OFC Champions League: Oceania`s Road to Morocco continues

/ ISSUE TWO
MARCH / APRIL 2014
OFC Champions League:
Oceania’s Road to Morocco
continues
Anna-Marie Keighley
on women’s refereeing
OFC Media Workshop
under the spotlight
OFC bids farewell to
Toetu Petana
Junior Football Ferns
Costa Rican adventure
OFC Insider
Dear members of the Oceania football community,
The month of April saw the OFC Champions League
kick into action in Ba and Lautoka and we now
contemplate an exciting final showdown between the
defending champions Auckland City FC and their
erstwhile opponents from Vanuatu, Amicale FC.
For the 12th edition of this tournament we enjoyed
greater representation from our Member Associations
than ever before with 12 clubs from eight nations
competing.
Only one of the remaining two clubs can win the title
and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco in
December and I am sure we will see some high quality
football interwoven with the usual emotion and drama
we’ve come to expect from this competition.
Just 12 days after the conclusion of the OFC
Champions League Final, we return to Fiji for the OFC
U-20 Men’s Championship at this stage scheduled for
Suva from 23-31 May at the magnificent ANZ Stadium.
ANZ Stadium is a state-of-the-art venue and makes
for a wonderful backdrop for one of our most popular
competitions with the added incentive for the winner
of qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup New
Zealand 2015.
Playing this competition in 2014 allows the winner more
than a year to prepare for the final tournament and is part
of the outcomes of our last OFC Executive Committee
meeting held in Auckland in November last year.
With New Zealand already qualified as host nation,
a prime opportunity exists for one of our Member
Associations to join them at FIFA’s second biggest
tournament.
As football is one of the most popular sports in Fiji,
everyone involved shares both the joy of hosting these
tournaments and absolute determination to make them
a success.
Yours in football
David Chung
OFC President
FIFA Vice-President
PNGFA President
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OFC Insider
OFC Insider
IN THIS ISSUE
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6-7
OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
SPECIAL
OFC MEDIA WORKSHOP
THE BIG INTERVIEW:
Anna-Marie Keighley
OFC Insider looks at the OFC
Champions League group stage and
reviews who won, who scored and asks
who will win Oceania’s top title
The fourth OFC Media Workshop
took place in Lautoka, Fiji, in April and
we shine the spotlight on some of the
findings that emerged.
One of OFC’s top female referees
shares her experiences as a match
official and offers advice to youngsters
aiming for the top in her chosen field.
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KICK DENGUE OUT!
OFC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEMBER ASSOCIATION NEWS
The OFC Champions League provided
a showcase of football in April but also
raised awareness about Dengue in Fiji
as part of an OFC, UNICEF Pacific, Fiji
FA and Fiji Government-inspired social
responsibility campaign.
The OFC Executive Committee met
in Auckland, New Zealand, and OFC
Insider brings you all the key decisions.
OFC Insider provides a wrap of
football news from around the Oceania
Football Confederation and its Member
Associations.
Official publication of the Oceania Football Confederation
The 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 Communications
Cover photo: OFC Media
Photography: Phototek
Oceania Football Confederation
Headquarters, 12 Maurice Road, Penrose,
Auckland 1061, New Zealand
Tel: +64 9 531 4096 Fax: +64 9 529 5143
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.oceaniafootball.com
Toetu Petana
The OFC bid farewell to one of its fondest sons when Samoa Football Federation
(SFF) President Toetu Petana passed away in April. The 51-year-old administrator
led the way for SFF after it emerged from normalisation in 2011.
Petana oversaw the successful implementation of the Just Play programme and Samoan
club champions Kiwi FC qualification for the OFC Champions League proper for the first
time in 15 years.
Tributes to Toetu poured in from across the Oceania region with OFC President David
Chung leading the way.
“Toetu Petana dedicated his life to the betterment of football in Samoa and the
Oceania region and his passing has saddened everyone connected with the sport.
“Our deepest condolences go out to Toetu’s family and the Samoa Football Federation
at this very sad time,” Chung says.
“We all have aspirations, but to make those aspirations come true it takes a lot of
determination and sacrifice and Toetu had all these traits as part of his make-up.
“Toetu’s achievements in developing football will leave an enduring legacy for future
generations of young people in Samoa,” concluded Chung.
Petana’s passing was also recognised by New Zealand Football interim chairman Bill
Moran who said the game in Oceania has lost a wonderful servant.
“Toetu’s work in promoting football in Samoa and beyond serves as a shining
example of what can be achieved by those passionate and dedicated to the game,”
Moran said.
