ISSUE EIGHTAUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2015

Tiki Toa conquer on world stage

Just Play profile continues to grow

OFC World Cup qualifying begins

We have seen some historic successes; Fiji getting the first win for an Oceania side at the FIFA U-20 World Cup was quickly followed by New Zealand’s passage to the Round of 16 for the first time and then Tahiti’s impressive return to the world stage where they became the first OFC team to qualify for the final of a FIFA tournament.

While that was a team effort, we also have to acknowledge the outstanding performances of Heimanu Taiarui and Jonathan Torohia who were named the best player and best goalkeeper in the world – all the more impressive when you consider they were up against the likes of Portugal veterans Madjer and Alan.

Closer to home, the XV Pacific Games were a huge success not just on the football field but for each of the teams and nations taking part, as well as the host city Port Moresby and its people.

The whole country got behind the Games and everything they stand for. The camaraderie of the athletes from different countries and across sporting disciplines was a delight to behold and of special note for me was the way the Government and the Sports Council came together to pull off this event which will have people talking for years to come.

The atmosphere during the women’s final was outstanding and made the team’s historic fourth Pacific Games gold medal even more special. The XV Pacific Games, and this match in particular, was an excellent precursor for what we can expect from the fans during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2016.

Germany, Spain, France and Sweden have already qualified from UEFA setting the bar high for the calibre of football we will witness in Papua New Guinea from the outset. As hosts, Papua New Guinea will represent Oceania with pride, and I cannot wait to hear which nation will be joining them at the conclusion of the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship in October.

As we leave the first half of the year behind we have the opportunity to reflect on what has been a busy and exciting seven months.

Yours in football

David ChungOFC PresidentFIFA Vice-PresidentPNGFA President

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Official publication of the Oceania Football ConfederationThe views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the official views of the OFC. The reproduction of articles published in OFC Insider is authorised, provided the source is indicated.

Produced by: OFC Media and CommunicationsPhotography: Getty Images, Phototek, UNICEF Pacific and OFC Media Cover photo: Getty Images

Oceania Football ConfederationHeadquarters, 12 Maurice Road, Penrose, Auckland 1061, New ZealandTel: +64 9 531 4096 Fax: +64 9 529 5143Email: media@oceaniafootball.comWebsite: www.oceaniafootball.com

IN THIS ISSUE

3TIKI TOA TRIUMPH

Tahiti up and trumped their 2013 performance at the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in more ways than one claiming second place and two impressive individual trophies.

4-5JUST PLAY PROFILE GROWS

The award-winning OFC Just Play Programme continues to grow its fan base around the Pacific with the All Blacks getting a quick introduction in Samoa recently.

6XV PACIFIC GAMES DEEMED A SUCCESS

The XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea have been lauded for the sporting atmosphere both on and off the pitch.

7-11FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP LEGACY

The FIFA U-20 World Cup left a mark much greater than just memories of top level football. In New Zealand, as well as the wider Oceania region, it left a veritable legacy.

12-13THE BIG INTERVIEW: ROB SHERMAN

The first OFC A Licence will be offered to in 2015 and New Zealand Football Technical Director Rob Sherman has been on hand to lend his expertise to the programme.

142018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA™ QUALIFIERS – OFC STAGE 1

Fans were on the edge of their seats as OFC Stage 1 qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ went down to the wire in Tonga.

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Not content with the dream run on home soil that saw them finish a highly respectable fourth in 2013, Tahiti’s beach soccer team took their game to another level to secure a place in the final two years later.

OFC Technical Director Patrick Jacquemet has worked with the majority of these players over the course of his career and couldn’t be prouder of the success they achieved.

“What has always been clear with these players is that they are driven to succeed. Of course, to come fourth is great, and to come second is better but I am sure they will not stop until they have won the world cup,” Jacquemet says.

As well as becoming the first Oceania side to appear in the final of a FIFA tournament, two players became the first Pacific Islanders to claim the top individual awards.

