OFC insider Issue 12

ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup comes to PNG Korea bound!

New Zealand have company as Vanuatu lay claim Korea 2017 tickets

Football opening doors across the globe ·. FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup ·. OFC Education Centre –powered by AIA

OFC Insider

On the eve of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea, the perfect end to an eventful year – it is a great time to reflect and to really appreciate the challenges we have overcome to get us to this point.

As the President of Papua New Guinea Football Association it gives me great pride to see the progress that has been made towards the hosting of this prestigious event. We see two new stadiums which will leave a fantastic legacy not only for football but for all sports in our country. There are vastly improved playing fields all over Port Moresby which will benefit the schools, communities and sports clubs. 1000 unemployed youth have been trained, upskilled and as a result will be more experienced, confident and ultimately - more employable.

The young girls and women of PNG will be inspired by seeing a fantastic display of women performing at the highest level of their sport. I hope this will motivate and empower them to excel in their own lives.

Hosting this tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Papua New Guinea to witness the future stars of football on our home soil. It will also show the world that we are capable of hosting such events.

I look forward to spending time with the teams, officials and football fans from all over the world and wish the 16 teams all the best for the tournament.

In addition to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup we also have the OFC Stage 3 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers getting underway.

At this stage of the competition things start heating up as the reality of potentially qualifying for the world’s most prestigious football event sinks in for the remaining sides.

I wish each of the four teams – New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Solomon Islands – all the best with this first step of Stage 3. I know we will witness competitive, high level football as an Intercontinental Play-Off looms for the winning side.

Yours in football

David Chung OFC President FIFA Vice-President PNGFA President

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OFC Insider

IN THIS ISSUE

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THREE ON FIFA COUNCIL

BAREMAN LEADS WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FORWARD

FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

The 2016 OFC Extraordinary Congress held in September saw three OFC Members take up positions on the reorganised FIFA Council.

OFC Deputy General Secretary Sarai Bareman is set to take up a new role with football’s governing body after being named the first FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer.

Papua New Guinea is gearing up to welcome one of the biggest women’s sporting events in its history as the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup gears up for its November 13 kick-off.

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HISTORIC QUALIFICATION FOR VANUATU

MYER MAKING HIS NAME

OFC EDUCATION CENTRE – POWERED BY AIA

Two key players in Vanuatu football development share just what it means to Ni-Vanuatu to have a team qualify for the nation’s first FIFA World Cup event.

Myer Bevan has appeared almost out of thin air to make his mark on the international stage.

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 Photography: Phototek / FIFA via Getty Images / OFC Media Cover photo: OFC Media

Viliami Tukia is taking advantage of every development avenue on offer at the OFC Education Centre.

Oceania Football Confederation Headquarters, 12 Maurice Road, Penrose, Auckland 1061, New Zealand Tel: +64 9 531 4096 Fax: +64 9 529 5143 Email: media@oceaniafootball.com Website: www.oceaniafootball.com

OFC Insider

OFC Members join the FIFA Council The 24 September 2016 marked an historic occasion for the Oceania Football Confederation as two further voices were elected to join OFC President David Chung on the FIFA Council for the first time.

Sandra Fruean, vice-president of Football Federation American Samoa was elected as the OFC Female Member to the FIFA Council 2016-2019 following a secret ballot.

Joining her is Cook Islands Football Association President Lee Harmon, who was appointed by proclamation following the withdrawal of the only other candidate Rajesh Patel of Fiji.

OFC President David Chung retains his role as FIFA VicePresident, thus rounding out the three OFC representatives to the FIFA Council.

OFC FIFA Council Member Profiles

David Chung Papua New Guinea Football Association President OFC President FIFA Vice-President Born in Malaysia in 1962, Chung is fluent in six different languages including Mandarin, English and Tok Pisin, the latter being the native language of his adopted home of Papua New Guinea.

Chung began playing football as a young child growing up in Malaysia and following his move to the Papua New Guinea Highlands Province of Simbu he continued to be involved in the game as a coach, referee and administrator.

After successfully leading football in the New Guinea Highlands to new heights, Chung sought a new challenge which led to his successful contesting of the PNGFA presidency in 2004. Chung has held the role ever since and in doing so became the longest serving president of PNGFA. In 2004 he earned a seat on the OFC Executive Committee and after serving as a senior vice-president was elevated to action President in November 2010. He was then elected unopposed to the position in 2011 and remains in the role today.

Most Memorable Football Moment: Watching the Papua New Guinea women’s team win their fourth consecutive gold medal at the XV Pacific Games on home soil in 2015, followed up by the men’s senior team and its outstanding performances during the OFC Nations Cup a year later. They are momentous occasions in Papua New Guinea football history and will remain highlights for me.

