OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014

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OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
ANZ Stadium, Suva
May 23 – 31
AMERICAN SAMOA · FIJI · NEW CALEDONIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA · SOLOMON ISLANDS · VANUATU
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
MESSAGE FROM THE OFC PRESIDENT DAVID CHUNG
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH SCHEDULE
Date
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the
OFC U-20 Championship Fiji 2014, featuring the
best players the Pacific has to offer.
Six teams are taking part in the event this year
— American Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua
New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu — and
it promises to be more keenly contested than ever
before.
At stake is a qualifying berth at next year’s FIFA
U-20 World Cup with New Zealand already involved
as hosts.
There lies before the competing teams in Suva
a unique opportunity to join the very best teams in
the world in this age-bracket for the first time with
Oceania claiming two spots at this event.
Indeed the last time a team from Oceania other
than Australia or New Zealand qualified for this
prestigious tournament was five years ago when
Tahiti journeyed to Egypt, taking on Spain, Nigeria
and Venezuela.
The effect such success can have on a member
association is profound and there is no doubt
that with a year’s lead-in to the FIFA U-20 World
Cup, our champion representative will enjoy rich
possibilities both on and off the pitch for the growth
of football in their country.
OFC’s future depends on the development of
our youth and we must encourage as many young
people as possible to play our wonderful sport and
lead healthy lifestyles. Football offers a possible
career path for the most talented players but it
remains a powerful tool for social development and
we believe it is a responsibility of OFC to make best
use of this facet of the world’s most popular game.
Good luck to all the teams involved in the OFC
U-20 Championship Fiji 2014 and I trust that each
match will be played in the spirit of fair play. My
gratitude and compliments to all participants,
member associations and volunteers for their
application and hard work in helping make this
tournament a success.
Time
Home
Away
23/05/14
14.30
American Samoa
Fiji
23/05/14
17.00
Vanuatu
New Caledonia
23/05/14
19.30
Solomon Islands
Papua New Guinea
25/05/14
14.30
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
25/05/14
17.00
Papua New Guinea
American Samoa
25/05/14
19.30
Fiji
New Caledonia
27/05/14
14.30
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
27/05/14
17.00
New Caledonia
Solomon Islands
MESSAGE FROM THE FIJI FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT RAJESH PATEL
27/05/14
19.30
American Samoa
Vanuatu
29/05/14
14.30
Solomon Islands
American Samoa
29/05/14
17.00
Vanuatu
Fiji
29/05/14
19.30
Papua New Guinea
New Caledonia
31/05/14
14.30
New Caledonia
American Samoa
31/05/14
17.00
Papua New Guinea
Vanuatu
31/05/14
19.30
Fiji
Solomon Islands
The stage is set for the OFC U-20 Championship
which will be staged from May 23-31 at the ANZ
Stadium in Suva. Fiji, recently hosted the OFC
Champions League group stages which saw the
best players and clubs from around the Oceania
region on our shores. This event proved to be
a successful one and I’m sure there will be no
exception with the U-20s.
On this note I would like to show my gratitude to
Oceania Football Confederation for considering Fiji
as the host venue for the U-20 Championship for
the second consecutive year. To the participating
teams, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa,
Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu —
welcome to the friendly islands and we hope you
will enjoy your stay.
I can assure you all that no team will lack
support at the OFC U-20 Championship. The various
Pacific Islander communities based in Suva have
turned out in huge numbers during the past events
held here and no doubt they will be out in full force
again this year.
Venue for all games: ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji
Yours in football,
David Chung
OFC President
FIFA Vice-President
The race is on for the lone 2015 FIFA U-20 World
Cup spot. I really want our Fiji side to do well and
earn us our first ever FIFA World Cup age group
qualification — something we have waited on for
many years. Nonetheless every team is gunning for
a spot in the FIFA U-20 World Cup and will be very
well prepared.
All the best to the teams and we will just have
to wait and see who comes out on top when the
dust settles at ANZ Stadium in Suva come May 31,
2014. There will be a winner and a loser but it is
important that we support whichever team qualifies
for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand as we
are all working towards taking our region to greater
heights. With these words I thank you and I look
forward to a successful OFC U-20 Championship.