Heimanu Taiarui and goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia were awarded the Golden Ball and Golden Gloves respectively highlighting the individual talent within this side, though both are quick to credit the team effort.

“I’m not sure who it was, but someone told me I deserved it, that I had earned the award on merit,” Taiarui says.

“But I think it was actually recognition for the team, for the way we play. We like passing the ball and going all-out attack regardless of the scoreline, and people appreciated that.”

Much has been mentioned about the style of this side. In 2013 they were described by the FIFA Technical Study Group as

being a “highlight of the World Cup in terms of technique”, and possessing a “winning mentality”.

What is clear is that they have only improved on that.Where in 2013 they netted 26 goals, with the majority coming

from Raimana Li Fung Kuee, this time around the side scored 32 goals and finished with more assists, 23, than any other side. Which comes down to almost 72 per cent of their goals being set up by a teammate.

OFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey says despite only a small number of international matches over the past two years the Tiki Toa proved that team spirit can do a lot for a side.

“Of the 12 players in the team almost all have played international football so there’s a lot of experience in the group. For sure the collective spirit of Tiki Toa is a key component to their success,” he says.

“What has emerged from the previous two world cups is that Tahiti are the most attractive team to watch. Their skills and their attacking style are really the hallmark of this side and they can control the tempo of a game so well. It is something a lot of the top people in beach soccer have commented on.

“The question is what next? - and I think if they can work between now and the next World Cup, with some international games, they can be champions.”

Tiki Toa stamp their mark in the sandThere are only so many occasions for adding your name to the history books and it was with aplomb that the Tiki Toa did just that thrice over in Portugal at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

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The quality of the Oceania Football Confederation’s award winning Just Play project combined with the wide-ranging Pacific audience it appeals to has helped it edge out numerous development projects to secure a three year partnership with the New Zealand Aid Programme.

The New Zealand Aid Programme is the New Zealand Government’s aid and development programme managed by development specialists in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Charged with supporting sustainable development in developing countries in

order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world, its mandate fits closely with that of OFC’s sport for development programme.

OFC President David Chung says this partnership is a welcome acknowledgement of the groundwork the OFC Social Responsibility department and its partners have done since Just Play’s inception in 2009.

“Just Play has been addressing the growing obesity epidemic by engaging children around the Pacific region in physical activity, while also addressing

several other social issues including social inclusion and gender equality,” Chung says.

“These issues affect most communities in Oceania and we are excited to have the New Zealand Government on board to help us raise awareness and create a better future for our children.”

NZ Aid joins the growing list of partners which includes the Australian Government Aid Programme, UEFA, FFA and UNICEF. They have pledged their support for three years from 2015-2018 focussing on Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

New Zealand Aid Programme backs Just Play

Just Play finds new fans For many New Zealanders if something is endorsed by the All Blacks then it must be pretty good.

So on the eve of the All Blacks historic test match against Manu Samoa in Apia in July, the UNICEF international partners took time out from their preparations to get a brief introduction to Just Play from some of the local children.

And by all accounts they loved it.OFC President David Chung said it was a great moment to have the

idols for so many kids around the Pacific getting acquainted with Just Play.“Just Play is for all kids from any and all sporting codes. Sports is such

a great social development tool and UNICEF’s partnership with OFC and the All Blacks acknowledges the importance of sport for development.”

Liam Messam, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Seta Tamanivalu and Tom Taylor got involved in drills based on the Just Play Programme and took part in a fruit kebab making session to highlight the importance of healthy eating.

Adenet Faaiuaso, an 11-year-old Just Play participant, best explains what Just Play is all about and why she’s a fan.

“I have learned making new friends and making healthy choices. We have a lot of fun after we play and eat fruits.”

The Commonwealth Youth Games are a springboard to future Commonwealth Games glory and for many a first taste of an international multi-sport competition.

Thanks to the strong partnership with UNICEF and other partners the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, UEFA and FFA, the OFC Just Play Programme will be on display at the Football Federation Samoa headquarters

giving athletes and stakeholders alike an introduction to the highly successful programme.