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OFC Insider

OFC FIFA Council Member Profiles

Sandra Fruean Football Federation American Samoa Vice-President FIFA Council Member The tri-lingual Fruean has been involved in all things football since 1987 when she began playing. She has enjoyed a long career as a player and continues to lace up for her club PanSa in the FFAS National League to this day. Fruean heads FFAS Women’s Football and has been responsible for establishing women’s football development plans and developing funding strategies to get those plans off the ground. She has been organising football festivals for girls since 1999 and the annual National Women’s Day football clinics have been a highlight on the calendar since they began in 2013.

Most Memorable Football Moment: When the American Samoa men’s national team won their first FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers match in the history of our association, in 2011. It showed what a long way we have come especially as we had never won a tournament, or a match of this calibre before so for me it was like a gold medal, rewarding us for the hard work we put into developing our football players. Also, my son was a member of that team, D’Angelo Herrera, which makes it even more special for me.

Lee Harmon Cook Islands Football Association President OFC Vice-President FIFA Council Member A promising young talent in his day, Harmon never got the opportunity to represent Cook Islands after his career ended early following a nasty accident at 19 years old. A few years later he started getting involved in the administrative side of the game and soon found himself elected President of Tupapa Maraerenga Football Club. From there he became a member of the CIFA board, holding the position of secretary and treasurer before being elected vicepresident in 1995. Just two short years later, Harmon became the CIFA President and has held the position ever since.

Most Memorable Football Moment: When the Cook Islands women’s team won bronze at the 2015 Pacific Games. It was an incredible moment for me firstly because the team made history when they picked up our first medal in this competition and secondly, because two of my daughters were in the team.

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OFC Insider

Bareman to head up FIFA Women’s Football OFC Deputy General Secretary Sarai Bareman will have a new job title before the year is out after being appointed FIFA’s first Chief Women’s Football Officer.

The former Samoa Football Federation CEO has long advocated for gender equality and was the only woman to sit on the FIFA Reforms Committee alongside current FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Bareman said her new role will be challenging, but she’s looking forward to taking her passion for women’s football to a whole new level.

“Throughout my journey in football, the greatest and most rewarding aspect of my work has always been to witness the positive impact it can have on people’s lives – especially women” Bareman said.

“There are women all over the globe who are discriminated against because of their gender. I have seen the power of football, used as a tool to break down some of these barriers.

“Being part-Samoan I understand the cultural aspects which come into play when it

comes to women and their traditional role.

“But I think it’s possible to start adapting and moving forward while still being respectful of those traditions and cultures.”

Bareman has a strong track record in football management, beginning with her time as finance officer during a period of rebuilding in Samoa.

With the federation under normalisation she played a key role in getting things back on track and was rewarded for her dedication when she was promoted to CEO.

Under her guidance, football in Samoa saw incredible growth with the headquarters at J.S. Blatter Football Complex becoming a hive of football activity most days.

It also became a place of testing new ground, with a number of pilot projects run out of Samoa.

When Bareman had to return to New Zealand in 2014 for personal reasons, she initially thought her time in football might be coming to a close.

“I tried for a couple of football-related roles in New Zealand but was unsuccessful,” she recalled.

“It’s was disappointing at the time because

I know I had made a visible difference for the game in Samoa, and I felt so passionate for football – I wanted to stay involved.”

However her disappointment was shortlived.

Bareman’s background made her perfect for the role of OFC Operations Manager and her talent soon saw her promoted to Deputy General Secretary under the long serving General Secretary of OFC, Tai Nicholas.

“The role at OFC was a great opportunity for me to remain in football and I will be forever grateful to Tai and OFC President David Chung for taking a chance on me,” she said.

“The team is a lot of fun to work with, there’s such diverse backgrounds and personalities and no day is like any other.”

The streamlining of operations and the introduction of new and innovative processes are among the key implementations made during her time with OFC. “I have enjoyed my time working in football in Oceania and I would like to think that I have made a difference during my time in Samoa and with the Confederation,” she said.

“I know for sure that the region has made a difference on me. It’s a unique part of the world we live in here and although I’m moving on to FIFA I know my roots.

“The Pacific will always be my home.”

Bareman will take up her new position at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich on 14 November.

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OFC Insider

Stage 3 gets underway The journey to Russia for six Oceania sides will get back underway in November with the OFC Stage 3 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers.

Fiji New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tahiti are all still harbouring ambitions of facing off with a South American nation at the end of next year, and gaining a ticket to Russia 2018.

Prior to the intercontinental play-off, the third stage will see two groups of three meet in a round-robin format, with the two group winners advancing to a single homeand-away series leaving just one Oceania nation standing.

Vanuatu and Samoa were eliminated in June’s OFC Nations Cup in a tournament which doubled as stage two qualifiers. New Zealand came out on top to earn a ticket to the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017. Samoa topped round one when they saw off Polynesian rivals American Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga back in September last year.