Rajesh PATEL
Fiji Football Association President
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP NEW ZEALAND 2015
Bringing some of the world’s emerging young talents down
under in 2015 is the FIFA U-20 World Cup which is being
hosted by New Zealand.
FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 // the Trophy Tour
Can’t wait for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to hit
New Zealand shores? Get into the football spirit
by following the FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner’s
Trophy as it travels the length and breadth of the
nation in the lead up.
The trophy arrived on New Zealand shores in the
hands of a legend — Oceania Footballer of the
Century Wynton Rufer.
At sunrise on the morning of 5 May, a 30-paddler
waka moved silently across the
bay before landing at the sacred Waitangi Treaty
grounds.
The 2015 edition will be the 20th incarnation
of the tournament which in the past has seen
future stars find their place on the world stage.
Previously the event has been bolstered by the
presence of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Andres
Iniesta and the most recent edition saw Paul
Pogba from France listed as a future star.
From Whangarei in the north to Dunedin in the
south, people from all around the country can get
involved in their regions, while for visiting fans
the spread out nature of the event gives them a
chance to follow their favourite side while taking
in some of the picturesque scenery New Zealand
has become famed for.
In the 19 tournaments held to date, just nine
nations have taken home the honours. Argentina
remain the most successful side with six titles
followed by Brazil with five. Portugal have taken
home the trophy twice, while Ghana, Germany,
Spain, France and formerly existing nations
Soviet Union and Yugoslavia have won the title
once each.
The draw sees each venue take on a group, with
one final match in each group being played in
a different host city. The round of 16 is spread
around the cities before the quarter-finals head
to the countries bigger centres of Christchurch,
Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington.
Just 24 of the world’s best nations will appear at
the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 and New Zealand
have automatically qualified as hosts of the event
which is being held from 30 May to 20 June
2015.
This leaves a spot open to Oceania’s regional
champion, with the side which emerges
triumphant from the OFC U-20 Championship
ready to take that berth.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup will bring a bit of
footballing history to all corners of the nation,
with seven different cities earning hosting rights.
The semi-finals are split between Auckland in
the North Island and Christchurch in the South
Island, before the final action takes place at
North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
Awaiting the arrival of the trophy were
ambassadors of the tournament former All
Whites Andy Boyens and Mike McGarry, as well
as distinguished guests and several of the young
men who could be lining up for the Junior All
Whites including Wellington Phoenix players Matt
Ridenton and Alex Rufer.
“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to do
this — to hold such a special trophy in my hands
and bring it to our shores for an official welcome
is a real honour,” Rufer says.
From that sacred starting point the trophy will
travel to 50 different locations all over New
Zealand from schools to sports clubs and
shopping malls — all as part of the countdown
to the world’s second largest men’s football event
on the planet.
The trophy was on display when OFC U-20
Championship participants Fiji and Papua New
Guinea played international friendlies against
their New Zealand counterparts. Getting so close
to the trophy they hope to be playing for come
this time next year, could just be the motivating
factor which gets these sides over the line during
this week’s qualifying tournament.
The tour will conclude with One Year to Go
celebrations on Friday, 30 May with major events
planned in Auckland and Wellington. Capping off
the day’s celebrations is an international friendly
match between the All Whites and South Africa at
Mt Smart Stadium that night.
For more information on the FIFA U-20 World Cup
2015, visit: fifa.com/nz2015
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
FIJI
Coach Ravinesh Kumar along with the Fiji Football Association technical
team headed by Juan Carlos Buzzetti will not settle for anything less than
a berth at the FIFA U-20 World Cup come the end of May.
AMERICAN SAMOA
Tournament minnows American Samoa may have a definitive role
to play in the outcome of the OFC U-20 Championship as they aim
to deliver five solid performances in Suva.
Coach Rupeni Luvu’s ambitions for this tournament may
differ markedly to his counterparts with qualification for the
FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 a difficult summit
to reach but expect the tournament underdogs to cause a
hiccup for opponents along the way.
American Samoa’s first taste of competition at this level in
1998 was a traumatic one, after they lost all three group
matches without scoring a goal while shipping 46 to
Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Vanuatu.
But their most recent adventure at this level in 2011 showed
improvement with American Samoa scoring two goals,
one each against Fiji and Vanuatu, despite losing all three
matches in Auckland.