“On behalf of everyone connected with football in New Zealand, I extend our deepest
sympathies to Toetu’s family, the Samoa Football Federation and Oceania Football at this
sad time.”
Toetu served on the FIFA Associations Committee and FIFA Organising Committee
for Olympic Football and was also the Treasurer for the OFC and an OFC Executive
Committee member for three years.
He is survived by his wife Telesia and their four children.
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OFC Insider
OFC Insider
OFC CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE GROUP STAGE
IN REVIEW
The OFC Champions League group stage concluded in
Lautoka and Ba, Fiji, after nine days of intense competition
that revealed the four semi-finalists Auckland City FC,
Amicale, AS Pirae and Ba.
The action in Group A was electrifying
with Tahitian outfit AS Pirae taking top
honours on the final day. Led by Marama
Vahirua, Raimana Li Fung Kuee and Naea
Bennett, AS Pirae won all three of their
group matches, an achievement that
included the elimination of New Zealand
club Waitakere United. Solomon Warriors
finished runners-up in the section after
an inspirational display that produced a
narrow defeat to AS Pirae, a 1-1 draw with
Waitakere United and an 8-0 demolition of
Kiwi FC. Two-times champions Waitakere
United looked a pale shadow of their
former selves and delivered their lowest
ever placing at an OFC Champions League
of seventh out of the 12 competing clubs.
In Group B, Amicale emerged as the
dominant force under coach Nathan Hall
and a squad littered with foreign players
from as far afield as Serbia, Scotland,
Solomon Islands and Nigeria. A nervy 1-0
win over AS Dragon set Amicale on the
road to the last four before a thrashing of
struggling host club Nadi all but sealed
a semi-final slot. Dreams of reaching the
knock-out stage kicked into overdrive
when a Kensi Tangis goal midway through
the second half of their match with
Auckland City FC delivered a 1-0 win.
Auckland City FC squeezed through to the
playoffs after AS Pirae defeated Waitakere
United 3-1 on the final day of group play.
AS Dragon were unable to reproduce
their OFC Champions League heroics
of 2013 losing their first two matches
to Amicale and Auckland City FC. The
Tahitians finished on a relative high by
thrashing Nadi 5-0. The Fijians struggled
from start to finish and lost three players
to an extended suspension when Samuela
Drudru, Uraia Loki and Ratu Bainivalu
were each sent off in Nadi’s matches.
Group C was labelled the ‘Group of
Death’ for good reason — host club Ba,
former OFC champions Hekari United,
and two former runners-up in Tafea FC
and AS Magenta meant there was very
little room for error. Tafea FC began
strongly winning its first match with
Hekari United 3-1 in what was considered
an upset. Ba disposed of AS Magenta 2-0
in their first game to take the initiative.
Hekari United’s semi-final hopes took a
dip when they twice surrendered the lead
to AS Magenta in their second game of the
tournament, the pair ending their match
with a 2-2 draw. Tafea FC’s tournament
hopes blew apart with two defeats in their
final two games losing 4-0 to Ba and 3-1
to AS Magenta. The New Caledonians
grabbed runners-up spot behind Ba but
would be left to ponder what may have
been possible had talismanic striker
Bertrand Kai been available for their
opening match.
GROUP A
Kiwi FC 0-2 Waitakere United
Solomon Warriors 1-2 AS Pirae
AS Pirae 8-0 Kiwi FC
Waitakere United 1-1 Solomon Warriors
Kiwi FC 0-8 Solomon Warriors
AS Pirae 3-1 Waitakere United
GROUP B
Amicale 1-0 AS Dragon
Auckland City FC 3-0 Nadi
AS Dragon 0-3 Auckland City FC
Nadi 0-6 Amicale
Nadi 0-5 AS Dragon
Amicale 1-0 Auckland City FC
GROUP C
Tafea FC 3-1 Hekari United
AS Magenta 0-2 Ba
Ba 4-0 Tafea FC
Hekari United 2-2 AS Magenta
Tafea FC 1-3 AS Magenta
Ba 1-1 Hekari United
SEMI-FINALS
Auckland City FC 3-0 AS Pirae
AS Pirae 2-1 Auckland City FC
Ba 1-2 Amicale FC
Amicale FC 0-0 Ba
Amicale FC FINAL
v
Auckland City FC
OFC Media Officer’s Workshop
The fourth OFC Media Workshop took place at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in
Lautoka, Fiji, April 2-6 as Member Association media officers from nine of the
11 nations comprising the confederation met for the first time in two years.
The four day agenda focused on industry developments in
media, communications, social media, radio, television and
digital media, with an emphasis, naturally, targeted toward a
specific football flavour.
