahead to an even brighter 2009 with the All Whites.

“I play well when I’m comfortable and when you’re around players that you’re enjoy playing with and a coach that you enjoy playing under it makes a hell of a lot easier,” Smeltz said.

“We’re looking forward to the Confederations Cup, and we want to be hitting our straps for when the big one comes up later in the year with the World Cup playoff and we want to be fully prepared and give it all we’ve got.”

It was a red-letter day for White, as her two World Cup hat tricks within three weeks not only won her NZF’s Young Women’s player of the year, but Oceania Women’s Player of the Year ahead of senior Football Ferns team mates like American-based winger Ali Riley – who collected NZF’s Nike Women’s Player of the Year for her performances at the Beijing Olympics and Peace Queen Cup.

“It is a big day. I didn’t really expect to be honoured like that. It was a big year last year with two World Cups and I guess all the hard work paid off,” said White, who was in danger of missing the events after suffering a serious knee injury in January.

“2008 was pretty unreal. The year didn’t start so well as I was injured for three quarters of it but I made it back for the good bits.”

There was plenty to celebrate for women’s football, as White and her Junior Football Ferns team mates were crowned Team of the Year for coming within seconds of the quarterfinals at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, an effort – along with the Football Ferns showing at the Beijing Olympics – that earned John Herdman Coach of the Year.

“It is a real honour to accept the award on behalf of the staff and players of the Football Ferns and the Junior Ferns,” Herdman said.

“When you get coach of the year, you’re only accepting it on those people’s behalves, and you accepting recognition for something you love doing,”

“It’s satisfying because a lot of hard work goes into these teams, probably even more so with that U-20s team. We had players that didn’t have a lot of time together, so to stay focussed then pull together like they did and get 30s away from reaching that quarterfinal was an achievement in itself, and it’s good to see that bunch of girls get the recognition.”

Meanwhile, Roy Krishna was recognized for his outstanding efforts in the NZFC during the 2008/2009 season during which he scored eight goals.

New Zealand Football Awards 2008

Nike Men’s Player of the Year
Shane Smeltz (Wellington Phoenix / All Whites)

Nike Women’s Player of the Year
Ali Riley (Stanford University / Football Ferns)

Nike Young Men’s Player of the Year (U-20)
Chris Wood (West Bromich Albion)

Nike Young Women’s Player of the Year (U-20)
Rosie White (NZ U-20 / U-17)

Coach of the Year
John Herdman (Football Ferns / U-20 Women)

Team of the Year
Junior Football Ferns (FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup)

Southern Trust NZFC Player of the Year – 2007-08
Ben Sigmund (Auckland City)

Southern Trust NZFC Player of the Year – 2008-09
Roy Krishna (Waitakere United)

NZFC Golden Boot (2007-08)
Gonzalo Nieres (YoungHeart Manawatu) & Graham Little (Team Wellington) - 11 goals

NZFC Golden Boot (2008-09)
Luis Corrales (Team Wellington) – 12 goals

Referee of the Year
Peter O’Leary (Hamilton)

Assistant Referee of the Year
Brent Best (Dunedin)

Story courtesy of NZF Media

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

Despite overcast weather conditions prevailing in the central division, two main ethnic soccer competitions kicked-off with a bang this weekend and have attracted large crowds.

The 2009 Sanatan Inter District Championship and the Fiji Muslim League IDC were officially opened on Friday in Suva and Nausori respectively while the Sangam and the Gujrati Inter Districts kicked off in Ba.

The Sangam and Sanatan tournaments collaborated with the annual Sangam and Sanatan conventions, building the excitement and entertainment.

Float processions and marches painted a colourful start to the annual religious conventions.

Below are the collated results of the football matches played at the various ethnic tournaments:

DAY 1

Sanatan IDC: Queensland 1-1 Rewa, Suva 3-0 Tabia, Nadroga 1-4 Nadi, Navua 4-0 Tavua, Manukau 2-1 Drasa, Lautoka WBD over Sabeto, Seaqaqa 2-1 Cuvu, Nasinu 4-1 Tuva, Ba 2-0 Labasa.

Sangam IDC: Super Premier:Nadi 2 Vitogo 1, Nalovo 1 Lovu 4, Rifle Range 3 Drasa 2, Hamilton 2 Nasinu 0, Lautoka 2 Malolo 1, Tavua 1 Suva 2.

Premier: Raviravi/Tavarau 0 Sydney 2, Labasa 1 Solovi 1, Namaka 0 Waitakere 4;Senior:Banras/Topline 1 Lomolomo 2.

Muslim IDC: Savusavu 2-1 Navua II, Bemana 0-0 Nadi, Nasinu 3-1 Makoi, Lokia 4-0 Macuata, Labasa 4-1 Navua II, Navua I  2-0 Nadi, Seaqaqa 0-1 Cuvu.

Gujrati IDC:Suva 0-0 Nadi, Rewa 0-1 Lami.

Sikh IDC:Competition starts tomorrow at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

DAY 2

Sanatan IDC: Tabia 0-7 Rewa, Suva 4-2 Queensland, Tavua 0-1 Nadi, Navua 2-0 Nadroga, Manukau 0-1 Lautoka, Drasa WBD over Sabeto, Nasinu 1-0 Cuvu, Seaqaqa 0-1 Tavua, Ba 0-1 Brahmin, Varavu 2-2 Labasa, Tabia 3-1 Queensland, Drasa 0-0 Lautoka, Tavua 1-1 Nadroga, Nasinu 2-0 Seaqaqa, Manukau WBD over Sabeto.

Sangam IDC: Super Premier: Lautoka 2- 0 Tavua, Ba 0-2 Hamilton 2, Tabadola 2-1 Nasinu, Vitogo 1-1 Drasa , Rifle Range 0 -1Nadi,Nadi 2-3 Drasa, Vitogo 1-1 Rifle Range, Lovu 1-0 Navua, Nalovo 3-0 Auckland.;Premier:Namaka 2-1 Lomawai,Waitakere 3-1 Melbourne;Senior: Queensland 1-2 Tagitagi, Banras/Topline 0-2 Sabeto,Lomolomo 2-0 Nadovi.

Gujerati IDC: Suva 1-1 Ba, Nadi 2-0 Rewa, Suva 0-2 Lami, Ba 1-1 Nadi.

Muslim IDC: Suva 2-0 Savusavu, Central Vuci 2-1 Bemana, Rewa 1-0 Varavu, Nasinu 0-0 Cuvu, Navua II WBD over Suva, Labasa 4-1 Savusavu, Rewa 3-0 Macuata, Lokia 0-1 Varavu, Nadi 3-1 Central Vuci.

Sikh IDC: Tailevu 1-5 USA, Ba 1-1 Lautoka, Tavua 0-1 Sydney, Nadi 0-1 Nasinu, Ba 1-0 USA, Sigatoka 1-3 Lautoka, Suva 1-0 Sydney, Tavua 2-0 Nadi, Sigatoka 0-0 Tailevu, Suva 1-0 Nasinu.

Story courtesy of www.fijilive.com