As well as five full days of Just Play Festivals at the Joseph S. Blatter Football Complex, a Fan Zone was set up in the Athletes Village giving further exposure to the Just Play Programme and the important messages it shares.

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Officially there weren’t any football matches contested during the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games, but the beautiful game was still present in Samoa from 5-11 September 2015 thanks to the OFC Social Responsibility Programme Just Play.

Youth Commonwealth Games – Samoa

Pacific Games helps local kids to #IMAGINE

Sport and music came together for children who participate in the Papua New Guinea Just Play Programme during the XV Pacific Games recently as they welcomed the arrival of the relay baton at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium with a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine.The singing of Imagine was another contribution to UNICEF’s global #IMAGINE initiative that highlights the rights of children, including their right to play.

“By bringing together the worlds of sport and music at the opening of the XV Pacific Games, UNICEF hopes to raise global and regional awareness of the importance of children’s rights,” UNICEF Representative in Papua New Guinea Baba Banbappa said.

Just Play gives children a ball, a coach and a safe place to play and it gave children from some of Port Moresby’s disadvantaged settlements the opportunity to participate in Just Play sports activities throughout the duration of the games, where they may otherwise not had the chance to experience the Pacific Games.

UNICEF’s #IMAGINE initiative brings together the voices of people from around the world on behalf of a better future for children. #IMAGINE was launched on 20 November 2014 at the UN General Assembly to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights on the Child.

Recorded contributions to the song, including the singing by the children in Papua New Guinea during the XV Pacific Games will be included in a world version of the song that is being produced by French music producer David Guetta and will be launched globally later this year.

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Achievements are made on the field, on the track and in the pool, while behind the scenes bonds are forged and friendships made between neighbouring nations.

The 15th edition held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea was no different as 24 countries, including Australia and New Zealand for the first time, took part in 28 different sporting disciplines.

Port Moresby 2015 was the 14th time the Pacific Games has played host to the Men’s Football Tournament and the fourth inclusion of the Women’s Football Tournament.

Eight teams competed in the men’s event; Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu and for the first time, New Zealand with the tournament doubling as the qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Only five teams — Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu — were eligible to qualify for Rio, and as New Zealand is not a member of the Pacific Games Council, the competition had to be split into two knockout phases for the men.

Fiji qualified for the Rio Olympic Games after defeating Vanuatu in a penalty shoot-out at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium. They couldn’t get past New Caledonia in the semi-finals of the Pacific Games three days later to continue their dream run, and with Tahiti defeating Papua New Guinea 2-1 it meant it would be an all French men’s final.

A highly entertaining match was eventually won out by the reigning champions New Caledonia as they beat Tahiti 2-0 to secure the gold medal for the seventh time.

In the women’s competition there was also plenty of room for history to be made once again.

Samoa earned an excellent victory over long-time rivals Tonga in the as well as a draw against group favourites New Caledonia which saw them through to the semi-finals. Also making it through to their first semi-final were the Cook Islands. Unfortunately neither side could overcome the might of New Caledonia or host Papua New Guinea who eased into the final with 5-1 and 3-0 wins respectively.

It was a terse affair in a well-filled Sir Hubert Murray Stadium for the women’s final with locals coming out in force to back their side. A goal from Marie Kaipu was all they needed to secure an historic fourth consecutive gold medal and the Pacific Games women’s football title.

Cook Islands notched up an historical win of their own as they downed Samoa 2-0 in the Third Place Play-Off to earn their first ever Pacific Games medal for football.

The next edition of the Pacific Games will be held in Tonga in 2019.

The Pacific Games is a highly anticipated sporting event which brings the Pacific sporting community together once every four years.

XV Pacific Games success

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Off the field the legacy the tournament has left is equally as memorable.

While the New Zealand football community are the obvious recipients, OFC Member Associations will also reap the benefits of having the tournament hosted in Oceania.