OFC Head of Media and Communications Gordon Watson said the
workshop was a success and shed light on some innovative media
strategies being employed across the region by media officers.
“One intriguing trend shows that Member Associations located
in Polynesia rely far more on Facebook than their official website
when it comes to engagement with their own communities.
“The instant nature of Facebook and its reliance upon a still
image of video is a drawcard for people — effectively it’s a
community noticeboard, it’s very flexible and easy to update
quickly.”
Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and New Caledonia
have made great strides forward in television with each Member
Association producing its own football show in partnership with a
local broadcaster and sponsors.
“This is a key success and if we reflect upon how ten years
ago there was no television presence, let alone a collaborative
process between Member Associations and sponsors, then we
have a very good marker for the progress, innovation and talent
in football media and administration today.
“Perhaps one area we aren’t exploring to its full potential is that
of radio. Radio remains the one vehicle that provides Oceania
with its most comprehensive platform for touching communities
in the most remote areas, areas where television and smartphone
technology doesn’t reach.
“The OFC Podcast was realised with this in mind and involves
a relatively simple process of recording audio and distributing it
via a local radio partner or making it available to the wider world
through the internet, or for smartphones in Android and iTunes,”
he said.
Former Yahoo! New Zealand online sports editor Mike
Kilpatrick is a podcast expert and has produced sports and
entertainment podcasts at home and abroad and was on hand
to deliver a presentation that gave an overview of the platform’s
advantages. Kilpatrick remains closely linked with the OFC
Podcast in an editing capacity.
Other consultants brought in to enhance the workshop activities
included Radio broadcaster Jason Pine who provided his expert
commentary throughout the OFC Champions League group stage
tournament and award-winning photographer Shane Wenzlick
who delivered a presentation that highlighted the closing gap and
emerging integration between photography, videography and
social media within an Oceania football context.
“The co-operation and sharing of ideas was a key focal
point in what the OFC Media Workshop sets out to achieve as
the Member Association media officers each bring a unique
approach to their role. Some have more football experience than
others but the willingness to innovate and try new approaches
and ideas is perhaps more important than knowing football in a
forensic way,” Watson said.
The timing of the OFC Media Workshop allowed participants
the opportunity to work on a major sports event, the OFC
Champions League group stage, with New Caledonia’s Romain
Painbeni and OFC’s Xavier Audu providing French commentary
for each match of the tournament for both radio and television, a
regional first for an OFC competition.
Harry Atisson of Vanuatu provided commentary of Amicale
and Tafea FC’s matches for radio, while Nahema Temarii of
Tahiti, Leo Jakanduo from Papua New Guinea, Melina Tuiravaki
of the Cook Islands, Brian Vitolio from American Samoa and
Teaki Heimuli from Tonga provided ENG news stories for OFC
TV and Fiji broadcaster FBC.
Fiji Football Association media duo, Moiz Munif and Avikash
Chand, covered the tournament’s media operations tasks, a job that
included media accreditation, working with the participating clubs,
coaches and players, as well as local and international press.
“It’s easy to forget that each of the participants not only
engaged fully at the workshop then undertook tasks for the OFC
Champions League, but they kept their own workloads back
home on the go, too.
“The key challenge with any Member Association media
officer and their ever changing role within the football framework
is avoiding burn-out.
“Media Officers become all things to all people and finding
their own “off switch” can be elusive. The group we have
currently is an exceptional one and it’s my hope that we can
convene the fifth OFC Media Workshop in January 2015, before
the new year gets underway,” Watson said.
One initiative to emerge from the OFC Media Workshop is
the confirmation of Member Association media officers working
alongside the OFC Media and Communications department on
major football events.
“It’s an important learning opportunity for our Member
Association media officers to experience a regional event and
gain exposure to a variety of logistical challenges of a more
international variety.
“It’s my hope to be able to bring in one, possibly two, Member
Association media officers to work alongside — possibly even
run — an OFC Media and Communications project during
a tournament, starting later this year with either the OFC
Champions League Preliminary tournament, OFC President’s
Cup or Futsal Invitational competition,” Watson said.
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OFC Insider
OFC Insider
OFC Insider: You’ve officiated in men’s competitions previously
— what has the reaction been by players, coaches and supporters?
Keighley: I would say the first few times that I officiate in a men’s
division I am a bit of a novelty, and so the men are unsure how
to take it. On several occasions, when I have been with a trio of
men, the team management will naturally assume the older male
is the referee, and so are surprised when they are directed to
me. Having said that, to my advantage I do find many of the men
show a level of courtesy because I am a female.
