12
OFC Insider
NEWS FROM MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
Winston Reid
AMERICAN SAMOA
Jacob Moli
American Samoa gears up to co-host the OFC U-17 Men’s Championship for the first time in 12 years. American Samoa will co-host the event with near-neighbours Samoa. They last co-hosted the competition with Australia in 2003.
minor upset in the Coupe de France when they defeated Le Havre 2-0 in Round 8. New Caledonian-born striker Frederic Piquionne has signed a one year contract with Ligue 2 side US Creteil. Piquionne won 1 cap for France and turned out for Martinique rather than represent the territory of his birth.
COOK ISLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
Cook Islands Football Association has launched an inaugural international youth event for all interested football clubs and schools wanting to play football in the beautiful tropical island of Rarotonga. The event caters for the youth and families and is a fantastic opportunity to combine a holiday in paradise while playing the beautiful game of football. The competition is scheduled for April 7-11 at CIFA Matavera Complex, Rarotonga, Cook Islands and features an U-15 Boys’ and U-16 Girls division. The Event Contact is Melina Tuiravakai Email: media@cookislandsfootball.com. Cook Islands FA President Lee Harmon was elected as an OFC Vice President at the 23rd OFC Congress in Port Moresby in January.
FIJI Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel has been elected to the OFC Executive Committee as an OFC Vice President. The Fiji FA has announced the deferment of the start date for its National League competition following the sad passing of Sundip Patel. Patel, who was managing director of the CJ Patel Group, died in December. The competition was scheduled to kick off on January 10. Fiji FA Competition’s manager Amitesh Pal said the league would now start on January 24 following close consultation with the CJ Patel Group.
NEW CALEDONIA George Gope-Fenepej loan spell with Boulogne is producing happiness for player and club alike. Gope-Fenepej has scored three goals in four games and his new club caused a
All Whites skipper Winston Reid continues to be linked with a big money move from West Ham United to Barclays Premier League rivals Arsenal. Reid, 26, has played over 100 games for the Hammers. Wellington Phoenix are riding high in the Hyundai A-League with Ernie Merrick’s men sitting in second place just four points behind table toppers Perth Glory. Auckland City FC made history by finishing third at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, the highest placing of any New Zealand side at a FIFA world event.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA The 23rd OFC Congress was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with PNGFA President David Chung re-elected unopposed to the position of OFC President. The 52-yearold will be presented to the FIFA Congress on June 1 and retains his position on the FIFA Executive Committee. Chung is up for reelection in 2019.
SAMOA Samoa plays co-host to the OFC U-17 Men’s Championship in Apia featuring a six team group that includes themselves, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The last event hosted at the JS Blatter Fields was the OFC Champions League Preliminary 2014 won by Lupe Ole Soaga. The top two teams advance to the semi-finals in Pago Pago, American Samoa, on January 24. Laupama Solomona is now an OFC Executive Committee member.
SOLOMON ISLANDS Solomon Islands made a welcome return to the international stage after a four year absence. Coach Jacob Moli assembled a side to compete at the OFC U-17 Men’s Championship in January. In a further boost to football in the Solomon Islands, Barnabas Anga was elected to the OFC Executive Committee on January 7.
TAHITI Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) has announced a new operating budget for 2015 of $3.3M NZD. By contrast, FTF’s operating budget in 1997 stood at $228,000 NZD approximately. FTF also announced the repayment of a loan toward the construction of its training centre in Pirae and plans to launch its new five year development plan at its next elective meeting scheduled for July 25, 2015.
TONGA Tonga’s Lord Ve’ehala is re-elected to the OFC Executive Committee for another term following the OFC Congress in Port Moresby in January.
VANUATU Vanuatu Football Federation President Lambert Maltock was elected as an OFC Vice President at the 23rd OFC Congress in Port Moresby in January. The Vanuatu Beach Soccer team finished third at the Australian Beach Soccer Cup in Wollongong in December. They defeated eventual champions Thailand in a penalty shoot-out in the group stage but were knocked out of finals contention by Australia in a 7-6 thriller.