The action begins in French Polynesia on Monday, in one the world’s last time zones, as Tahiti host Solomon Islands, before match

the return six days later. New Zealand tackle New Caledonia on Saturday in Group A, before facing the same opponent again in Noumea just three days later. Fiji and Papua New Guinea will open their respective third stage fixtures next March.

New Zealand’s victory over New Caledonia in the semi-finals of the OFC Nations Cup was by a slim margin of just 1-0, and then they were forced into a penalty shoot-out in the tournament decider by Papua New Guinea.

Recent form suggests the side are starting to find their rhythm, with a 1-1 draw against USA and a 2-1 loss to Mexico show they’re not lagging too far behind the top sides. Their defensive record, in particular, is looking good with the side conceding just six goals in their last ten matches.

New Caledonia meanwhile remain one of the big challengers to New Zealand’s complete dominance in the region in recent times. The upcoming home-and-away

matches could prove pivitol in determining the group winner. Although Les Cagous have defeated New Zeealand just once in six previous World Cup encounters, the latter will be shaken by only just squeezing past their opponent in the semi-final.

A result in their opening match against host Tahiti will set Solomon Islands up well for the return leg in Honiara. Football is unquestionably the No.1 sport across the nation and Lawson Tama Stadium — the biggest among Pacific Island nations — will be filled to the brim for the visit of the Tahitians. The visitors have fond memories of the site, where they won the OFC Nations Cup back in 2012.

Papua New Guinea and Fiji sit this first round of matches out, although the OFC Nations Cup runners-up have lined up matches against 27th ranked Iran and Malaysia during the international window in order to prepare for the second round of matches in March 2017.

OFC Insider

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

The eighth edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will see Papua New Guinea not only host their first FIFA tournament, but also compete at a FIFA World Cup for the first time.

A total of 16 teams will be playing 32 games in the hopes of lifting the coveted trophy. The current holders are Germany who will be back to defend their title, along with the three remaining semi-finalists from 2014 – Nigeria, France and Korea DPR. Also competing will be Oceania champions New Zealand who qualified for the event in 2015 after winning the regional championship, scoring 69 goals and conceding none in the process.

As relative veterans of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with five previous appearances, it wasn’t until their last appearance in 2014 where New Zealand had their best run.

The side made it through to the quarter-finals for the first time before going down to eventual runners-up Nigeria 4-1.

Several key members of that squad will make their return including captain and Football Fern Meikayla Moore, Jasmine Pereira, Daisy Cleverley and Emma Rolston.

For Papua New Guinea marking their debut at a FIFA World Cup on home soil offers a unique opportunity.

The side has been preparing hard for this event and they hope to make their friends, family and fellow countrymen proud.

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup gets underway on 13 November with Papua New Guinea’s first match against Brazil at 7pm.

New Zealand will open their campaign 24 hours later against African side Ghana.

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DRIVEN FOR MOORE

Meikayla Moore has started almost a dozen senior international matches for New Zealand but her career highlight remains the briefest of cameos off the bench.

With Football Ferns captain Abby Erceg was controversially red carded in the dying sages of New Zealand’s must-win match against Colombia at the 2016 Olympics, coach Tony Readings called upon the 20-year-old to step into the breach and help protect the 1-0 score line with just injury time remaining.

“I think every chance I get to step on the field, whether it be from a substitution or given the opportunity to start is a real highlight for me,” said Moore.

“But coming on for Abby Erceg in a game at the Olympics when the decision was not what it should’ve been was a real eye-opener for me. Experiencing an Olympic match even if it was just a few minutes it was quite a big thing. We needed that win so for Tony to have faith in me to put me on in such an important match definitely was a highlight.”

Being able to call herself an Olympian was even sweeter for Moore who just 12 months before was all-but ruled out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup after rolling her ankle preparing for a warm

up match against Australia in Canada.

She stayed with the team but was never a realistic chance to get off the bench due to the injury.

“It was quite upsetting. The injury I sustained was when we were over there but before the tournament had begun. I sort of rolled it really badly in a training session and that put me out for the rest of the tournament. There was talk that I was going to be sent home but luckily I wasn’t.”

Moore is already three years into a senior international career that began with a debut in a win over China in September 2013.

Since then, the versatile defender blessed with height and pace, has racked up 20 caps but she acknowledges that the 11 starts within that number have come when one or more of the established and highly experienced back four of Abby Erceg, Ria Percival, Ali Riley and Rebecca Stott have been unavailable or rested.

That quartet may have over 400 caps between them but Moore – a former South Island age-group sprint champion

over 100m and 200m – is determined to overtake one of the four and claim a first choice spot between now and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, even if it means forcing someone else to fill a new position.

“Any position along the backline at the moment is pretty much settled and for the younger girls coming in, myself included, it’s a real challenge but it’s something that I’m willing to embrace and say I want to play there and I’m going to do my best to do so.

“There wouldn’t be a player in the Football Ferns that doesn’t want the best team playing and if your spot gets taken you take that on the chin and keep going.