The FIFA TV OFC Media Officers Seminar was an opportunity to bring the Member Association media officers to Auckland to experience a FIFA tournament first-hand, as well as learn the ins-and-outs of a major sporting broadcast with visits to the International Broadcast Centre and some practical sessions part

of the two-day event. Several media officers also joined OFC TV with a special project they were working on in conjunction with FIFA TV around the event and the two competing Oceania sides in particular.

For some of the region’s coaches it was also an opportunity to come together and witness first-class football in the flesh. The FIFA Regional Youth Coaching Course brought two coaches from each of the 11 OFC Member Associations to Auckland to learn from some of FIFA’s top instructors.

The 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup was a huge opportunity for two Oceania teams on the field as Fiji and New Zealand went beyond what has been achieved before with a first-ever win and the first-ever progression out of the Group Stage.

New Zealand 2015 leaves regional legacy

FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 – Legacy

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Much like the players they’re shaping on the field, coaches are in a constant state of evolution as they strive to improve their knowledge, systems, philosophy and delivery.

Future-proofing coaches has wider benefits

The FIFA Regional Youth Coaching Course, held during the FIFA U-20 World Cup as part of its Legacy Programme, brought coaches from around the Pacific to New Zealand to do just that – learn and develop.

Former Solomon Islands international Commins Menapi was one of the 22 coaches taking part and says opportunities like this are an important step in the evolution of a coach.

“As a coach I want to give back what I got as a player, that’s one of my main focuses,” Menapi explains.

His first major task as a coach was preparing the Solomon Islands squad for the OFC U-20 Championship in 2014. A learning curve for sure, Menapi believes the learning done in that role laid the ground work, with the course picking up where he left off.

“I think one of the main things that I’ve been lacking in is the ability to analyse the teams,” he says.

The advantage of holding the course in conjunction with the FIFA

U-20 World Cup was having high level, quality matches playing out in front of the participants.

“Some of the games we watched during the World Cup, then came back and did our practical analysis of that which is going to be useful going forward.

“One of the things I’ve learned is that when the team is at a tournament, and I’m thinking about the previous OFC U-20 I was involved in, you have to look at the next match and your preparations towards the team that you are going to play.

“I think the main thing is that you’ve got to be looking at the strengths of the other team, and the weaknesses as well, so you already know in training what you are going to do to counter them,” Menapi says.

Menapi, who scored 34 goals in 37 games for Solomon Islands, says seeing future stars from around the world in action was a highlight of the course for him.

FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 – Legacy

“Some of the teams I saw were unbelievable in terms of the

technique, the team structure and tactical side”

“My vision is that one day Solomon Islands will be there. But it all comes back to the way you learn especially the coaching through the workshops and everything like that.”

Someone else who thrived on the opportunity to learn more about match analysis was Football Federation Samoa technical development officer and coach of the Samoa women’s national team Tala Salamasina.

“This course is very helpful especially with the national team but also in terms of general development in Samoa,” he says.

“The key areas we’ve identified in Samoa as needing real development are the basics. Learning the skills to develop players’ understanding of the game.”

Salamasina says for him, the OFC B Licence was an excellent stepping stone for the work they did during this course in Auckland.

“Last year the B Licence was probably the start of any work I’ve done on match analysis, and this course has elevated my level of knowledge even further.”

When considering what he can see being implemented immediately back home in Samoa, Salamasina highlights preparation.

“Probably the most important learning for me is the preparation that begins straight after a match. Analysing a match and finding out the strengths and weaknesses of each player is something that the brain wasn’t even thinking about when I started.

“It’s very important because it’s preparing the player or team for the very next match, or you’re doing it for the development of each single player. If you don’t analyse you might be concentrating on things from a different part of the game and not what you really need to be concentrating on,” he says.

“This can lead to training for the sake of training, instead of identifying the problems and addressing them, making sure players improve and actually, the coaches too.”

