OFC, Auckland: The Oceania Football Confederation has today announced the match schedule for the forthcoming OFC Futsal World Qualifying Tournament in Canberra next month. The original dates have also been pushed back one day to allow the six teams to train at the match venue before the start of the tournament. The new confirmed dates are 25-29 July 2004.

According to acting OFC General Secretary, Tai Nicholas, “the schedule had been devised in consultation with the host association Australia and will encourage more spectators to the AIS Arena in Canberra with at least two evening matches per day.”

In first round match-ups on Sunday, 25 July, Australia will take on Oceania futsal newcomers Solomon Islands in their first ever international in the indoor five-a-side code, while Samoa takes on Fiji and New Zealand plays

Vanuatu in the opening match of the tournament.

The Solomon Islands lack the indoor facilities and experience in futsal, but are expected to provide a stern challenge wholly based on their skill level in the 11-a-side game. They have gone for players on the fringe of national team selection that missed out on the recent FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifiers in Adelaide. A final squad has not yet been named.

Australia named their squad last week and as the reigning number one ranked futsal team in Oceania will prove a daunting prospect for the other five teams, particularly with the home advantage. They have an experienced

collection of players but will be without key forward Elliot Zwangobani – the star of the previous Oceania qualifiers in 1999 – who is unavailable.

New Zealand has yet to release the names of their squad but the majority will likely come from the Auckland leagues where futsal is strongest. New Zealand finished fifth in the 1999 Oceania Futsal Qualifiers.

Vanuatu has a strong domestic league operating in the capital Port Vila and is expected to name a squad of futsal specialists with perhaps one or two players from the Vanuatu national 11-a-side team. Vanuatu hosted the last qualifying tournament in 1999 finishing third.

Fiji recently completed its IDC Inter-District Futsal Championship a few weeks ago and from that tournament, selected their team. Fiji finished second to Australia at the last Oceania qualifiers but its futsal programme is still in its infancy.

Samoa is close to finalising its team selection which will largely be made of players who have played internationally for Samoa in the outdoor game. The game is growing in popularity and national league have been created and played in the off-season. Samoa finished sixth out of seven teams in 1999.

MATCH SCHEDULE

Round 1 - Sunday, 25 July 2004
Match 1: 4.30pm New Zealand V Vanuatu 
Match 2: 6.30pm Samoa V Fiji 
Match 3: 8.30pm Australia V Solomon Is 
 
Round 2 - Monday, 26 July 2004 
Match 4: 4.30pm Solomon Is V Samoa
Match 5: 6.30pm Fiji V Vanuatu
Match 6: 8.30pm New Zealand V Australia 
 
Round 3 - Tuesday, 27 July 2004
Match 7: 4.30pm Samoa V Vanuatu 
Match 8: 6.30pm Solomon Is V New Zealand 
Match 9: 8.30pm Australia V Fiji 
 
Round 4 - Wednesday, 28 July 2004 
Match 10: 4.30pm Fiji V New Zealand 
Match 11: 6.30pm Vanuatu V Solomon Is 
Match 12: 8.30pm Australia V Samoa 
 
ound 5 - Thursday, 29 July 2004 
Match 13: 4.30pm Fiji V Solomon Is 
Match 14: 6.30pm Samoa V New Zealand 
Match 15: 8.30pm Vanuatu V Australia

* all kick-off times are local in Canberra (AEST)