“Ultimately being a first choice selection is where I want to get to. I want to get to that point where I have cemented my position in the starting squad.

“I’m still on the fringes and I’m still fighting at the moment, but at the end of the day that’s where I really want to be and I’ve got to step it up heading into these next three years before the World

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Cup in France and push for that starting position. I don’t want to be a benchwarmer for that tournament.”

Grabbing that challenge with both hands has seen Moore embrace increased responsibility within the Football Ferns and carry that through as captain of the New Zealand U-20s in her second World Cup campaign at that age-group.

“A few of the girls in the Ferns are looking at retirement now – they’ve been involved for 10 years or more so it’s at the stage where some of the younger players are needing to take an even bigger step into the team and play a more important role. When it comes to the players below us in younger age groups it means making sure we offload as much knowledge to them as we can and that’s what I’m trying to do in the U-20s – really set the standard within that environment.”

New Zealand face recognised powers USA and France as well as rising force Ghana in their group at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea and despite the tough task they have set their sights on at least repeating the effort of two years ago in Canada when they reached the quarterfinals.

“We probably do have the toughest pool but the draw has fallen in our favour having Ghana first, as it’s a chance for us to see how France and USA go against each other in their match.

“We don’t know much about Ghana so we’re going in a little blind, but having played against Nigeria in the quarterfinals last time I think I have a rough idea how Ghana might play.

“The girls have been working really hard and are really excited about this group– we have quite a bit of attacking force but we’re quite solid through our backline and midfield too.

It’s going to be a tough ask – every World Cup is, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. “ New Zealand begin their campaign against the African qualifiers on November 14 at PNG Football Stadium while hosts Papua New Guinea open their campaign a day earlier against Brazil at Sir Guise Stadium.

NATIONS

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T I F O T R A BE P

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Gabong relishing leadership role Learning to deal with pressure on the field and the expectations off it has all been part of the learning experience for Papua New Guinea’s Yvonne Gabong over the past 12 months.

As all eyes turn to Port Moresby and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Gabong and her teammates are not only dealing with the weight of stepping up as Papua New Guinea’s first side to feature in a FIFA tournament, but also with the fact it’s on home soil too.

For 19-year-old Gabong the challenge is being not only game-prepared, but mentally prepared.

“The USA tour was one of the best,” Gabong recalled of Papua New Guinea’s string of matches against university and high school opponents.

“I’ve learned to tackle the game when under pressure and cope when the intensity of the game was high.”

While it will be a challenge playing in front of the home crowd, it will also be an amazing opportunity for Gabong who gets to etch her name into PNG football history in front of friends and family.

“My dad, Alfred Gabong, is a former PNG representative player himself,” she said.

“One thing he always stressed to me is if you want to be a good player you must

be physically and mentally fit at all times.

“All my family are always supportive of me in my football career and have encouraged me to pursue my dream.

“I’m incredibly excited to be taking part in this historic event but also to have them watching is an absolute bonus.”

Gabong will captain the U-20 side and said it’s an unexpected honour and one she’s prepared to make the most of.

“I was nervous at first, but I know it’s a great honour so I am ready to take up the challenge to lead the team.

“Taking part in this competition is a dream coming true for us and I can’t wait to hear the national anthem played with PNG flags waving in the stands.”

It has been a long journey for the side who left their homes and families to go full-time into camp at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, where they also attended the local high school.

“Being in this camp with the U-20s has been a great honour for me because it’s a collection of the best U-20 players from Papua New Guinea.

“I’ve learned so much from being part

of the team – both in terms of football and friendships.”

Papua New Guinea open their campaign against heavyweights Brazil at Sir John Guise Stadium on Sunday 13 November, with matches against Sweden and Korea DPR also on the cards for them.

For Gabong it’s time to put what she’s been learning into action.

“I have so much respect for coach Lisa (Cole),” she said.

“I’ve learned so much from her but one common thing she usually stresses to us is to do the little things right when on the pitch because it will make a big difference in your game.

“That will be important for all of us to remember because we are playing against the best teams in the world.

“I’m really looking forward to getting the competition underway and just gaining more game experience.

“With less than a month to go before the kick off, I am nervous but excited at the same time because we are facing one of the best team in the world, Brazil in our first match.”

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OFC U-20 Championship

Vanuatu rocked by historic qualification When the final whistle blew on the OFC U-20 Championship semi-final between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands on 13 September the crowd erupted with understandable raw emotion.

The 2-1 victory for the hosts at Port Vila Stadium secured Vanuatu tickets to their first standalone FIFA tournament after Oceania was awarded two berths for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017.

The thousands of fans packing the stands, trees and streets in and around the stadium weren’t the only ones celebrating the historic occasion.

A mere 275km away in Luganville, Santo, the Vanuatu Football Federation President Lambert Maltock was quietly weeping in his hotel room.