On top of the learning provided by the esteemed FIFA instructors including Hans Reudi and Jorge Diaz-Cidoncha Garcia, Salamasina identifies the collaborative opportunities as an added bonus.

“Working with like-minded colleagues from around the Pacific has been very helpful, especially the New Zealand coaches. The knowledge that they have helps us a lot.

“In terms of the overall quality of the course, we couldn’t have asked for better. It’s been very high quality, especially from my side having come from Samoa it’s been very good.”

The FIFA Youth Coaching Course was held at the Millennium Institute of Sport in Albany, Auckland from 28 May to 7 June.

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Led by Tui McKendrick, OFC TV entered into a contract with FIFA to supply video content over and above games coverage which primarily focused on both the New Zealand and Fiji teams.

“Together with video and media content which reflected New Zealand culture and customs, the aim was to provide a snapshot of the regions to support their contributions to making the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup a national success,” McKendrick explains of the project.

From Dunedin to Whangarei and everywhere in between the small team, which included four Media Officers from around Oceania, collected footage and interviews to complete their task.

“Our production team travelled around the country recording Fan Zone activities, marketing initiatives which were unique to each region and also followed the New Zealand and Fiji teams as they prepared for their matches.

“They captured the euphoria of winning and the disappointment of a loss, behind-the-scenes footage, press conferences and post-match interviews. The daily editing and logging of content was imperative to future-proofing any potential loss of media.”

Bringing in Brian Vitolio from American Samoa, Romain Painbeni of New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea’s Leo Jakanduo and Avikash Chand of Fiji was integral to the success of the project but also an important part of the legacy.

“Many of the media teams had not experienced an operation of this magnitude and when the FIFA juggernaut got underway the process and protocols were of much of a surprise as was the immediacy and speed the video content was required to be ready for online,” McKendrick says.

“This type of operation only happens during an event such as this but it highlights what the business of sport, television

production and media are all about.”Having the project overlap with the FIFA

TV OFC Media Officers Seminar was no coincidence and having other members of the wide Oceania media community joining in the experience was an eye-opener for some of the newer members.

“The FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand presented an ideal opportunity for the Media Officers to be involved and attend a two-day seminar hosted by FIFA.

“The seminar covered a myriad of topics, in particular, the complexities of a Host Broadcast operation, field production, editing and practical exercises to assist them with how best they can combine both media and video content to provide well-rounded and informative content.”

Any project of this scale is bound to throw up a number of obstacles be it logistic or otherwise, but McKendrick says good planning and management helped avoid too many issues.

With a festival of football in their backyard there was no chance the OFC TV team would be spending their time sitting by idly by.

Special project keeps OFC TV busy

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FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 – Legacy

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“To ensure the Media Officers received the most from the opportunity required a speedy and well-planned mobile operation being put in place,” she says.

“This required a considerable amount of travel across the country, long hours and tight deadlines.

“It was important to balance the operation with a level of expertise in each of the teams who could manage the day-to-day issues and address any potential problems which often arise when production teams are away from their base operation.”

Long hours, deadlines to make, meals on the run and plenty of football, but was the project a success?

In a word, yes.

But McKendrick can elaborate as she looks ahead to further collaborations with MA Media Officers in the future.

“There is no question this project was a success,” she says.“To have the opportunity to engage with other Media Officers

from around the region does not happen very often. To have access to ongoing OFC and FIFA support structures and helping them achieve their goals and objectives can only result in a positive outcome.

“If a similar project arises in the future OFC TV would want to be involved. It’s always important for development to experience as many diverse operations as possible.”

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OFC is about to once again step into new territory as it gets set to launch the OFC A Licence at the end of the year.

Rob Sherman

BIG INTERVIEW

THE

Sherman has years of experience gleaned from roles based around the world and as well as writing the course content and material will be course director and lead instructor over the three weeks of Part One, from 30 November to 11 December.

“The content has been developed over many years based on models in Europe and Asia,” Sherman shares.

