2016 OFC Futsal Championship ENG

2016 OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 8-13 February Vodafone Arena, Suva, Fiji Fiji / New Caledonia / New Zealand / Solomon Islands / Tahiti / Vanuatu

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME Futsal has come under the spotlight in Oceania over the past five years for the role it plays in developing the kinds of skills that can sometimes be overlooked when focusing on the 11-a-side version of the game.

With population size so often a factor in high performance development, futsal is proving a popular alternative for more and more clubs as they look to get as many people involved in the game.

Futsal courts have gone in in Samoa and Tonga and it won’t be long before they’re starting to produce the kinds of players we will see on display in Fiji during the 2016 OFC Futsal Championship.

While futsal has helped develop some of the world’s greatest footballers we must remember that it is a discipline in its own right. Some of the players we will see on the court at Vodafone Arena have adopted this game as their own. We have seen it in the Solomon Islands Kurukuru who for so long have dominated the regional scene with some exceptional displays of talent and an understanding

of the game that has previously been unrivalled in Oceania.

However since the last edition in 2011 we have seen growth and development across the region. The margins separating the teams has reduced and we are sure to experience that once again here in Fiji.

I am excited for the next five days of futsal action we are set to witness and I wish each of the participating teams all the best as they endeavour to do their nations proud.

David Chung OFC President

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME Bula and welcome to Fiji!

It is a great pleasure for the Fiji Football Association to be welcoming you all to Suva for this much anticipated event.

Fiji has been fortunate to host the four previous editions of this tournament dating back to 2008 and we are excited for this edition in particular.

Over the past four years the FIFA Futsal World Cup has developed into an achievable objective for each of the sides set to participate in this year’s event.

In 2013 New Zealand beat the Solomon Islands for the first time and New Caledonia went from bottom of the table to second behind only Malaysia in the 2014 OFC Futsal Championship Invitational.

These results show that nothing can be taken for granted here in Fiji and we can expect some actionpacked, exciting matches at Vodafone Arena.

A big prize is on the line and everyone is determined to make it theirs. I hope you get behind your team and enjoy every minute of the highqualify matches on offer.

Rajesh Patel Fiji Football Association President

HISTORY OF THE OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP The inaugural OFC Futsal Championship was held in Brisbane, Australia in 1992 and featured just three sides — host Australia, New Zealand and Vanautu.

Over the course of the six-day tournament the teams played each other twice with the hosts eventually being crowned champions with four wins from four games.

For Australia it was a victorious trend that would continue up until their departure from the Oceania Football Confederation in 2006, with four OFC Futsal Championship titles to their name.

In 2008 it was time for a new world order as the Solomon Islands were beaten only once in six games, by Vanuatu, on their way to claiming their first regional crown.

It was a trend that has continued through 2009, 2010 and 2011 where they came from

4-1 down against Tahiti to claim their fourth consecutive OFC Futsal Championship after a 6-4 victory.

As well as proving themselves a force to be reckoned with on the futsal court, in 2009 the Solomon Islands also became notable for their entry into the record books. Captain Elliot Ragomo scored the fastest ever goal in an official futsal match taking just three seconds to make his mark in the match against New Caledonia.

Interestingly, all four of the Solomon Islands titles were won at tournaments held in Fiji, and that will certainly be a trend they’ll be looking to continue this time around as they chase their fifth consecutive victory.

MATCH VENUE VODAFONE ARENA The arena was constructed for the 2003 Pacific Games that were held in Suva, Fiji, the third time in the event’s history that it had been held there. The stadium is ideally located in Laucala Bay just across the road from ANZ Stadium, which hosted the 2015 OFC Champions League.

From concerts to awards ceremonies to sporting events the building has hosted a wide range of events including four previous OFC Futsal Championships.

In January 2015 the arena welcomed the Oceania Netball Tri Series featuring Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa.

But from the 8-13 February it will be all things futsal.

SUVA, FIJI Fiji’s capital of Suva is the heart of the country. Home to half of the country’s urban population it is also the largest city in the South Pacific. It is the political and administrative capital and has become an important regional centre with student from all over the Pacific.

Perched on a hilly peninsula between Laucala Bay, the location of Vodafone Arena, and Suva Harbour there are mountains located both in the north and west of the city.

There are a number of well-known landmarks littered throughout the city.

The Suva City Library was built in 1909 and is one of many colonial era buildings.

Government House was formerly the residence of Fiji’s colonial Governors and, following independence in 1970, GovernorsGeneral though is now the official residence of Fiji’s President.