“I must admit I broke into tears when I heard the people in the street of Luganville shout out loud, followed by the horns of cars and trucks with Vanuatu flags flying high, forming a queue,” Maltock recalls of that fateful afternoon.

The long-serving football administrator says his presence in Luganville was purposely planned so he wasn’t in Port Vila for Vanuatu’s semi-final.

“I planned to be in Santo so as not to watch this special match in person but rather so I could lock myself in my room and pray for my boys to win,” he said.

“I praised my God in tears for answering my prayers and the prayers of my people and nation.

“I shed tears because nobody ever believed we could qualify. I shed tears because for the first time I saw the full extent of the support there was for this humble young team – Government authorities, sponsors, fans, the whole nation was behind them.”

VFF Technical Director Peter Takaro explained just how long Vanuatu and its people had waited for this day to come.

“It is history made and huge for Vanuatu football,” Takaro said.

“VFF was founded in 1934 and joined FIFA in 1988. It took 84 years for Vanuatu to qualify to compete on the world stage.”

During the FIFA World Cup Brazil™ in 2014, Vanuatu had the second highest, behind Solomon Islands, Google search volume index for “World Cup” despite not having a team competing in the event.

They followed that up on the ground with impromptu street parades following wins from the teams they supported – Brazil, Spain and Germany among the popular nations.

So when they qualified for their first FIFA World Cup event it was always going to be a special moment, but for it to happen on home soil gave added weight to the historic occasion.

“When I decided to bid for the qualifier I knew for sure we would have a lot of support back on home soil to succeed,” Maltock said.

“Especially when it came to crowds in Port Vila as they are always very patriotic and proud of their talented young players.

“But to be honest I was humbled and overwhelmed by just how much support there was. It truly confirms my statement that Vanuatu is the maddest football nation in the Pacific,” he added.

Maltock added that he couldn’t be happier being President of VFF during

this rising in Vanuatu football as it rewarded his personal dedication to the game, as well as all those developing football across the nation.

“Indeed it is my personal reward after being involved in football for the last 38 years. I felt I wrote my personal history being the president when these boys qualified Vanuatu to FIFA’s prestigious world cup stage for the first time,” he said.

“I cannot be more proud of this achievement from everyone involved.”

Takaro said it is a well-earned reward for all those who have been involved in football development over the past decade.

“This success is, in reality, validation of the work the department has been doing over a period of eight years,” he explained.

“It all started when our football academy was established in 2009 and we started recruiting players into the programme.

“The U-20 squad is essentially the graduates of the third intake which would have been recruited in 2013.

“It means a lot to me in relation to the programmes VFF has accommodated and run so far. It is like justification that the challenges and hardships we have faced in all areas of the country’s football, especially football development, are worth it.”

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OFC U-20 Championship

Impressive debut for Bevan Myer Bevan couldn’t have asked for a better debut in the white shirt.

Not only was he New Zealand’s leading goal scorer at the 2016 OFC U-20 Championship, he was top scorer across all eight participating teams and was deemed the tournament’s best player.

A bit of a surprise for the young lad who this year left New Zealand shores to join the Nike Academy in England.

“Golden Ball was definitely a surprise and I thought there were a lot of people in our team that deserved it,” the modest Myer said.

“I was happy with the Golden Boot myself, but very happy to receive the Golden Ball as well.”

When it comes to giving his opinion of how his personal campaign went, Bevan is honest and also continues to stress teamwork as the key to success.

“When I was scoring goals I was happy, there were two I didn’t score though. But I think I’ve done well for my first time wearing the shirt.

“But like I’ve said there are a lot of boys that have helped me to get here, that helped me on the first day when I scored my hat-trick.

“It’s been a great team performance and experience with the boys.”

Bevan said overall the experience of making his New Zealand debut and playing in the Pacific region has been unforgettable.

“Obviously it’s the first time I’ve but on this jersey and hopefully I can continue and put it on again at the world cup, but it was awesome in Vanuatu, and in Port Vila for the final,” he said.

New Zealand played out the group stage of their OFC U-20 Championship campaign in Luganville, Santo and island in Vanuatu’s north.

Despite the small population the locals are fervent football fans and were more than happy to get behind all of the teams playing at Luganville Soccer City Stadium.

New Zealand had a strong following thanks to the U-17 squad which won the OFC U-17 Championship back in 2013, also under coach Darren Bazeley, so there were always New Zealand flags flying.

Bevan said the two locations – Luganville and Port Vila – were quite different places.

“They’re two completely different…I mean it’s crazy how different they are given they’re so close,” he explained.

“The crowd for the final was unbelievable. I mean we had thought they were big in Santo, but it was just unbelievable. It’s been a truly awesome experience.”

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FIFA Futsal World Cup

Solomon Islands capture hearts The rise of the Solomon Islands national futsal team is well documented in our part of the world, but for those in the Northern Hemisphere, and more specifically Colombia, it’s a new story.

