NOUMEA – FIFA Beach Soccer international and Solomon Islands football hero Gideon Omokirio has been invited to participate at the Christian Karembeu Jubilee match at Stade Numa Daly, Noumea, New Caledonia on Saturday 31 May 2008.
Christian Karembeu played for France at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and for Real Madrid winning the UEFA Champions League in 2000. Karembeu has been a firm supporter of Oceania football since retiring in 2005.
Gideon Omokirio played at two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups and in the recent OFC O-League Final for club champion side KOSSA FC. Omokirio played at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 and has over 30 caps for his country.
“I am delighted to have Oceania players involved in my jubilee match. I played for France and won many medals and I am proud of the team and what we achieved together.
But I am also Oceanian, born in the South Pacific, and it is logical for me to acknowledge this part of my heritage.
I am very pleased to have Oceania players included in the festivities,” Karembeu told www.oceaniafootball.com
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter will attend the match and hold a post-match press conference following the OFC Extraordinary Congress on Sunday June 1 2008.
It is a rare opportunity for a player from Solomon Islands to be involved in a match alongside some of football’s greatest players of all time including Zinedine Zidane and Christian Karembeu.
The Karembeu XI will play the France ’98 XI to celebrate the career of the Lifou-born player.
The OFC U-12 Festival of Football has undergone a name change and this year’s edition will take place in Noumea as a backdrop to the Jubilee match.
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has sent two teams to New Caledonia to compete at this event with the winning team travelling to Lyon, France, for the Danone Nations Cup 2008.
One News Television will broadcast coverage of the match around the region – details to be advised.
MATCH DETAILS
Christian Karembeu XI vs. France ’98 XI
Saturday 31 May 2008
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea
New Caledonia
Kick-Off: 17H00 (NCL time)
EXTRA INFORMATION:
Wednesday 28 May – Saturday 31 May 2008
OFC Youth Festival
Stade Pentecost
Stade Numa Daly
Saturday 31 May 2008
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter visit to New Caledonia
Christian Karembeu XI vs. France ’98 XI
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea
New Caledonia
Kick-Off: 17H00 (NCL time)
Sunday 1 June 2008
OFC Extraordinary Congress
Meridien Hotel
Noumea
New Caledonia
09H00 (NCL time)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Gordon Glen Watson mobile: +64 (0)21 994 520
Oceania Football Confederation email: [email protected]
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