MATCH SCHEDULE 08/02/16

09/02/16

10/02/16

12/02/16

13/02/16

Team Fiji New Caledonia New Zealand Solomon Islands Tahiti Vanuatu

1

15h

New Caledonia vs Fiji

2

17h30

Vanuatu vs New Zealand

3

20h

Solomon Islands vs Tahiti

4

15h

Vanuatu vs Fiji

5

17h30

New Caledonia vs Solomon Islands

6

20h

New Zealand vs Tahiti

7

15h

New Caledonia vs Vanuatu

8

17h30

Solomon Islands vs New Zealand

9

20h

Fiji vs Tahiti

10

15h

Tahiti vs New Caledonia

11

17h30

Solomon Islands vs Vanuatu

12

20h

Fiji vs New Zealand

13

15h

Tahiti vs Vanuatu

14

17h30

Fiji vs Solomon Islands

15

20h

New Zealand vs New Caledonia

P

W

D

L

F

A

RESULTS

Points

GD

FIJI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 20

Ulaiasi TAMANISAU (GK) Prashant PRASAD Praveet SINGH Mira SAHIB Shelvin CHAND Suraj CHAND Vineet NADAN Akitesh KUMAR Rodrick CHAND Dhiraj KUMAR Al Taaf SAHIB Anish KUMAR Kevin SINGH Maciu TUILAU (GK)

Coach: Intiaz KHAN (FIJ)

Mira Sahib Sahib made his international debut for Fji’s national team in 2004 making such an impact on coach Intiaz Khan that just four years later he was leading the side. The then 24-year-old worked hard at creating a tight, team atmosphere and that will again be his focus in 2016 as Fiji look to improve on their 2011 fifth-place finish.

NEW CALEDONIA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Ronan EUZEN (GK) Mainon KAOUWI Jess POUARAIROUA Wahid BEN-AMEUR Ivann POUROURORO Maurice HAMU Ludovic BOIT Loic CAUNES Franck GELLENONCOURT Malik PAULET Christ PEI Jean Michel POADAE Jone UE Arnaud LLAMBRICH (GK)

Coach: William BRET (FRA)

Ivann Pourouroro Ivann Pourouroro made his debut for New Caledonia’s futsal team in 2013, but it is here in Fiji where he will play in his first FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifier. He may have had a relatively short international futsal career but has already made a name for himself as a player to watch. Along with Tahiti’s Tino Smith, the defender picked up the Golden Ball award at the 2014 OFC Futsal Championship Invitational.

NEW ZEALAND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 17

Ata ELAYYAN (GK) Luc SAKER Tai BARHAM Stephen ASHBY-PECKHAM James VAUGHAN Kareem OSMAN Marvin EAKINS Daniel BURNS Jakub SINKORA Dylan MANICKUM Lucas CORDEIRO OSORIO DA SILVA Brayden LISSINGTON Miroslav MALIVUK Elias BILLEH (GK)

Coach: Scott GILLIGAN (AUS)

Marvin Eakins These days it is hard to mention the Futsal Whites without immediately thinking of captain Marvin Eakins. The 30-year-old has become synonymous with the New Zealand squad and has developed not only into an essential member of the squad, but a determined and hearty leader.

SOLOMON ISLANDS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Anthony TALO (GK) Alvin HOU Elliot RAGOMO George STEVENSON Francis LAFAI Robert LAUA James EGETA Jeffery BULE Micah LEA’ALAFA Samuel OSIFELO Coleman MAKAU Paul HUIA (GK) Jack WETNEY Mathias SARU

Coach: Juliano SCHMELING (BRA)

Jeffery Bule In a squad rife with talent it’s hard to stand out, but Jeffery Bule does just that. The dual football/ futsal international may not have the individual flair of players like Lea’alafa or Wetney, but he does the basic rights. Whether scoring goals up front or defending at the back, Bule is a player that can be relied on to come up trumps in most on court situations.

TAHITI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Teva DUROT (GK) Bea MATANA Steeve WONG Tamanui TURIHONO Manea RATEAU Alexis TOOFA Gabriel KAVERA Utiera PUKOKI Anderson TINO Teivarii KAIHA Tane TAVE Smith TINO Heimana FAARAHIA Paul PITO (GK)

Coach: Jacob TUTAVAE (TAH)

Teva Durot Teva Durot is still young in goalkeeper terms at 29 years old.

Add to that the fact he began his football career at the age of 16 and it’s even more impressive that just seven years later he was debuting with the Aito Arii.

Reliable between the posts, Durot has also been known to add his name to the score sheet every once in a while.

VANUATU 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Serge DANIEL (GK) Terry MALAPA Jack JOHN Dudley DOMINIQUE Don MANSALE Joseph HANGHANGKON Ben HUNGAI Pakoa RAKOM Donald AVOCK Ricky TUIGALOA Morsen LUIE Jimmy MALAP (GK)

Coach: Louis DOMINIQUE (VAN)

Ben Hungai A stalwart of the Vanuatu team, Ben Hungai is a talented player and a strong leader. He has plenty of experience on the regional stage and has also moved into player development which adds another element to his style of play.