So when it came to choosing a side to throw their support behind during the FIFA Futsal World Cup, the tale of the underdog made the Kurukuru an easy pick.

The side without a stadium qualified for their third successive world cup as the champions of Oceania in February and had a significant preparation period which included friendly matches against Australia and Brazil.

While captain Elliot Ragomo and teammate George Stevenson spent three months training with professional club side Minas in Brazil.

The OFC champions opened their world cup campaign against the CONCACAF champions Costa Rica with both teams struggling to find their flow initially.

An ill-disciplined streak looked like it could be the undoing of the Kurukuru as Costa Rica were handed two penalties, both of which were wasted. However the deadline was soon broken by two goals in quick succession.

After conceding a third goal, captain Ragomo slotted from the penalty spot, only for Costa Rica to score a fourth. Alvin Hou and Jeffery Bule combined to pull Solomon Islands back a goal but with just a minute left Jack Wetney fired a penalty wide to leave the score 4-2 in the CONCACAF champions’ favour.

Their next encounter was against Argentina, a side the Solomon Islanders were far from overawed by, providing a tough test for their South American opponents.

After Argentina opened the scoring, a defelected effort from Bule saw that lead wiped out. Two more classy strikes extended the lead to 3-1 before Coleman Makau pulled one back for Solomon Islands.

The Kurukuru were playing a high energy game and although Ragomo hit a fizzing free-kick to lift Solomon Islands and the crowd, their opponent’s superior ability began to tell.

After being defeated 7-3 by Argentina the third and final group match against Kazakhstan became a must-win for the Oceania side.

But after giving everything on the court in their opening two matches, Solomon Islands had little remaining in the tank when they took on the European side in Medellin.

Although they held out to finish the first half just 4-0 down, they fell to a heavy 10-0 defeat by the final whistle ending their hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase.

Despite the final score, the Pacific Islanders did have chances to find the net themselves with Alvin Hou going closest with a powerful long-range effort in the second half which struck the post.

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FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

Cultural elements add to adventure The New Zealand U-17 women’s team may have signed off early from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, but they did so in spectacular style, squeezing in cultural experiences between matches and making history for their country.

It was a bumpy start for Gareth Turnbull’s side, conceding five goals in their opening match against Mexico, but the team nearly made history when they put in the performance of their short lives in their next battle with 2014 runners-up Spain.

The young team held the score at 0-0 for 80 minutes but were unlucky to concede two late goals, securing the European heavyweights with a 2-0 win and ending New Zealand’s chance to progress.

“We had to give Spain the respect that they deserve because they’re a world-class football nation,” Turnbull said.

“We tried to be a threat when we had possession in transition, though not as much as we would have liked, and it was a really good effort for 80 minutes.

“It took a world-class goal to finally break our spirits and, Spain being the classy outfit they are, they probably deserved a second goal to be fair.”

Team manager Kelly Bolus was proud of both the women’s performance and their exceptional maturity after Spain ended their Jordan campaign.

“It’s a great group we have here; there are definitely no sulkers or prima donnas,” she said.

“Although they were exceptionally disappointed with what the Spain result represented, in terms of knocking us out, they were proud of the performance they’d given,” she added.

Despite entering the game denied of progressing into the next round, New Zealand left nothing on the field in their final battle against hosts Jordan, needing only five minutes to open up the scoring.

Hannah Blake charged down the left and put in a perfect low centre for Sam Tawharu, giving New Zealand an early advantage before Blake scored three goals of her own.

With a three-goal winning margin in the game’s final moments, the understanding between the duo paid off yet again as Blake played Tawharu in to tuck a well-placed effort away in the 90th minute, before Blake made it five in additional time.

The 5-0 outcome is New Zealand’s biggest ever win at any FIFA World Cup, surpassing the New Zealand U-20 Men’s 5-1 humbling of Myanmar on home soil last year.

“We were very happy to come away with the win and to score five goals is always pleasing – to be able to do it at a World Cup was very special for this group,” Turnbull said.

“Our style right throughout this campaign has been to try to be dangerous when we have the ball and I don’t think we did that enough against Spain.

“We wanted to get back to playing our style of football, which is about being effective with the ball.”

The squad returned to New Zealand sooner than they had hoped, but they did so with fond memories of Jordan and its people. Bolus believed that, while football remained their central focus, the players’ off-field experiences widened horizons and opened a few eyes.

“It has been good to give them an appreciation of the country they’re visiting, and going to the Dead Sea and Petra has definitely changed some of the pre-conceived views about what Jordan would be like,” Bolus said.

“Petra was obviously a highlight. It’s quite a long journey from

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Amman but well worth it, and our girls are fantastic when it comes to amusing themselves. It would have been nice to have even longer there as it’s such a wonderful place. But they still had some time to appreciate the beauty of it, wander around, ride a camel and do some haggling with the local sellers,” Bolus said.