OFC Insider: What are the challenges to officiating in the
Oceania environment?
THE
BIG
INTERVIEW
Referee Anna-Marie Keighley shares her experiences as a top
level women’s referee — the fitness, the nutrition and the ambition
to be one of the best female match officials in Oceania today.
OFC Insider: What prompted you to become a top level referee?
Keighley: Opportunity and aspiration. Early on in my refereeing
I heard Michael Hester share his experiences at an Olympics,
and that stuck with me. Since then it has been my ambition to
make it to that level, and so far I have been rewarded with a
number of wonderful opportunities.
OFC Insider: What are some of the obstacles you have overcome
in pursuit of your dreams?
Keighley: I wouldn’t really say I have had too many obstacles,
more choices and decisions. Initially I think it was having the
courage to dream big, then the will to put in the hard yards to try
and make it happen, and then finally the support of family, friends
and colleagues that have encouraged me along the way.
OFC Insider: Can you describe for us in detail your career
highlights?
Keighley: I think the firsts are always the most memorable.
First…game with a red card; …NZF academy; …overseas
tournament (Dallas Cup in 2011); …international ‘friendly’
between NZ and Australia; …international match shown live on
SKY (NZ v China);
However, more recently the highlights have been my selection
to be a part of the Women’s World Cup programme (attending
the first seminar at the home of FIFA in Zurich), and then being
included in the team of officials for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World
Cup in Costa Rica.
All of these feats have been met with the same nervous
excitement, but also bring about a sense of fulfilment, pride and
accomplishment.
OFC Insider: Do you model your approach to your craft on any
particular colleague, or is how you officiate very much down to
personality?
Keighley: I don’t think there is one particular individual that
I solely look up to, rather many with a range of positive traits
that I try to incorporate into my officiating. I do think everyone
has their own style, which each individual crafts from their own
personality.
Keighley: In the women’s game the level of competition is so
varied between the countries that there isn’t the same demands
in each area. Also being spread so far apart it makes it hard to
work with and develop the referee trio.
The fitness tests match officials undergo is a rigorous one and
comprises of a Test 1 = 6 x 40m sprints that need to be less than
6.6 seconds. The other, Test 2, comprises an intermittent test of
20 repetitions of 150m in 35 seconds, 50m in 40 seconds. It’s very
tough!
OFC Insider: What is your ultimate career goal?
Keighley: To referee at the Women’s World Cup in 2015 and the
Olympics in 2016.
OFC Insider: Is there anything you wish to add that you believe
would add value to our readers in New Zealand, Oceania and
around the world?
Keighley: Set your goals high, and keep striving. If you believe
it, you can achieve it!!
OFC Insider: What advice would you offer to any young woman
wishing to join the OFC/FIFA ranks as a referee or assistant referee?
OFC Insider: Did you play football? If so, what made you swap
the playing side of the game for refereeing?
Keighley: Do it!! We need more female officials in the game.
Have the courage to be involved, be assertive with what you
want and be willing to work hard toward it. There are many
opportunities available if you want to put in the time and effort.
Keighley: I did a little at high school and then at university,
which lead me into coaching. From there I had to referee a half,
and thought I should really learn some rules to ensure I was
doing it right.
OFC Insider: How much preparation do you put into your
physical fitness? Nutrition?
The refereeing opportunities and prospects eventually lured me
away from playing to solely focus on the pathway of officiating.
Although I still miss the collegiality of a team, I am thankful for
all the wonderful opportunities and experiences I have had and
continue to have through being a referee.
Keighley: Many, many hours. Maintaining fitness levels takes
significant time, motivation, persistence and perseverance. I
work hard to try and find a balance between strength, anaerobic
(sprints & high intensity) and aerobic fitness (long runs).
I am thankful that good nutrition has always been a part of my
lifestyle. So with a little preparation and organisation to maintain
adequate levels of nutrients and variety I am able to sustain
nutritional requirements.
OFC Insider: What do you expect from the FIFA U-17 Women’s
World Cup in Costa Rica?
Keighley: An unforgettable experience!
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OFC Insider
OFC Insider
Junior Football Ferns make
history in Costa Rica
With their first female coach, former Czech Republic international Jitka Klimkova, at
the helm New Zealand’s U-17 women’s team headed off to Costa Rica and the FIFA U-17
Women’s World Cup full of optimism.
Campaign to Kick Dengue
Out of Fiji a success
The OFC Champions League Group Stage Tournament was a massive success both on and off
the pitch with the UNICEF, Fiji Government, OFC and Fiji FA joining forces to promote the “Kick
Dengue Out of Fiji!” campaign.