“We have developed the Professional Coach Model which provides a framework and reference for all the content to ensure the course is authentic and provides the candidates with a ‘real’ coaching process which they can transfer to their own club circumstances.”

The Professional Coach Model, or PCM, is considered a reference point for all the advanced courses New Zealand Football offers.

“We believe the professional coach has a deep football knowledge, clear vision and philosophy and has the competencies in training, the match and management to bring their philosophy to life. Therefore all our courses are based around an area of the model,” Sherman explains.

“As a starting point, we focus on analysing the match and taking that analysis into training to improve match performance. As the courses progress, we add the additional layers to develop the competencies to become an ‘expert’.”

The high-level nature of the course is reflected in

the candidates it is expected to attract.

“The OFC A Licence is the highest award available to New Zealand coaches and is a step on from the Senior Level 3 or OFC B Licence. It is a vital component as it will provide coaches with a qualification that is recognised across the region and the world as a whole.

“We are seeking applications from experienced coaches who are active within the top levels of football,” he says.

Within Oceania the number of high-level coaches and experts that can be drawn from is few but in collaborating with OFC, Sherman is hoping to change that.

“OFC as the Confederation have the ability to work with other federations and its relationship with UEFA will bring kudos to the course and coach education for the whole region,” he says.

“New Zealand has offered courses at B Licence level for some time but for coaches wishing to access the A Licence they had to go to Australia or Europe. Being able to offer a quality course of the highest standard here in New Zealand is a major step forward for coach development within the region.”

Taking a step forward in the realm of coaching credentials is something the OFC Technical Department has been working

towards for years.The successful addition of the B Licence in 2012 saw a number of coaches from across the region upskill and the success of a side like Fiji’s U-20 can be attributed to this development.

OFC Technical Director Patrick Jacquemet says the A Licence is the obvious next step and having spent a lot of time working with his department and Sherman developing the content, he’s confident coaching success in the region will continue.

“Improvement on the field is of course down to the players, but the coaches play a huge role in success too,” Jacquemet says.

“In terms of players and coaches, one cannot succeed without the other, which is why we have put such a heavy emphasis on the development of the OFC Coaching Pathway.

“We want to see our coaches succeeding in the same manner that the players do, and continued educational opportunities is the best way to achieve this.”

The OFC A Licence will be held from the 30 November to 11 December in Auckland, New Zealand.

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The OFC Technical Department has been working hard on the content for what will become the highest coaching qualification offered in the region, and have called on the expertise of New Zealand Football Technical Director Rob Sherman to assist.

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Held at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, the hosts were joined by American Samoa, Cook Islands and Samoa as all four nations bid for the sole berth up for grabs in Stage 2, also known as the OFC Nations Cup.

Only one side could be successful and for the second edition running Samoa proved themselves to be a cut above the rest.

However it was one of the closest races in a long time with the competition coming right down to the wire.

Cook Islands opened strongly with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Tonga, followed up by a 1-0 win over Samoa. All four goals were scored by Taylor Saghabi, giving him briefly-lasting bragging rights as the leading goal scorer in World Cup qualifiying alongside India’s Sunil Chhetri.

American Samoa and Samoa also started with a bang. Samoa just edging their neighbours 3-2 on the opening day before being downed by the narrowest of margins by Cook Islands. For American Samoa the opening loss hurt but they bounced back stronger than ever to repeat their historic 2-1 victory over Tonga from four years earlier.

With Tonga all but eliminated, it left three sides in the running on the final match day. The hosts were left hoping to secure at least a consolation victory on home soil but Samoa proved too difficult an opponent to overcome. Having secured six points in three matches, Samoa also put three goals past Tonga to give them a healthy goal differential as they awaited the results of the final match.

With two wins under their belt already, Cook Islands needed just a draw to progress. It’s a tough result to play for especially when your opponent needs to win by at least three goals to keep their own dream alive.

American Samoa’s determination was phenomenal as the side played not only for the prize, but also to eradicate the title of regional minnows.

