Courtesy: Oceania Football


Hosts have experience on their side

Coach Initiaz Khan has named an experienced line-up as hosts Fiji look to go one better than last year's runners-up placing and win the OFC Futsal Championship this month.

The 12-member squad was announced at Fiji Football Association headquarters in Suva this afternoon and there were few surprises in a group Khan hopes will earn the country a place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.

The most notable ommision is that of Roy Krishna, who has been named as a non-travelling reserve. The speedy striker plays the outdoor version of the game for New Zealand national champions Waitakere United and is regarded as one of the best players in the Oceania region. He made his debut on the court at last year's event but missed the later stages of the summer season in New Zealand due to a dislocated wrist.

Key figure Kamal Hassan remains in the side, while Uraia Loki, Ajesh Narayan, Aisea Codro, Ratu Dugucagi, Levi Tawake, Shivam Nathan and Mira Sahib also return after being involved in last year's campaign.

Emori Ragata and Sandeep Nair have made it back after missing out last year because of injury while Rajnesh Raju and Eron Underwood are set to make their debuts.

Joining Krishna as non-travelling reserves are Petero Dauniseka and Joseph Mishra.

Khan says his players are focused on the challenging task that lies ahead of them from May 16 to 20 at Suva's Vodafone Arena.

"We have been training hard for the past few weeks and I would like to thank the players who have showed commitment," he says. "I faced a major problem of not getting the full compliment of players I wanted to work with but those who have put their hands up look keen and I'm sure we will be able to field a good side."

Fiji have been drawn in Group A with Kiribati, New Zealand and Vanuatu while Group B contains Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tahiti and New Caledonia. Fiji have hosted the annual event since 2008 and have finished second to the Solomon Islands for the last two editions.

The winner of this year's tournament will go on to represent Oceania at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.

Fiji squad for OFC Futsal Championship

1. Emori RAGATA (GK), 2. Hussain SAHIB, 3. Sandeep NAIR, 4. Shivam NATHAN, 5. Ajesh NARAYAN, 6. Rajnesh RAJU, 7. Aisea CODRO, 8. Ratu DUGUCAGI, 9. Kamal HASSAN, 10. Uraia LOKI, 11. Eran UNDERWOOD, 12. Levi TAWAKE (GK)

Non-travelling reserves: Petero DAUNISEKA, Joseph MISHRA, Roy KRISHNA

Coach: Intiaz KHAN
Manager: Malvin ANAND
Head of delegation: Anil SHARMA




Courtesy: Oceania Football


O-League Golden Boot takes to court

Defenders at this month's OFC Futsal Championship in Fiji will have to contend with one of the most potent attacking weapons in the Pacific after Vanuatu coach Jean Yves Galinie named Amicale star Fenedy Masauvakalo in his 12-man squad.

The striker picked up the 2011 O-League Golden Boot for his seven strikes as Amicale made it all the way to a final showdown with New Zealand's Auckland City in April.

But he is yet to pull on the colours of Vanuatu on a futsal court and can't wait to get over the disappointment of that aggregate loss to Auckland by firing his country to success from May 16 to 20 at Vodafone Arena in Suva.

"I am very happy to have been selected to play for Vanuatu in an OFC futsal competition for the first time," he says.

"I have already played for the national team, the national beach soccer team and Amicale and am looking forward to adding futsal to that list. I will try to do my best and will hopefully score a few goals."

If he can manage to find the net on a regular basis, those goals will be of great importance as the stakes at this year's OFC Futsal Championship are high.

The tournament is now an annual occurence but the 2011 edition carries extra significance as the winner will qualify to represent Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup Thailand 2012.

With that in mind, Galinie was particularly careful about making his selections.

"It has not been easy to find the right players to play for Vanuatu but I have needed to work closely with my team manager Glen de Sonneville to identify the right men who can perform well in Fiji this time. Last year, we lost heavily against Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Zealand and we don't want to repeat the same story. That's why we have picked three quality outdoor players in the squad."

Joining Masauvakalo in making the switch from the grass to the court are Amicale team mate Chickau Mansale, who is likely to be the preferred goalkeeper, and Tafea defender Fredy Vava.

Vanuatu have been drawn in Group A with Kiribati, Fiji and New Zealand and Galinie says his charges must not drop their guard at any time.

"We cannot afford to under-estimate anyone," he says. "We are playing away from home and everyone will want to beat us. We must all work hard and our aim is to advance to the semi-final."

Vanuatu squad for OFC Futsal Championship

1. Chickau MANSALE (GK), 2. Junior MALAS, 3. Fredy VAVA, 4. Louis DOMINIQUE, 5. Ben HUNGAI, 6. Ricky TUIGALOA, 7. Jacky JOHN, 8. Lui SIFAS, 9. Jack VIRA ALA, 10. Don MANSALE, 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 16. Benji WOTU (GK)

Coach: Jean-Yves GALINE
Assistant coach: Ben EDWARD
Manager: Glen de SONNEVILLE
Head of delegation: Leon WARSA
Physio: Albert KAIAPAN




Courtesy: Oceania Football


Solomon duo to attend FIFA seminar

The Solomon Islands may have an extra edge on their opponents at this month's OFC Futsal Championship after the visit of two of their contingent to a FIFA Futsal Instructors Seminar in Spain.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) small-sided games development officer Victor Waiia and assistant national futsal team coach Jerry Sam have left for Las Rozas in Madrid, where they will join other leading futsal coaches and instructors from around the world to attend the five-day course.

Sam is travelling as a delegate for OFC and will give a presentation on matters relating to futsal development in the Pacific region. He was selected to take part in the seminar after OFC futsal co-ordinator Scott Gilligan left his position earlier this year.

Waiia, who led the Solomon Islands to their first ever FIFA Futsal World Cup as coach in 2008, is representing SIFF and his travel has been made possible by funding from FIFA, which has met the costs for delegates from its member associations to attend.

"I carry some responsibility with me as the OFC representative so I need to make a strong impression for our confederation," Sam says.

"At the same time, I feel very fortunate on a personal level because this opportunity will give me first-hand interaction with some of the top futsal people in the world."

Sam's attendance will come at a cost, however, as it means he will not be with the Kurukuru, the Solomon Islands' national futsal team, during their crucial final week of preparations for the OFC championship, which takes place from May 16 to 20 in Fiji.

There is a lot at stake at the event as the winner will qualify to represent Oceania at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2011.

"It is an important time and I will not be with the boys but I am sure they will be in fine hands with our head coach Dickson Kadau and most of the hard work has already been done. I also think some valuable lessons will come from the seminar that might be helpful for the team."

Waiia shares the sentiments of his colleague and sees the course as an avenue to promote the potential of futsal in both the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.

"We will be sure to get the message across that futsal has a big future in the Pacific," he says. "Our mission is to let them know this and take back with us the positive experiences of other countries to help us grow the code here."

SIFF general secretary Eddie Ngava says the pair are the ideal candidates to attend the seminar due to their hard work at the grassroots level.

"Waiia and Sam have on-the-ground experience and their work will put them on the front line in developing futsal," he says. "Hence, their attendance is of great importance to the Solomon Islands and the region."


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com