The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ – Oceania qualifying tournament continues on Saturday when Vanuatu and Fiji meet at Govind Park, Ba in the first of two matches the sides will play over five days.
The two sides sit bottom of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup group on one point each and will both be desperate to improve on their standing in their few remaining games.
With the chance to qualify for the 2010 World Cup now out of reach both sides will be playing for pride and for many players – a chance to establish themselves in the national side for the future.
Fiji soccer coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti breathed a sigh of relief, after he received news that top goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was able to join up with the team camp.
There was a cloud of doubt on the Navua stopper who is also a police officer and there was some worry amongst management that he would not be able to get the time off to feature for Fiji.
Lautoka goalkeeper Laisenia Tuba had been ruled out because of injury and Buzzetti said he now had enough cover for the goalkeeper position.
“We have Ben Amino along with Filimone Boletawa, and Simione Tamanisau joining,” he said.
Labasa’s Henry Dyer has been called up to bolster the midfield, while Auckland City defender Salesh Kumar will arrive in from New Zealand on Thursday night.
The match will be extra special for the Uruguayan, as he was the former coach of Vanuatu and knows the side well.
“Vanuatu will definitely have more experience than us,” Buzzetti said. “However, playing at home, we know our side will do well.”
The Vanuatu squad has a lot of experience and Coach William Malas will look to the likes of Fedy Vava and Moise Poida to snatch a difficult point on the road.
Media:
Live Text Updates: www.oceaniafootball.com will provide live text updates for the match
Radio: Fiji – Radio Sargam and Radio Fiji 2 will provide live commentary from 17H00 local time.
Match Details
Fiji vs. Vanuatu
Saturday 6 September
15H00 (Local Time) (14H00 VANT)
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
Vanuatu vs. Fiji
Wednesday 10 September
14H00 (Local time) (15H00 FIJT)??
Municipal Stadium
Port Vila, Vanuatu
2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA ™ QUALIFIERS STANDINGS
| PL |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
||
| 1. |
New Zealand |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
+5 |
9 |
| 2. |
New Caledonia |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
8 |
| 3. |
Vanuatu |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
1 |
| 4. |
Fiji |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
-6 |
1 |
VAN (FROM): 1.GARAE John Presley; 2.OBED Samson; 4.TOA Peter Shem; 5. JOE Roger; 6. VAVA Fedy; 7. POIDA Moise; 8. MAKI Pita David; 9. NAPRAPOL Jean Nako; 10.CHILIA Seimata; 11.YELOU Jean Robert; 12 NAMARAIU Joseph; 13.SAKAMA Francois; 14. NIMANIAN Jeffrey; 15.KAITAKMichell; 17.GETE Geoffrey Lego; 18 TOM Robert; 19.MALAS Derek; 20.MANSALE Chikau;
FIJ (FROM): 1. Simione Moci TAMANISAU; 2.Manueli KALOU; 3.Taniela Evo WAQA; 4.Alvin Singh; 5.Esava Samudere NAGELACA; 6.Samuela Vuluma VULA; 7. Laitia Qio Vunibola TUILAU; 8.Ronil KUMAR; 9.Pita Bolatoga SENIBIAUKULA; 10.Roy Krishna; 11. Tuimasi Tavetuiwai K.MANUCA; 12. Lagi Gordon Henry DYER; 13.Maciu Samaidrawa DUNADUMU; 14. Monit Vikash CHAND; 15.Rajnil Ritesh CHAND; 16.Tiwa MALAKAI; 17.Kainihewe MALAKAI; 18.Beniamino Mojito MATEINAQARA;