With Dengue affecting 80,000 Fijians this year alone, enough to
fill Lautoka’s Churchill Park, ten times over, the OFC Champions
League harnessed the popularity of football to raise awareness of
this mosquito-borne disease.
A regional audience of 3 million television viewers, 450,000
daily listeners via radio and 7,000 social media followers
received comprehensive “Kick Dengue Out of Fiji!” messages,
not to forget that fans in the stadiums were able to read about
Dengue in the official Match Programmes, with over 2,000
distributed across Ba and Lautoka.
OFC Competitions Michael Song says the initiative was highly
successful.
“The “Kick Dengue Fever Out of Fiji!” campaign was extremely
successful and we’re delighted that the OFC Champions League
could be a platform for the betterment of peoples’ health not only
in Fiji, where Dengue is prevalent, but elsewhere across Oceania.
“We’re certainly very hopeful that we can collaborate with
Franck Castillo and our colleagues at UNICEF Pacific, Fiji
Government and the Fiji FA on future projects to help raise
awareness of social obstacles and disease in a practical and
meaningful way,” he says.
The promotion of “Kick Dengue Out of Fiji!” stretched across
the world with FIFA Weekly covering the tournament operation
and logistics and a further 270 journalists informed daily about the
competition and activities around the corporate social responsibility.
The group stage and semi-finals are now complete with
Amicale FC and Auckland City FC engaged in a twolegged home and away final playoff to determine Oceania’s
representatives in Morocco in December.
The FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 kicks-off on
December 10 and culminates in the final ten days later with the
OFC representative club guaranteed to pick up at least $500,000
USD in prize money.
Oceania’s champion club travels to the FIFA Club World Cup
Morocco 2014 in December.
Klimkova’s side was a mix of youth and experience — as much
as that can be said of a youth tournament — with Daisy Cleverley
and Martine Puketapu among the returnees from the 2012
campaign.
In a difficult group alongside Japan and Spain, they also had
relatively unknown entity Paraguay in the mix as their first up
opponent, with this encounter proving to be an early buoy to their
campaign.
Carrying a six-game losing streak into their first match New
Zealand came close to earning their first win at this level after
Daisy Cleverley nipped past three defenders before releasing in
the direction of the far post in the 69th minute.
Unfortunately the three points slipped through the Young
Football Ferns fingers when Paraguay headed home an 84th
minute corner to come level and deny the New Zealanders the
win.
In their previous encounter at the 2010 edition of this
competition Spain came out 3-1 winners, and this time around
following a similar performance they managed to keep a clean
sheet.
Struggling to break down the Spanish back-line the Young
Football Ferns were dominated by their European counterparts
as they ran home two first half efforts, before sealing the win with
a third in the second period.
A consolation goal looked on the cards late in the game when
the Kiwis were awarded a penalty, but Isabella Coombes saw her
shot deflected off the post and away from danger.
Going into the final match Klimkova was confident the young
girls had learnt from their two preceding encounters.
“We secured our first point in our U-17 World Cup history and
we are happy about that,” she said, “against Paraguay we scored
one of the most beautiful goals at the tournament, we dominated
in possession and we created great chances.
“Our second game was different and Spain is a very strong
team and played good football. We gave them a little bit more
space defensively but we fought to the end of the game, we didn’t
give up and that will be a key point for the game against Japan as
well.”
The final group match was an encounter with a strong Japan
side who continued their unbeaten run with a 3-0 triumph over
the Young Football Ferns.
The scoreline mirrored the last time these two teams met in the
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at Azerbaijan 2012, though Japan
won 6-0 two years earlier in Trinidad and Tobago. The result will
surely be seen as continued improvement for the Oceania side,
who had fallen 5-0 to Japan in a pre-tournament competition in
the USA.
Japan went on to triumph in the competition following a 2-0
victory over fellow Group C opponents Spain, and with decent
results against the two finalists the Young Football Ferns should
be incredibly proud of a campaign which saw them finish third in
the group standings.
While football was well and truly the focal point of their trip to
Costa Rica, the Young Football Ferns did find some time to relax
and take in some of the sights as the entire squad embarked on a
typically Costa Rican activity — a canopy tour.
While not entirely comfortable with the height initially, players
like Paige Satchell soon adjusted to dangling 50m above the
ground while traveling along a 500m-long zip-line.
“It was really fantastic. It was so much fun. I was a bit scared to
begin with but that didn’t last long,” she said.