And they came close.Unfortunately a last gasp effort was pushed up the face of the

goal denying Larry Mana’o and his side the one goal they needed to overcome Samoa’s superior goal difference, and while they secured the 2-0 victory had to settle for second in the standings.

For Samoa, the easy part is over.Losses of 10-1, 5-0 and 9-0 greeted this side in 2012 and two of

those opponents, Tahiti and New Caledonia, will be lying in wait alongside Papua New Guinea in 2016.

With just under 12 months to prepare there is little time to rest for Phineas Young and his charges as they look ahead to the next test.

The Road to Russia for Oceania is officially underway following the brief, but hugely exciting, 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1.

Samoa triumphant in tight race to progress

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The Kingdom of Tonga’s history stretches back over 3,000 years with many ancient traditions continuing respectfully through to the present day. The monarchy is over 1,000 years old and it is the Pacific’s only remaining Kingdom with the local culture centred on its value of the monarchy and of family.

Tonga’s people are renowned for their friendly hospitality and its rich cultural inheritance is showcased through dance, music, art and food.

The country itself is an idyllic paradise with just 40 of its 176 islands inhabited making it easy to find a deserted island to pass your time on, if you so desire. Tonga is made up of four major island groups: Tongatapu, where you will find the capital Nuku’alofa, ‘Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u.

Pristine beaches, stunning coral atolls, active volcanoes and untouched rainforests make for a picturesque setting, with the abundance of marine life including migrating humpback whales adding to the magical surroundings.

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TONGA

AMERICAN SAMOAAmerican Samoa welcomed a FIFA Refereeing Course in August for its up-and-coming match officials. Former top FIFA referee Mike Hester took the course, his first as a FIFA Instructor. The American Samoa Special Olympics football team travelled to Los Angeles for the World Games, playing matches against Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia in the Unified Football competition.

COOK ISLANDSThe Cook Islands national women’s team claimed the nation’s first Pacific Games football medal when they beat Samoa in the Third Place Play-Off to win the bronze medal in Papua New Guinea. Tupapa Mararenga sounded an early warning ahead of kick-off to the 2015 season with a 5-3 victory over Takuvaine in the CIFA Charity Shield. CIFA donated $750 from gate takings and donations to Roteract Cook Islands following the match.

FIJIFiji continued their impressive international form by claiming a place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after beating Vanuatu in a penalty shootout in the OFC Olympic Qualifiers final in Papua New Guinea. The Wellington Phoenix travelled to Fiji during their pre-season and brought their academy side along with them to play two friendlies against their hosts. A five-day FIFA Women’s Football Coaching Course was held with plenty of food for thought provided to participants by FIFA Instructor Nicola Demaine.

NEW CALEDONIAThe Pacific Games proved more than a little fruitful for Les Cagous as the men’s U-23 squad successfully defended the gold medal, while the women were outdone for the second straight edition by Papua New Guinea to finish with silver. U-17 playmaker Joris Kenon signed for Ligue 2 side Stade Lavallois, where he joins senior international César Zéoula (formerly Lolohea). A new Technical Director was appointed following the retirement of Serge Martinengo de Novak. Former New Caledonia international Dominique Wacalie has taken on the role and has made youth development one of his primary objectives.

NEW ZEALANDThe Futsal Whites hosted several nations, including Vanuatu, in Wellington in a futsal series. A number of players signed with new clubs in Europe including Chris Wood with Leeds United and Rosie White with Liverpool Ladies in England, Cameron Howieson joined Saint Mirren FC in Scotland, Anthony Hobbs signed with CF Gava in Spain and Betsy Hassett joined Norwegian club Amazon Grimstad while Bill Tuiloma resigned with Olympique Marseille on a three-year deal. The New Zealand ‘A’ beat the Wellington Phoenix 2-1 in August and All Whites captain Winston Reid announced the recipients of his new scholarship in partnership with the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy and Scots College – Sarpreet Singh and Max Mata.