Their overall experience in Jordan was not only educational for each player, but

also provided an opportunity for them all to bond as a team, something that could prove invaluable as the players continue together through development programmes and international football.

“To come to a place like this with a bunch of girls, thanks to playing the game we love – it’s pretty awesome,” said goalkeeper Anna Leat.

“We’ve been together for a while now

and the girls have really bonded. We always have a good laugh together,” forward Tawharu continued.

Now back home, some members of the squad will soon represent New Zealand again at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup kicking off in Papua New Guinea on 13 November, while the rest are currently in action for their respective federations in the New Zealand National Women’s League.

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OFC Education Centre More than a football academy

When you hear the words Football Academy, the mind immediately leaps to notions of living and breathing football 24/7.

So when brainstorming an academylike programme to be based in Auckland and bringing together a group of footballers from across Oceania to be involved there was a reluctance to name the project an “academy”.

Because what has been created is more than just football.

The OFC Education Centre – powered

by AIA offers the opportunity to focus on football development, but also puts a strong emphasis on personal development and education.

The pilot group consists of players representing Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Fiji who are all enrolled in One Tree Hill College for their schooling, while participating in daily sessions with the head coach of the programme, Phillip Pickering-Paker.

Pickering-Parker said in the seven weeks they’ve had the boys in the centre he had already witnessed a major shift in them.

“The most significant developments we have seen in the boys has been in their social identity.

“When they got into New Zealand they were very, very shy boys,” PickeringParker said.

“Over the last seven weeks they have developed a squad culture that appreciates each other’s cultural backgrounds.

“Across the group the level of English ranges from fluent to limited and for those in the latter category, the language of football is increasing their vocabulary and that has made a difference in terms of their integration into their new environment.”

If he had to pick just one player who he has seen take incredible strides before his eyes, Pickering-Parker doesn’t hesitate.

“They all have changed in one way or another, however the most significant change I have witnessed is with Albert from Vanuatu,” he said.

“Upon arrival Albert was totally introverted and too shy to talk in front of the group. Now he is very much the joker and has the confidence to ask questions and converse with the other boys openly.”

Pickering-Parker is well known in football circles as the former Technical Director of Coerver Coaching, a globally recognised player skills programme.

He has a longstanding relationship with OFC and this year he took up the role of Coach Mentor for the Tonga Football Association, working closely on football development with technical director Kilifi Uele.

“I have had a long standing relationship with OFC and work a lot in the Maori and Pasifika football development space across New Zealand,” he said of how he came to be involved in this project.

“This was a natural and exciting progression for me which I’m very grateful in getting.”

While Pickering-Parker focuses on the learning experience for his player athletes, it has also been an eye-opening experience for the coach too.

“Through working with these boys probably something I’ve learned is refined patience and a deeper awareness of the students’ cultural backgrounds,” he said.

“They’ve allowed me into their hearts and minds so for them to trust me in this way has been humbling.

“I actually do a lot of work in female football so to work with 15 to 17-year-old boys was unnerving at first, but we have all embraced the opportunity to develop our personal selves and values alongside each other.”

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Tukia relishing opportunities Tongan student-athlete Viliami Tukia has the same dreams as any young footballer – to be a professional.

However he’s also realistic about the prospects for players coming from the Pacific and is also planning a back-up career as a lawyer should his sporting dream not come to fruition.

“I was very surprised to learn I had the scholarship in the first place,” the young U-17 international said.

“There were some other really good players in our national U-17 team so I was a little bit shocked.

“But I think I deserved it. When I started playing soccer, from the first tour we did in 2014 there was talk of a scholarship and I was dying to get it.

“It didn’t happen for a couple of years but coach Phil told us in June this year that there would be a scholarship, but that there would be just one.”

Tukia admitted he didn’t perform well at the OFC U-17 Championship Preliminary in Samoa, which is part of the reason he thought he wouldn’t be in the running to attend the OFC Education Centre.

However he said when he saw Tonga Football Association CEO Lui Aho standing at the airport on his return to Tonga waiting to offer him the scholarship, he started to understand it was about more than just football.

“It showed that they weren’t just choosing me for my soccer skills, but for education too. In our team I’m one of the best at school and passed all my exams,” he said.

“How our coach Phill (Pickering-Parker) explains the programme, he always says it’s the first ever programme that does not only do football, but education to.

“It’s one of the most important things and that’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

A staunch Tongan, Tukia said it wasn’t until he arrived in New Zealand that he really started to understand the four values that every Tongan is instilled with.

“Back in Tonga we have the four cultural values – respect, humility, maintaining good relationships and loyalty,” he explained.

“Every Tongan has to have that and when I came here the encouragement of my parents was to always remember my identity as a Tongan.

“So the biggest difference for me has been getting better in those, living by my Tongan values but in the New Zealand environment.”

