Football to get XV Pacific Games started

Opening the day’s events is the match-up between the Federated States of Micronesia and Tahiti at 10am on Bisini Field 3. On paper the Tahitians should ease past their opponents. Coach Patrice Flaccadori has assembled a side of home-grown talent, among them Michel Maihi and Vaiarii Halligan who were standouts in Tahiti’s runners-up finish at the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship.
However Micronesia shouldn’t be underestimated. The side held an extended games build-up in Guam and have enlisted Australian Stan Foster as coach. They’re not here to make up numbers and will be out to cause an upset from the get-go, but what may hinder their efforts is the fact they have arrived with a squad of just 18 players.
At midday, New Zealand will make their Pacific Games debut against the Solomon Islands on Bisini Field 1. The Kiwis have their sights firmly set on qualifying for Rio 2016 and coach Anthony Hudson has selected a side rife with experience. Twelve members of the history making side which competed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup last month are here in Port Moresby, with seven players also having featured for the All Whites at senior level.
Solomon Islands are always an exciting entity in any competition that they compete in. The U-20 side came close to changing the outcome of the 2014 OFC U-20 Championship, equalising with eventual victors Fiji on the final match day and impressing with a high pressing, technical performance before eventually going down 2-1. Coach Patrick Miniti will no doubt adopt a cautious approach to the encounter as he attempts to navigate his side unscathed past the Kiwis.
At 2pm on Bisini 3 Fiji and Vanuatu will go head-to-head in what is expected to be a tight encounter. In the recent Four Nations Friendship Cup hosted by Vanuatu in preparation for the Pacific Games, it was the home side who came up trumps with a 1-0 victory.
Since then Fiji coach Carlos Buzzetti has bolstered his ranks with the addition of nine of Fiji’s FIFA U-20 World Cup squad members. Captained by striker Rusiate Matarerega, it’s a side full of high level experience which could prove the difference over 90 minutes.
The fourth and final match for Match Day 1 is between the hosts Papua New Guinea and the reigning Pacific Games gold medal holders New Caledonia.
Papua New Guinea have enlisted former All Whites coach Ricki Herbert to lead the charge on home soil. His side is a broad mix of players who have turned out for the national youth teams over the past four years to varying degrees of success. A month long build-up outside of the country has been a learning experience for both players and coaches, with the impact to be determined by how they perform on the pitch.
For New Caledonia the preparations have been slow-burning. Along with Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands Thierry Sardo’s side took part in the Four Nations Friendship Cup where they saved their best for last in the competition as they lost 1-0 to Vanuatu, drew 1-1 with Fiji before beating Solomon Islands 3-0 in their final match. Sardo will have high expectations that the side brings that final game form to Port Moresby from the outset as the Francophone side launch into what they intend to be a successful Pacific Games title defence.
Extra Information

Federated States of Micronesia v Tahiti
Bisini Field 3
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Friday 3 July 2015
Kick-off: 10am
FSMvTAH
Referee: Ichikawa POLOVILI (TGA)
Assistant Referee 1: David CHARLES (PNG)
Assistant Referee 2: Norman BAFINU (PNG)
Fourth Official: Hillary ANI (PNG)
Federated States of Micronesia: Mikson KUKA, Paulis KEIKEK, Scott RUDOLPH, Roger NAKASONE, MacArthur JAMES, Ioane KARITI, Franson SIMEON, Kacy Alton OLMOS, Michael REYES, Mark JONES, Dominic GADAD, Jacob NAM, Aaran BAYOW, Jonathan GARAYOG, Devon FIGIRMOW, Waler PENGELBEW, Benjamin GILMOON, Javin KOGNANG

Coach: Stanley FOSTER (AUS)

Tahiti: 1. Tom TERIINOHOPUAITERAI (GK), 2. Tevaimoana MESLIEN, 3. Raimana TIPAHAEHAE, 4. Rainui AROITA, 5. Teheiarii TAUPOTINI, 6. Louis PETITGAS, 7. Tauatua LUCAS, 8. Manuarii HAUATA, 9. Fred TISSOT, 10. Yohann TIHONI, 11. Mauarii TEHINA, 12. Raiamanu TETAUIRA, 13. Raumatahi NOHO, 14. Tevairoa TEHURITAUA, 15. Ryan PETITGAS, 16. Remauiarii CROLAS (GK), 17. Tumarangi TIATOA, 18. Heremoana HOATA, 19. Tamatoa TETAUIRA, 20. Raimana DHALLUIN, 21. Thibaut PITO, 22. Michel MAIHI, 23. Vaiarii HALLIGAN

Coach: Patrice FLACCADORI (TAH)