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OFC Insider
The OFC Executive Committee decided:
2014
The 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Qualifying Tournament will double
up as the OFC Nations Cup and will be organised as follows:
•Agreed to continue negotiations to sell the OFC Ascot Offices
in Greenlane, Auckland.
•Confirmed OFC U-20 Men’s Championship hosts as Fiji with tournament
scheduled 23-31 May.
•Confirmed OFC Futsal Championship Invitational host as New Caledonia
with four OFC nations and four non-OFC nations in 11-16 August 2014.
STAGE 1 Preliminary Round 4 teams, round robin, central tournament
STAGE 2 Group Stage8 teams, 2 groups, 6 home-and-away matches
per team
STAGE 3 Semi-Finals
4 teams, 2 home-and-away matches per team
STAGE 4 Final
2 teams, 2 home-and-away matches per team
•Agreed Papua New Guinea as host of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup
21-25 October 2014.
Seeding and groups to be confirmed by regulation.
•Confirmed OFC President’s Cup scheduled dates as 17-23 November 2014
with two OFC clubs, two AFC clubs and two invitational clubs participating.
STAGE 1 — PRELIMINARY ROUND
•Agreed with outcome statement of the Interpol Conference held in
Fiji in February.
Venue
TBC
Dates
8-16 June 2015
Teams
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga
•Acknowledged amendments to the OFC Statutes and OFC Code of Ethics
with changes to be taken forward for approval to the next OFC Congress
in Brazil in June.
Format
2015
OFC Executive Committee
Outcomes — March 2014
Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has released the approved
decisions from the first OFC Executive Committee meeting of 2014.
Held at the Sudima Hotel in Airpark Drive, Mangere, the
Executive Committee convened on 29 March, 2014, where
the OFC Executive Committee agreed the hosting rights for a
number of its Men’s and Women’s age-group competitions and
futsal and beach soccer tournaments.
They also decided, following consultation with the Member
Association clubs, a change in format of the OFC Champions
League final from a one-off match to a two-legged home and
away final to be played in May 2014.
OFC President Chung says the decision is the correct one for
football in the Oceania region.
“The OFC Champions League is our premier football club
event and we recognise the additional marketing opportunity
a two-legged format presents participating teams and their
Member Associations that might not otherwise enjoy in a one-off
final.
“This event is growing in stature each season with 43 clubs
participating in the 15 year history of the competition and this
decision means more football fans around Oceania can be part of
the excitement this presents.
“We firmly believe the home and away format for the final is
the correct decision,” he says.
The OFC Executive Committee acknowledged changes to the
OFC Statutes in to be approved at the next OFC Extraordinary
Congress scheduled for June in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Executive Committee supported the outcome statement
of the Interpol Conference on match-fixing and corruption made
after the seminar held in Nadi, Fiji, in June.
Also agreed in principle was the supply of apparel from OFC
Commercial for each Member Association with national team
strips, track suits, apparel and football gear over the next four
years.
“For the OFC it makes sense for us to provide our Member
Associations with apparel for the national teams and domestic
competitions.
“Any money spent on apparel by our Member Associations is
returned to them,” Chung says.
The meeting was preceded by an OFC Executive Committee
visit to the work site at Ngahue Reserve where construction of
Oceania’s future Home of Football is well underway.
OFC President David Chung was satisfied with the progress
of the Ngahue project since the last OFC Executive Committee
meeting in November 2013.
“Everything is on track for the Ngahue Reserve project and it
was important to show the OFC Executive Committee members
how we have progressed in four months.
“The House of Football will be a hub for football development
for our region and the local community,” Chung says.
Also revealed is the possible pathway toward the 2018 FIFA
World Cup™ and FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
•Host for the OFC Champions League Preliminary competition
to be determined, competition scheduled for 7-11 October 2014.
•Agreed American Samoa as host of the OFC U-17 Men’s Championship
in 13-27 January 2015.
•Agreed Tahiti as host of the OFC Beach Soccer Championship
in 16-22 February 2015.
•Agreed Fiji as host of the OFC Champions League Group Stage competition
in 17-26 April 2015.
•Agreed Papua New Guinea as host of the OFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying
Tournament in 4-18 July 2015. OFC will use the South Pacific Games as
Stage 1 of the OFC Women’s Olympic Championship. Stage 2 will see the
winner play New Zealand home and away for OFC’s berth at the Women’s
Olympic Football Tournament in Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016.
•Agreed the Men’s Football Tournament at the South Pacific Games will
NOT be a qualifier for an OFC/FIFA tournament.
•Agreed Tahiti as host of the OFC Futsal Championship Invitational
1-8 August 2015.