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2
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23
Frederick MAIVA (GK)
Johnny SIONE
Neemia KALEOPA
Paul COLLINS
Paia IPINIU
Sam KOME
Rueben LUVU
Rafael ROCHA
Ryan PAAGA
Sinisa TUA
Faiai KERISIANO
Kaleopa SILIGI
Fala LEVAULA
Tokilupelekina AFU
David ALO
Lotupo LAMETA
Henry LAMETA
Tokoita VAIELI
Sione Haisila MOEAKI (GK)
Coach: Rupeni LUVU (ASA)
Fiji finished runners-up in the last OFC U-20 Championship
behind New Zealand, who gains an automatic entry as
host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup next year.
Numerous months of preparation backed with a solid six
match tour of New Zealand should strengthen the side
further as it aims to become the first Fijian side to qualify
for a FIFA world event.
The likes of Kolinio Sivoki, Narendra Rao, Praneel Naidu,
Setareki Hughes and Jale Dreloa - who captained the last
Fiji U-20 team - are part of the side that brings a wealth of
experience gained in the Fiji National Football League.
Fiji have come close to qualifying in previous editions and
this is one opportunity that the Fiji Football Association
and their fans do not want to see pass them by.
This will be the third consecutive time that coach Ravinesh
Kumar will be guiding the Fiji U-20 side at this level. Under
his watchful eye Fiji finished fourth in 2011, second in
2013 and with home advantage likely to boost motivation
further, who knows how far they may go this year.
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2
3
4
5
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7
8
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10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Nairube MISIWANI (GK)
Praneel NAIDU
Ganish PRASAD
Jale DRELOA
Antonio TUIVANA
Mohammed Shuiad KHAN
Nickel CHAND
Setareaki Waqanitoga HUGHES
Samuela NIABENIA
Junior Narendra RAO
Josefa KOROI
Ratu Tevita WARANAIVALU
Mataisi TOMA
Ravnit Shelvin CHAND
Saula Matayalo WAQA
Jonetani Nalulu BUKSH
Kolinio Vakarauvanua SIVOKI
Al-Taaf Mansoor SAHIB
Ashnil Kumar RAJU
Shaneel NAIDU (GK).
Coach: Ravinesh KUMAR (FIJ)
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
NEW CALEDONIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Coach Kamali Fitialeata has assembled a strong side more than capable
of challenging for the title. With almost half the squad graduating from
the 2013 U-17 team which finished runners-up to New Zealand, the
Caledonians are sure to pose an ominous threat to their opponents.
Papua New Guinea enter the OFC U-20 Championship with aspirations of
qualifying for their first ever FIFA world event under the watchful eye of
coach and former All Whites and Werder Bremen striker Wynton Rufer.
Back from his first year with the Sheffield United youth
team midfielder Mickael Partodikromo will be savouring
his return to the region. The Asia Pacific Football
Academy graduate is an excellent technician both on and
off the ball.
Partodikromo proved his worth in Vanuatu emerging as
a capable leader for the team and he will no doubt be
looking to take on a similar role in Fiji.
The midfield combination with Partodikromo and Jim
Ouka will be strong providers for Valentin Nykeine — the
quick, agile finisher up front. While in the back, glove
man Thomas Schmidt will prove crucial to the side’s
success once again, as will defenders Didier Simane and
Theo Jalabert if the Caledonians hope to shut down the
threat posed by the athletic Fijians and tricky Solomon
Islanders.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
Yoran WAIMA (GK)
Brandon MEAOU
Jordy KAUSUO
Pierre KAUMA
Theo JALABERT
Jorys LALIE
Jim OUKA
Mickael PARTODIKROMO
Raphael OIREMOIN
Joseph ATHALE
Valentin NYKEINE
Didier SIMANE
Eugene SAKILIA
Frederic NEMIA
Johan IDRELE
Jacky WETEWEA
Jacky WEINANE
Marion WARU
Thomas SCHMIDT (GK)
Josue WATHIEPEL.
Coach: Kamali FITIALEATA (NCL)
The side possesses plenty of raw talent and after an
intensive two week preparatory camp at the OFC Academy
in Auckland and a series of warm-up matches with New
Zealand U-17 and U-20 selections, Papua New Guinea may
be a surprise packet in Suva.