PAPUA NEW GUINEAAs well as successfully hosting the XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby, the women’s national team reasserted their regional dominance by claiming their fourth consecutive gold medal. The men also made history, beating Fiji in the Third Place Play-Off to claim the bronze medal. The Merifutbol Girl’s Festival arrived in Manus for the first time with very positive results. A FIFA delegation including FIFA Senior Manager of Member Associations James Johnson and consultants Robbie Middleton and Kaita Sugihara conducted a two-day Club Licencing Seminar in Port Moresby with 19 National Soccer League franchise representatives and other interested parties.

SAMOAThe men’s national team travelled to New Zealand for a camp in June as part of preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1. The women’s national team impressed at the XV Pacific Games, qualifying for the semi-finals and just missing out on a medal in the Third Place Play-Off. The Special Olympics football team headed to the World Games in Los Angeles to compete.

SOLOMON ISLANDSA new U-16 Women’s Championship was held in Honiara and attended by several rural sides including Guadalcanal. Western United triumphed in the final with captain Cathy Vavaha also taking home the Golden Boot award for her eight goals in four matches. The men’s and women’s sides competed at the XV Pacific Games but despite some impressive performances they were knocked out of medal contention.

TAHITIThe Tiki Toa finished runners-up at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal. On top of the silver medals Jonathan Torohia picked up the Golden Gloves while Heimanu Taiarui took home the Golden Ball. Tahiti announced a revamped Ligue 1 ahead of the 2015-16 season. Eight teams will contest the league over three rounds before the top four sides play-off for the champions title and a spot in the 2016 OFC Champions League.

TONGAThe Tonga women’s football team played valiantly at the XV Pacific Games but a shock-loss to Samoa proved costly as they were knocked out in the Group Stage. The men’s side travelled to Fiji for an international friendly which they lost 5-0. The match is part of their preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1 which they hosted in late August, early September.

VANUATUVanuatu youth international Alex Saniel joined Fencibles United in Auckland for the 2015 season while youngster Ronaldo Wilkins also headed to New Zealand, joining the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy and attending Scots College. The Women’s Open League Grand Final was held on 29 August between Malampa FC and Torba FC at Luganville Soccer City Stadium. A FIFA Youth Coaching Course was a chance for participants to revisit their coaching approach under the tutelage of OFC Consultant and Instructor for FIFA Giovani Fernandes.

NEWS FROM MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

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UPCOMING EVENTS

COMPETITIONS

OFC U-20 Women’s Championship1 – 10 October // Nuku’alofa, Tonga

FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 201517 October – 8 November // Chile

FIFA Club World Cup Japan 201510 – 20 December // Japan

EVENTS

FIFA Executive Committee Meeting24 – 25 September // Zurich, Switzerland

OFC Executive Committee MeetingDecember // TBC

*All dates correct at the time of publication

NOTICES

Fédération Tahitienne de Football President Thierry Ariiotima has been re-elected for a further four year term at the helm of Tahiti’s Federal Council. He is joined by members Mark Ploton, Michel Scallamera, Youenn Virmaux, Jean-François Martin, Venance Tamu, Angéla Taiarui, Michel Paille, Vaiata Friedman, Félix Faatau, Roger Shan and Monique Barsinas.

OFC Deputy General Secretary Sarai Bareman was elected to the FIFA Task Force.

Tui McKendrick joined OFC as the new Head of OFC TV after impressing as project lead during the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup OFC TV Project.

Justin Ellis was appointed OFC Business Development Manager. He has a strong background in marketing and management in a sporting environment.

Supriya Kulkarni-Padhye joins the OFC Social Responsibility Department as the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator.

Allie Smith has come in as maternity cover in the Competitions Department, taking on the role of Competitions Administrator in Beatrice Tchen Pan’s absence.

Chris Kemp has taken on the role of OFC Competitions Director and Michael Song is now OFC Competitions and Events Manager.

Corey Rosser joins the OFC Media and Communications Department as a Media Officer and Jacqueline Tran Van moves into the HOD role.

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