Courtesy: Fiji Live


FUTSAL qualifiers all set to roll

June 08, 2008

With less than three hours to kick-off for the 2008 Vodafone Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal championship in Suva, soccer followers can look forward to some exciting and entertaining football from the six nations playing today.

Host nation Fiji is proud to accommodate the event and is expecting a colourful and exciting tournament, which will run until next Saturday.

Tournament manger and Fiji Futsal secretary Jainendra Sukhu said they were happy to host the tournament and urged fans of the seven nations to come out in numbers and support their respective teams.

“We are hosting the OFC qualifiers for the first time in Fiji and will give all our best to see the tournament turns out a success,” he said.

“The facility is in top-class condition and all teams are accommodated well and given proper facilities to train as well.

“I am calling on all soccer-loving fans to come out in numbers and show their support to the nations taking part because they will get to see the Pacific’s best footballers in action,” he added.

With defending champions Australia out of the Oceania region, New Zealand is hotly tipped to win the event and qualify for the World championships in Brazil.

However, the well-prepared Vanuatu side, young Solomon Islanders and hosts Fiji should not be under estimated.

Favourites New Zealand will face tough competition in the opening match of the tournament from the Solomon Islanders, who have the youngest team ever participating at national level.

Vanuatu faces Tuvalu in the following match while hosts Fiji will play New Caledonia in the third and final match of Day 1.

Tahiti is on a bye today.

The tournament kicks off 4pm at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.






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