AUCKLAND – New Zealand and Fiji will kick off the OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 on Saturday (local time) when the two sides meet in the first game of the opening round at Stade Paea in Papeete.

The tournament will run from December 13 – 17 and the winner of the competition will represent OFC at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.

The four team tournament – also including hosts Tahiti and New Caledonia will follow a round robin format and be played across three venues in Papeete – Stade Paea, Stade Mahina and Stade Puurai.

New Zealand will head into the tournament as favourites on the back of last year’s OFC U-20 Championship win  in New Zealand after defeating teams from Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tahiti and Vanuatu.

New Zealand boast the only professional partnership at the tournament with Wellington Phoenix strikers Greg Draper and Costa Barbarouses leading the kiwi line.

Fijian Coach Carlos Buzzetti knows just what it takes to beat New Zealand after coaching the senior national team to a 2-0 win over their rivals in the OFC Nations Cup last month.

Buzzetti will be keen to improve on Fiji’s result against New Zealand at the OFC Olympic qualifiers in Fiji earlier this year when a 90th minute Steven Old header stole a 2-1 victory for the kiwis in the last minute of normal time.

The second game of Match Day One will see tournament hosts Tahiti open their account against New Caledonia.

The Tahiti U-20 side currently sit in mid table in the Tahitian D1 Championnat and will be tough to beat on their home soil. The side has played 11 games together so far this season and that added familiarity mixed with home support will give them a great advantage.

New Caledonia Coach Didier Chamberon will be able to call on the experience of Jonathan Kakou and Roy Kayara who both featured for the full national side in the recent home and away World Cup Qualifiers with New Zealand.

OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 Draw

Match Day 1 – Saturday 13 December 2008

Time                                     Fixture                 Venue

16H00 (Local time)  New Zealand vs Fiji          Stade Paea

18H30 (Local time)  Tahiti vs New Caledonia   Stade Paea

Match Day 2 – Monday 15 December 2008

Time                                     Fixture                  Venue

16H00 (Local time)   New Zealand vs Tahiti   Stade Mahina

18H30 (local time)    New Caledonia vs Fiji     Stade Mahina

Match Day 3 – Wednesday 17 December 2008

Time                                    Fixture                            Venue

16H00 (Local time)   New Caledonia vs New Zealand Stade Puurai

18H30 (Local time)   Fiji vs Tahiti                                 Stade Puurai

Squads:

Fiji: 1. Wasim ALI; 2.Peniame DROVA;3.Amani MAKOE;4.Josefata NEIBULI; 5. ROMUERO; 6. Esava NAQELECA; 7. Sumeet KRISHAN; 8. Ratu Vula BONAVEIDOGO; 9. Taione KEREVANUA; 10. Nasoni MEREKE; 11. Monit CHAND; 12. Archie WATKINS; 13. James MCKAY14. Velagio DRAUNIMASI; 15. Jese ILIMOTAMA; 16. Ranjesh PRASAD; 17. Samuela DRUDRU; 18. Joseva BASUDRA; 19. Maciu TUILAU; 20. Filimone BOLETAWA;

Head of Delegation: IBRAHIM

Coach:   Carlos BUZZETTI

Assistant Coach: Norman SARJU

Assistant Coach: Kamal SWAMY

New Zealand:1.Rhyss KEANE; 2. Tim MYERS; 3. Ian HOGG; 4. Fin MILNE; 5. Sam CAMPBELL; 6. Michael EAGER; 7. Costa BARBAROUSES; 8. Adam MCGEORGE; 9. Greg DRAPER;10. Milos NIKOLIC; 11. John NIYONSABA; 12. Cory CHETTLEBURGH; 13. Ash SOLLY; 14. Jonathan RAJ; 15. Michael PICKERING; 16. Alex BARLOW; 17. Jake MATHEWS; 18. Sam BLACKBURN;19. Nick KEOWN-ROBSON; 20. Jake GLEESON;

Manager:  Jim HOGG

Coach:   Stu JACOBS

Assistant Coach: Sean DOUGLAS

GKCoach:  Jonathan GOULD

Physio:  Andrew IMRIE

Sports Science: Andy SMITH

Tahiti: 23. Ralph HEITAA; 2. Tauirai TEIVA; 3. Stephane FAATIARAU; 4. Teheivarii LUDIVION; 5. Ariihau TERIITAU; 6. Heimano BOUREBARE; 7. Garry ROCHETTE; 9. Hiva KAMOISE; 10. Jay WARREN; 11. Stanley ATANY; 12. Rangitea BENETT; 13. Steeve CHONG HUE; 14. Guillaume CHEVALIER; 15. Rainui TZE YU; 17. Nahui TEIEFITU; 18. Tehau BENETT; 19. Marama AMAU; 20. Lorenzo TEHAU; 21. Alvin TEHAU; 22. Teheipuarii HAUATA;

Head of Delegation: Maco PLOTON

Coach:   Lionel CHARBONNIER

Assistant Coach: Samuel GARCIA

GK Coach:  Reihia DAVIO

Physio:  Jean-Claude LINTZ

Doctor:   Jean-Marie DEBRUYNE

New Caledonia: 1. Jean Daniel CAEE; 2. Joris GORENDIAWE; 3. Edmond IPUNESSO; 4. Jonathan KAKOU; 5. Jean Claude JEWINE; 6. Cesar LOLOHEA; 7. Maxime CHEVRY; 8. Jean WAHNYAMALLA; 9. Roy KAYARA; 10. Rony ATTI; 11. Warren NAXUE; 12. Alan HNAUTRA; 13. Vincent VAKIE; 14. Jean Philippe SAIKO; 15. Jihovany LOLOHEA; 16. Theodore HNANGANYAN; 17. Yoahn AUSU; 18. Jean TYEA; 19. Yoann BAKO; 20. Nicolas IWA;

Coach   Didier CHAMBARON

Coach   Nicolas BACH

Physio   Bruno  TEZENAS