While adjusting to a new culture might be difficult for some,

Tukia said the multi-cultural New Zealand landscape means it is quite easy to integrate.

“New Zealand is very Pacific, there’s a lot of Pacific Islanders here so there are elements which are similar to back in Tonga.

Attitudes, a similar lifestyle – the differences are just small things.”

He said the biggest change relates, as it does for many Pacific Islanders, to his stomach.

“The food here is different. I’m living with a Chinese host family as well so it’s been a big change – rice every day,” he laughed.

Although he can’t do much about dinner, Pickering-Parker can definitely be credited with helping the group find their feet in a new and exciting environment.

“Coach Phil was there from day one for me,” Tukia said.

“When we first came in 2014 I met him but we didn’t get to know him very well. Over the years we have seen more of him especially after he became the coach mentor in Tonga.

“He is very encouraging. He’s not just teaching us on the field but in the changing room too. He is always talking to us about how we should act, what we should do.

“We always start our training with a prayer, and finish it with a prayer and you know, that’s the Tongan side I see in him.”

Tukia’s confidence, like that of his new friends and teammates, is growing every day and he credits the OFC Education Centre – powered by AIA for that.

“I don’t remember the day I first played football but I have faith this sport, and my education will take me anywhere in the world,” he said.

“I’m working hard on both of those, constantly developing and learning.”

24 OFC Insider

OFC Coaching Pathway

The opportunities for coaches across the Pacific are expanding thanks to a comprehensive OFC Coaching Pathway which is steadily improving the knowledge and experience of coaches.

The third regional OFC B Licence Part 1 recently concluded in Auckland, New Zealand and the first OFC/NZF A Licence Part 2 is scheduled to take place in December, giving an indication of the number of coaches in the region keen to take things to the next level.

There are three coaches, Kilifi Uele of Tonga, the Cook Islands’ Tuka Tisam and Ravinesh Kumar from Fiji who can boast having followed the coaching pathway from beginning to end as they get set to complete their A Licences at the end of the year.

OFC Head of Education Giovani Fernandes said the presence of this trio in the OFC/NZF A Licence is evidence that development is a priority for Member Associations.

“Producing good football players is about more than just teaching them the skills required to play,” he explains.

“It’s about providing an environment that promotes development across the board and that includes coaches who understand the abilities and needs of their players.

“That involves looking internally, at themselves and their values, beliefs and goals, in order to be in the best possible place to start working with the players and their needs.”

Vanuatu Football Federation women’s football development officer Joel Rarua has just begun the B Licence process and said he could immediately see where the advanced content could help him improve his coaching.

“The most challenging part of the course is trying to identify what I’m supposed to be doing for the players to learn from me as a coach,” Rarua explained.

“We discussed knowing who I really am and where I need to progress. This is more about my personality and leadership skills and working on integrating them in order to improve football.”

Being able to identify weaknesses and strengths within yourself is one part of the

process that Samoan B Licence candidate Leti Tamasese struggled with as she also had to deal with being completely out of her comfort zone.

“Being one of the few women taking part in this coaching course was so uncomfortable for me,” Tamasese said.

“I’m used to an environment where it is all women, but being surrounded by guys with the knowledge.

“In our country often they underestimate us so for me it’s hard to sit in the room with me and feel like an equal,” she continued.

“It’s intimidating. And that has been one of the biggest challenges for me and something I’ve had to really work on as I’m not really an outgoing person.”

While personal development is important on this course, the focus remains football.

Tamasese said the learning she has taken away from the course is immense.

“Before I came I knew a little about football and coaching, but I’ve really learnt a lot of new things on this course.

“It makes me really positive for the future and especially for moving women’s football in Samoa forward.”

Part B of the OFC/NZF A Licence will take place in Auckland, New Zealand from 27 November to 4 December 2016.

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UPCOMING EVENTS COMPETITIONS Oceania Stage 3 of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers 7-15 November // Tahiti, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, New Caledonia FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 13 November – 3 December // Papua New Guinea FIFA Club World Cup 8-18 December // Japan OFC Champions League Qualifier 28 January – 4 February // Tonga OFC U-17 Championship 11-24 February // Tahiti Oceania Stage 3 of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers 20-28 March // New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 27 April – 7 May // Bahamas FIFA U-20 World Cup 20 May – 11 June // Korea Republic FIFA Confederations Cup 17 June – 2 July // Russia Oceania Stage 3 of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers 5-13 June // Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia FIFA U-17 World Cup 6-28 October // India *All dates correct at the time of publication

NOTICES The last OFC Executive Committee meeting of the year will take place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 1 December.

A FIFA Forward Development Programme Seminar will be held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 1-2 December ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final.

The OFC/NZF A Licence Part will be held from 27 November to 4 December in Auckland, New Zealand.

OFC Deputy General Secretary Sarai Bareman will take up her new role as FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer on 14 November.