Rufer has assembled a solid backroom team that consists
of Milan Miric and former Papua New Guinea international
striker Reggie Davani. On the field, Papua New Guinea
look to emerging talents from their U-17 Class of 2013 for
inspiration, with no less than 9 of last year’s fledgling side
graduating to the U-20 set-up.
Keep an eye on strikers Peter Dabinyaba and Randol Bongi,
or for a more creative bent, Maya Bob, Nigel Malagian and
Steven Inia. Papua New Guinea’s highest ever ranking in
this tournament is third, a placing they achieved in 1982,
some 32 years ago.
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4
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14
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20
Koniel VAGI (GK)
Abel REDENUT
Jonel KAMBUAL
Ayrton YAGAS
Rodger SAKING
Dirik KOMOLONG
Issac LALO
Joshua TALAU
Papalau AWELE
Steve INIA
Peter DABINYABA
Gibson JIMMY (GK)
Maya BOB
Freddy TUPANI
Nicky BENJAMIN
Randol BONGI
Ferdahlas NAMUESH
Danny KEVIN
Frederick SIMONGI
Nigel MALAGIAN
Coach: Wynton RUFER (NZL)
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
VANUATU
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Competition dark horses, Solomon Islands U-20 participate at the OFC
U-20 Championship at a crucial time in the history of the game for their
country, as they seek to qualify for a FIFA world event away from either
the futsal or beach soccer pitch for the first time.
To do so, they’ll need to go one better than their previous
best runners-up finish in 1993 when they split Australia
and New Zealand on the podium. Coached by former
Sydney United and Solomon Islands international striker
Commins Menapi, the Solomon Islands outfit features four
players from Malaita Kingz, four from Western United and
two — strikers Atkin Kaua and Obed Kevin — from New
Zealand club, Nelson FC.
Defender Simon Daoi was part of Solomon Warriors
extended squad for the OFC Champions League, while
tricky midfield pair, Edmond Taevo and Brett Handy
Honisawa, are plucked straight off the seemingly endless
conveyor belt of local futsal talent. Another string to the
bow is the inclusion of Gideon Omokirio to Menapi’s
backroom team.
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Philip MANGO (GK)
Rollence MISITANA
Simon DAOI
Loea Erekona LEMIX
Misitana SAMANI
Alffie CHACHA
Edmond TAEVO
Joachim KAIRI
Dunstan QUANAFIA JNR
Jared RONGOSULIA
Herrick LAUTALO
Obed KEVIN
Fred BALA
Atkin KAUA
Leslie RAMO
Timothy BUNABO JNR
Brett HONISAWA
Allen PETER
Timothy BAKALE
James DO’ORO (GK)
Coach: Commins MENAPI (SOL)
As graduates of Vanuatu’s successful Teouma Academy programme
this Vanuatu side shows promise beyond a doubt.
Graduating with the majority of the squad from the 2013
OFC U-17 Championship is coach Etienne Mermer who
is looking to improve on a third place finish to take that
Oceania berth in New Zealand in 2015.
Like a number of their counterparts Vanuatu have been
building up to this competition for some time and the work
with these players has been ongoing. Several of them turned
out for Tafea FC in the recent OFC Champions League, and
against some of the region’s best players, held their weight
and left a lasting impression. One of them being Bong Kalo
who showed pace and skills to leave some experienced
defenders in his wake.
Kalo is expected to once again be a playmaker from the
middle with the likes of Jacky Ruben and Ruben Frank
slotting into the side as attacking threats.
In the back, Jaison Thomas will be a holding force with
Goshen Dona, Elie Melte Rossi and Remy Kalsrap on hand
for back-up.
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24
Charlie WAIVUI (GK)
Jaison THOMAS
Goshen DONA
Alphonse LENCY
Joseph IARUEL
Remy KALSRAP
Elie MELTE ROSSI
Justin KOKA
Tony KALTACK
Bong KALO
Alex SANIEL
Andre BULE
Ruben FRANK
Kersom KALSONG
Etienne NAIEU
Jacky RUBEN
Sam IWAI
Kerry IAWAK
Renold IWAI
Ricky DICK (GK)
Coach: Etienne MERMER (VAN)
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
Officials unveiled for
OFC U-20 Championship
The list of match officials who will officiate at the
OFC U-20 Championship Fiji 2014 brings together
a diverse group representative of the region’s top
talent.