•Agreed Cook Islands as host of the OFC U-17 Women’s Championship
in 13-28 September 2015.
Round robin – League system
Qualification
•Approval of the new OFC Disciplinary Code, OFC Code of Ethics and
OFC Code of Conduct.
•The next OFC Extraordinary Congress will be held in Sao Paulo,
Brazil on 9 June 2014.
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2016 OFC NATIONS CUP
• Approved the OFC Budget for 2014.
•Confirmed OFC Champions League Final 2014 as a home and away
play-off scheduled for May 10-11 and May 17-18.
OFC Insider
The winner qualifies to Stage 2
STAGE 2 — GROUP STAGE
Dates
Match Day 1 and 2
5-13 October 2015
Match Day 3 and 4
21-29 March 2016
Match Day 5 and 6
30 May – 7 June 2016
Format2 groups of 4 teams playing a round robin,
home-and-away basis
QualificationThe winner and runner-up of each group qualifies to Stage 3
STAGE 3 — SEMI-FINALS
Dates
29 August – 6 September 2016
FormatGroup winners will be paired up with runners-up to play
2 matches on home-and-away basis
Qualification
The winner of each semi-final series qualifies to Stage 4
STAGE 4 — FINALS
Dates
7-18 November 2016
Format2 semi-final winners will play 2 matches on home-and-away
basis
QualificationThe winner of the final playoff series qualifies for both the FIFA
Confederations Cup Russia 2017 and 2018 FIFA World Cup™
Intercontinental Playoff in November 2017.
•Host for the OFC President’s Cup to be determined, competition scheduled
for 9-17 November 2015.
•Agreed Tonga as host of the OFC Olympic Men’s Championship 2015,
scheduled for 2-12 December 2015.
2016
(Host nations to be determined by the OFC Executive Committee
in September 2014)
A proposal from the OFC Secretariat to delete Stage 3 and Stage 4 above and
amend the semi-finals and finals format with a further 4 team round robin
played on a league basis exists as follows:
STAGE 3 — GROUP STAGE FINALS
Dates
Match Day 1 and 2
29 August/6 September
•Host for the OFC Champions League Preliminary competition
to be determined, competition scheduled for 1-5 September 2015.
Match Day 3 and 4
3-11 October
Match Day 5 and 6
7-18 November
•OFC U-20 Women’s Championship host to be determined,
competition scheduled for 16-30 January 2016.
FormatGroup winners will play each other on home-and-away league
system basis
•OFC Futsal Championship Invitational host to be determined,
competition scheduled for 15-20 August 2016.
QualificationThe winner of the league qualifies for the FIFA Confederations
Cup Russia 2017 (as the OFC Nations Cup winner) and 2018
FIFA World Cup™ Intercontinental Playoff in November 2017.
•OFC U-20 Men’s Championship host to be determined, competition
scheduled for 19-26 September 2016.
•OFC President’s Cup host to be determined, competition scheduled
for 14-20 November 2016.
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OFC Insider
OFC Insider
13
NEWS FROM MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
OFC Executive Committee Meeting
9 June / Venue TBC
COMPETITIONS
Samuela DRUDRU of Nadi (Fiji)
Tuimasi MANUCA of Hekari United (PNG)
Paul TEMPLE coach of Waitakere United (NZL)
AMERICAN SAMOA
SAMOA
The documentary film “Next Goal Wins” premiered in New York on April
19. The film that tells the story of American Samoa’s journey toward FIFA
World Cup Oceanian Qualifier glory is set for release in Australia, New
Zealand and the wider pacific in May 2014.
Melina Tuiravakai is the new Cook Islands Football Association Media
Officer. Tuiravakai attended the fourth annual OFC Media Officer Workshop
in Lautoka, Fiji, as part of her new duties.
Football Federation Samoa is in mourning following the passing of its
President Toetu Petana. Petana, who was 51, passed away after a
short illness and is survived by his wife and four children. On the field
of play, Samoa club champions Kiwi FC were eliminated from the OFC
Champions League at the group stage after three straight defeats. New
York Red Bulls and Australia international, Tim Cahill, is set for his third
consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance. The 34-year-old has won 67
caps for Australia and scored 31 goals, but made two appearances for
Samoa U-20 before switching nationality in 2004.
FIJI
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Wellington Phoenix striker Roy Krishna signed a new two year contract
extension with the Hyundai A-League club. In the OFC Champions League
played in Ba and Lautoka, Ba advanced to the semi-finals winning a group
that contained Tafea FC, Hekari United and AS Magenta. Compatriots
Nadi FC were eliminated at the group stage following three straight
defeats where they failed to score a single goal. Banned Nadi trio Samuela
Drudru, Ratu Bainivalu and Uraia Loki face further sanctions when the
OFC Disciplinary Committee is convened.