FIFA FUTSAL WORLD CUP COLOMBIA The FIFA Futsal World Cup will be played between 10 September and 1 October 2016 in Colombia, and just one nation will have the opportunity to represent the Oceania Football Confederation.

The event will be hosted in the three Colombian cities of Bucaramanga, Medellin and Cali, with 24 teams set to compete in the eighth edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Qualifiyng for Colombia will get underway in February for OFC, CONMEBOL and AFC while the final phase of European qualifying will be held in March.

The Africa Futsal Cup of Nations is being held in April while the final four berths

at Colombia will be filled in May when CONCACAF completes its championship.

The title is currently held by Brazil, who at Thailand 2012 claimed the crown for the fifth time.

OFC representatives in 2012 Solomon Islands encountered Colombia in Thailand during the Group Stage, losing to the South Americans 11-3.

FUTSAL IN FIJI On an international level futsal in Fiji had stalled in the period between the 2011 OFC Futsal Championship and 2014/15.

You can move through Suva and see people people playing the small-sided game at all hours of the day or night, and the Fiji Football Association also offers some leagues that engage players from across the country.

After a two year hiatus the first FIFA Futsal Coaching Course was held in April 2015 at the Fiji FA headquarters, sparking a revival of the sport.

The course, which was attended by 20 participants, is aimed at educating and developing coaches by providing the latest information on the Laws of the Game, development techniques and tactics.

“I strongly believe that this coaching course will be able to develop more futsal coaches in Fiji and these coaches are going to be responsible for training and producing more men’s and women’s futsal players in the country in the near future,” Fiji FA CEO Bob Kumar said of the course.

“We are trying to revive and upgrade futsal in the country and to develop the game from the grassroots level up.”

Attended by a mix of both former Fiji

futsal players, coaches and a number of Fiji FA development officers, it was an excellent event to help kickstart the return of futsal.

OFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey says Fiji is a nation with plenty of potential for futsal.

“I believe that Fiji has a lot of potential coaches and with educational courses it will definitely improve the coaches’ competency and develop more quality futsal players in the future,” Toohey said.

“Futsal has an important role in developing football players because of the particular qualities, speed and skill.

“The right planning and the proper coaching one day might take Fiji to the FIFA Futsal World Cup as I have seen the calibre in Fijian players.”

MATCH OFFICIALS A strong line-up of Oceania match officials will have their experience during the 2016 OFC Futsal Championship bolstered by the inclusion of two guest referees from the Asian Football Confederation.

Darius Turner and Ryan Shepheard have both been invited to officiate during Oceania’s qualifier for Colombia 2016 lending the experience they’ve gained in Australia, to their colleagues from the Pacific.

Referees Amitesh BEHARI Jainut DEAN Kamendra NAIDU Aten KUMAR Paul COIC Chris SINCLAIR Antony RILEY Rex KAMUSU Philip MANA Francis Loxie RONI Love Lui MELENARAVE Darius TURNER Ryan SHEPHEARD

[FIJ] [FIJ] [FIJ] [FIJ] [NCL] [NZL] [NZL] [SOL] [SOL] [SOL] [VAN] [AUS] [AUS]

Referee Assessors Mark HESTER Ken WALLACE

[AUS] [NZL]

It is not the first time Turner has been involved in an OFC tournament, with the 2013 OFC Futsal Championship Invitational one of the key moments in his career. He has also officiated during the New Zealand Football organised Trans-Tasman and Commonwealth Cups.

While Turner and Shepheard will bring an AFC perspective to the competition, a number of experienced individuals will also be representing OFC’s Member Associations.

Amitesh Behari, Jainut Dean and Kamendra Naidu of Fiji have been building their experience over the past few years and are sure to make a significant contribution.

Solomon Islands will also contribute a strong contingent to the line-up with three referees making it onto the panel while New Zealand have two representatives.

Vanuatu and New Caledonia have just one referee each attending the competition, while OFC Head of Refereeing Mark Hester and New Zealand Football Referee Development Officer Ken Wallace will be the referee assessors.

MATCH COVERAGE

OFC Media and Communications will be providing news, features, interviews and live match updates via our website www.oceaniafootball.com

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MEDIA CONTACTS Media accreditation can be obtained by contacting one of the following: Jacqueline TRAN VAN OFC Head of Media & Communications E: jacqueline@oceaniafootball.com Avikash CHAND Fiji Football Association Media Officer E: fijifootball@gmail.com P: +679 3300 453