With six competing nations jostling for a ticket to
the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015, the
match officials have an equally difficult task in front
of them.
This year’s tournament introduces three new faces
at this level of competition with Fiji’s Ravitesh
Behari, Papua New Guinea’s Albert Maru and
George Time from the Solomon Islands making
their OFC U-20 debuts.
The newcomers find experienced hands to turn to
with Tahiti’s Averii Jacques and Bruce George from
Vanuatu having already experienced this level of
the competition in the past, Averii appearing at the
2007 and 2011 editions and Bruce George, 2011.
Match officials for the
OFC U-20 Championship
REFEREES
Robinson BANGA
Ravitesh BEHARI
Bruce GEORGE
Averii JACQUES
Albert MARU
Nelson SOGO
George TIME
Vanuatu
Fiji
Vanuatu
Tahiti
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Roger ADAMS
Paul AHUPU
Jeremy GARAE
Folio MOEAKI
Avinesh NARAYAN
Johnny Erick NIABO
Terry PIRI
Sione TEU
Papua New Guinea
Tahiti
Vanuatu
Tonga
Fiji
Solomon Islands
Cook Islands
Tonga
REFEREE ASSESSORS
Balran NAIR
Fiji
Raimana TAUOTAHA Tahiti
Tevita VEA
Tonga
OFC MASCOT COMPETITION
OFC is stepping into new territory as it launches a OFC Mascot
Competition through its Just Play Programme, with partners UNICEF
and the Australian Sports Commission.
For OFC Head of Social Responsibility and
International Relations Franck Castillo it is an idea
that has been on the cards for a while and he’s
incredibly pleased it has finally come to fruition.
“I think it’s good to have one symbol in an
organisation and for us, because social
responsibility is important and we all believe
football is more than just a game, we have
decided a mascot is one way of representing all
the social values of the organisation,” he says.
The OFC Mascot Competition opened to all Just
Play participating schools around the Pacific,
with each school invited to submit one entry to
their country’s Just Play Project Manager.
A panel in each Member Association, linking with
the respective education department, will shortlist
two designs which will then be forwarded to OFC,
UNICEF and the Australian Sports Commission
to decide a top three — with the first-placed
concept winning a desktop computer thanks to
UNICEF.
Entries will be judged on their creativity, usability
and relevance — and how it reflects the Pacific
region being a major factor.
“We want people to be able to easily identify with
the mascot as a representative of our region,
our cultures and our values, while also taking
into account that OFC is a football organisation,”
Castillo says.
All entries were forwarded to the Just Play
department in each Member Association on
Monday, 12 May and have since been sent on to
the judging panel.
The final reveal will be announced at the official
OFC website: www.oceaniafootball.com
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2014
OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP
– 40 years of vibrancy and excitement
The OFC U-20 Championship will be held at ANZ Stadium in Suva from May
23 to 31 with the participating teams being hosts Fiji, American Samoa, New
Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
All six teams will compete for OFC’s second
qualification spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup
New Zealand 2015, set to be held from May 30
to June 20 next year.
The teams will play each other once in a round
robin tournament based on a league system with
the team that finishes top of the table qualifying
for New Zealand 2015.
The OFC U-20 Championship was first held
in Tahiti in 1974 when the hosts became the
inaugural champions. Tahiti faced a long wait
for their second title, which they picked up on
home soil in 2008, but did not get the chance
to defend it as they were not involved in the
2011 tournament. Hosts New Zealand took full
advantage of the champions’ absence to earn
their fourth continental crown at U-20 level.
Since that first championship 40 years ago, the
tournament has been held another 18 times,
making this the 20th edition of the Pacific’s
premier event for U-20 players. It has been held
at various intervals in the past but now takes
place once every two years to find OFC’s qualifier
for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Australia (which left OFC for the Asian Football
Confederation in 2006) and New Zealand have
dominated the competition since its inception,
Australia earning 12 title wins to New Zealand’s
five. The only team to break that stranglehold has
been Tahiti with its pair of triumphs, although
Fiji have finished runners-up on five occasions,
and Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands have also
featured in the top placings.