The Solomon Islands was in emergency mode following a flash flood that
left 10,000 people homeless and countless others missing. Lawson Tama
Stadium, the nation’s only major football venue, was left undamaged by
the flood waters as relief efforts from Australia and New Zealand set about
the recovery process. Solomon Warriors were eliminated at the group
stage of the OFC Champions League while Benjamin Totori (Waitakere
United), Michael Fifi’i (Kiwi FC), Tutizama Tanito (Hekari United), Nelson
Sale (Amicale FC) turned out for foreign clubs.
NEW CALEDONIA
TAHITI
AS Magenta were eliminated from the OFC Champions League group
stages despite a runners-up finish in Group C in Ba. The Alain Moizancoached outfit lost its first match 2-0 to the ‘Men in Black’ before rallying
to draw 2-2 with Hekari United then defeat Tafea FC 3-1.
Former France international Pascal Vahirua has returned to French
Polynesia to head up AS Tefana’s grassroots and youth development
programme. The 48-year-old won 22 caps for France and played club
football for Auxerre and Cannes. His cousin, Marama Vahirua, helped
guide AS Pirae into the semi-finals where they lost to Auckland City FC 4-2
on aggregate despite a brave home leg performance.
COOK ISLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
All Whites midfielder Ryan Thomas completed a successful first season
in Dutch football with PEC Zwolle after his team thrashed Ajax 5-1 in the
KNVB Cup Final. Thomas, who made his All Whites debut in the 4-2 loss
to Japan, scored twice as PEC Zwolle swept to their first ever KNVB Cup
victory in just their third finals appearance. PEC Zwolle finished KNVB
Cup runners-up in 1928 and 1977. Auckland City FC won their first ASB
Premiership title since 2009 when they defeated Team Wellington in the
grand final. Team Wellington qualified for the OFC Champions League
2015 in place of deposed champions Waitakere United.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Hekari United’s four year wait for a shot at the FIFA Club World Cup
stretched to at least five after the Papua New Guinea champions were
knocked out of the OFC Champions League at the group stage. Nigel
Dabingyaba was Hekari United’s stand-out performer while Solomon
Islands import Tutizama Tanito also caught the eye.
TONGA
Tevita Makasini was in action at the OFC Champions League as an
Assistance Referee. Makasini was also involved at the FIFA U-17 Men’s
World Cup in UAE held last year.
VANUATU
Amicale FC qualified for the OFC Champions League Final for just
the second time in their history after a sensational 1-0 upset win over
defending champions Auckland City FC in Lautoka. Dominique Fred
scored the winner to send the Vanuatu champions into the semi-finals
where they defeated Fiji’s Ba 2-1 on aggregate. A crowd of 10,000 turned
out in Port Vila for the OFC Champions League Final 1st leg clash with
Auckland City FC as the teams drew 1-1.
OFC U-20 Men’s Championship
22 -31 May / Suva, Fiji
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™
June 12 – July 13
*All dates correct at the time of publication
NOTICES
The match officials for the OFC Champions League Final 1st and 2nd Leg have were
announced in late April. Kader Zitouni, Didier Hmuzo and Terry Piri controlled the
1st leg in Port Vila with Isidore Assiene-Ambassa the fourth official. Tahitian referee
Norbert Hauta, assistant referees Tevita Makasini and Phillipe Revel and fourth
official Averii Jacques have the 2nd Leg duties at Kiwitea Street.
Avikash Chand has joined the Fiji Football Association as number two to incumbent
Media Manager Moiz Munif. Chand has 15 years’ experience in the media industry
that also includes time as a newspaper photographer. Chand will assist Munif in the
production of the TV show ‘Fiji Foot’ shown on national broadcaster FBC.
OBITUARIES
Toetu PETANA
The football community in Oceania mourned the loss of Samoa Football Federation
President Toetu Petana. The 51 year-old, who was also an Oceania Football
Executive Committee member, passed away following a short illness. Toetu is
survived by his wife Telesia and four children.
Alan FRASER, MBE
The Auckland Football Federation community mourned the loss of former CEO/
Secretary Alan Fraser, MBE. Fraser served with the AFF for 16 years in a variety
of roles before he passed away in Christchurch, New Zealand. Alan is survived by
his wife Loris and has many grandchildren who are carrying on his passion and
infectious enthusiasm for football.