New Zealand v Solomon Islands
Bisini Field 1
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Friday 3 July 2015
Kick-off: 12pm
NZLvSOL
Referee: Ravitesh BEHARI (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Ravinesh KUMAR (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 2: Phul SINGH (FIJ)
Fourth Official: Robinson BANGA (VAN)

New Zealand: 1. Oliver SAIL (GK), 2. Kip COLVEY, 3. Deklan WYNNE, 4. Sam BROTHERTON, 5. Alec SOLOMONS, 6. Bill TUILOMA, 7. Joel STEVENS, 8. Moses DYER, 9. Alex RUFER, 10. Clayton LEWIS, 11. Luka PRELEVIC, 12. Nikola TZANEV (GK), 13. Liam HIGGINS, 14. Luke ADAMS, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Louis FENTON, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 18. Sam BURFOOT, 19. Monty PATTERSON, 20. Harshae RANIGA, 21. Max CROCOMBE (GK), 22. Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 23. Logan ROGERSON

Coach: Anthony HUDSON (ENG)

Solomon Islands: 1. Phillip MANGO (GK), Fred BUAI, 3. Matson FENNY, 4. Dickson MOULI, 5. Allen PETER, 6. Fredrick DOLA, 7. Harrison MALA, 8. Jimmy RARAMANE, 9. Frank FOLI, 10. Tuti Zama TANITO, 11. Atana Junior FA’ARODO, 12. George LADOGA, 13. Jared RONGOSULIA, 14. Bonny PRIDE, 15. John ROFETA, 16. Fred BALA, 17. Timothy BAKALE, 18. Davidson TOME, 19. Simon DAOI, 20. Anthony TALO (GK), 21. Natanela BERO, 22. Kevin OBED, 23. James DO’ORO

Coach: Patrick MINITI (SOL)
Fiji v Vanuatu
Bisini Field 3
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Friday 3 July 2015
Kick-off: 2pm
FIJvVAN
Referee: Gerald OIAKA (SOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Johnny Erick NIABO (SOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Noel BERRY (SOL)
Fourth Official: George TIME (SOL)
Fiji: 1. Senirusi BOKINI (GK), 2. Ravinesh KUMAR DASS, 3. Praneel NAIDU, 4. Kolinio SIVOKI, 5. Jale DREOLA, 6. Saula WAQA, 7. Manasa NAWAKULA, 8. Atonio TUIVUNA, 9. Iosefo VEREVOU, 10. Rusiate MATAREREGA, 11. Christopher WASASALA, 12. Tevita WARANAIVALU, 13. Filipe BARAVILALA, 14. Garish PRASAD, 15.Napolioni QASEVAKATINI, 16. Sakaraia NAISUA, 17. Nickel CHAND, 18. Viliame BAWAI, 19. Ratu NAKALEVU, 20. Tevita KOROI (GK)

Coach: Carlos BUZZETTI (AUS)

Vanuatu: 1. Seloni IARUEL (GK), 2. Channel OBED, 3. Remy KALSRAP, 4. Brian KALTACK, 5. Junia VAVA, 6. Raoul COULON, 7. Barry MANSALE, 8. Jais MALSARANI, 9. Chris ANDREWS, 10. Bong KALO, 11. Jean KALTACK, 12. Zicka MANUHI, 13. Dalong DAMALIP, 14. Abraham ROQARA, 15. Michel COULON, 16. Jacky RUBEN, 17. Nilua NIKIAU, 18. Bill NICHOLLS, 19. Tony KALTACK, 20. Anthony TAIWIA (GK), 21. Nemani ROQUARA, 23. Kaloran FIRIAM
Coach: Richard IWAI (VAN)
Papua New Guinea v New Caledonia
Bisini Field 1
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Friday 3 July 2015
Kick-off: 3pm
NZLvSOL
Referee: Robinson BANGA (VAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Hilmon SESE (VAN)
Fourth Official: Ravitesh BEHARI (FIJ)

Papua New Guinea: 1. Ismael POLE (GK), 2. Abel REDENUT, 3. Otto KUSUNAN, 4. Joshua TALAU, 5. John RAY, 6. Emmanuel AIREM, 7. Freddy STEVEN, 8. Sammy RUFUS, 9. Patrick AISA, 10. Rodney MOBIHA, 11. Emmanuel YAWI, 12. Darren STEVEN, 13. Tommy SEMMY, 14. Alwin KOMOLONG, 15. Vincent WORIO, 16. Felix KOMOLONG, 17. Jacob SABUA, 18. Basil JOFARI, 19. Pettyshen ELIJAH, 20. Charles LEPANI (GK), 21. Nathan JAMES, 22. Gimale ESSACU, 23. Papalau AWELE