AUCKLAND – The New Zealand All Whites will wear all white armbands during Wednesday’s 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying match against New Caledonia to honour Charles Dempsey, the ‘father of Oceania football’ who died in June.

Wearing their new alternate strip of black shirts, the players’ white armbands will honour Dempsey’s lasting contribution to football, both in New Zealand and in Oceania – a Confederation he was instrumental in founding in 1964.

With New Zealand’s 3-1 win over New Caledonia on Saturday they earned a spot at the 2009 Confederations Cup South Africa – FIFA’s eight team tournament for continental champions – and a home and away playoff with Asia’s fifth ranked team in late 2009 for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

It is the closest New Zealand has come to cementing a spot at the World Cup in 26 years when Dempsey –the director of New Zealand’s 1982 World Cup Campaign – was a driving force behind funding the All Whites successful bid to reach the World Cup finals in Spain, with a place finally clinched by a 2-1 win over China in Singapore.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert – a member of that famed 1982 squad that captured the hearts of the public through its 15 match qualifying campaign – says white armbands are the perfect way to celebrate Dempsey’s legacy.

“Charlie was inspirational in providing international opportunities that led to New Zealand playing on the world’s biggest stage,” Herbert said.

“It was a very special experience for the players and football fans alike and Charlie was at the forefront of driving that.”

“On Wednesday we, the players and the staff, would like to recognise his immense contribution to the game.”

The match will bring an end to New Caledonia’s OFC Nations Cup campaign of which they have two wins two draws and a loss. New Caledonia will join in the tribute by wearing traditional black armbands, while Dempsey’s daughters Josephine and Alice will be present at North Harbour Stadium to witness the players and crowd observe a minute’s silence before kick-off.

Dempsey died in Auckland on June 25 aged 87. He was a member of the then New Zealand Football Association executive for 30 years, and was its chairman from 1982 till 1988.

Dempsey served as president of the Oceania Football Confederation, stepping down in 2000 although he was made honorary president in 2001. He served on FIFA’s executive between 1996 and 2000 and received the FIFA Order of Merit in 2004. He was made a Commander of the British Empire for services to football in 1982.

Match details

New Zealand v New Caledonia

Wednesday 10 September 2008

North Harbour Stadium

Albany, Auckland

Kickoff: 19H35 local (18H35 NCLT)

Live on Sky Sport Two

Media:

New Zealand – Live on Sky Sport Two and Radio Sport (19H35 NZT)

New Caledonia – Coverage on RFO TV – check local listings for details

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA ™ QUALIFIERS STANDINGS

PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1. New Zealand 4 4 0 0 11 4    +7 12
2. New Caledonia 5 2 2 1 12 7    +5 8
4. < font face="Calibri">Fiji 4 1 1 2 5 9    -4 4
3. Vanuatu 5 0 1 4 3 12    -9 1

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifier

Saturday 6 September 2008

NEW ZEALAND 3 (B.Sigmund, S. Smeltz (2)) vs. NEW CALEDONIA 1 (M.Hmae)

Stade Numa Daly – Noumea – New Caledonia

Squads:

NZL (from) 1-Mark PASTON (GK); 2-David MULLIGAN; 3-Tony LOCHHEAD; 4-Simon ELLIOTT, 5-Ben SIGMUND; 6-Ryan NELSEN; 7-Leo BERTOS; 8-Duncan OUGHTON; 9-Jeremy BROCKIE; 10-Shane SMELTZ; 11-Jarrod SMITH; 1
2-Andrew BOYENS; 13-Steven OLD; 14-Tim BROWN; 15. Jeremy CHRISTIE; 16-Chris JAMES;17-Allan PEARCE, ,18-Glen MOSS (GK);

Coach: Ricki HERBERT

NCL: (from) 1- Jean Marc OUNEMOA (GK); 2-Loic Houlala; 3-Jean-Patrick WAKANUMUNE; 4-Jonathan; 5-Georges WADRENGES KAKOU; 6-Marius MAPOU; 7-Bertrand KAI; 8-Pierre WAJOKA; 9-Noël KAUDRE; 10-Patrick DIAIKE; 11-Cedric NONMEU; 12-Luther WAHNYAMALLA; 13-Poulidor TOTO; 14-Ramon OSAMALI; 15-Michel HMAE; 16-André SINEDO; 17-Allan HNAUTRA; 18-Michel HNE (RGK);

Coach: Didier Chambaron

Referee: HAUATA Norbert    (TAH)

Assistant Referee 1: REVEL Philipe   (TAH)

Assistant Referee 2: GOODWIN Teariki  (COK)

Fourth Official: MOLI Andrew Didimae  (SOL)

Referee Assessor: SEGRAN Chandra   (FIJ)

Commissioner: FUSIMALOHI Ahongalu  (TON)