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(Photos:
eventpolynesia.com) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Knock out win by Samoan champion
Vaitele Soi
Source:
eventpolynesia.com
Samoan cruiserweight champion Vaitele Soi
returned home this week after winning the ‘Last
Man Standing’ an all professional 8 man knockout
tournament in Auckland on Saturday, walking away
with the $10,000 prize money.
Soi also laid claim to beating one of New
Zealand’s finest fighters - kickboxing legend
Shane “Chopper” Chapman in the final as reported
on NZFighter website.
“Starting off by working Chapman's body into a
first-round introduction to the canvas, Soi
caught fire in the second, hitting upstairs and
down, and putting Chapman back on the ground.
Chopper wasn't liable to take any of this lying
down, and he came back with an overhand right
that set the Samoan champion's teeth
a-rattling.”
“Standing strong in the face of some brutal
assaults, Soi broke the mold and punched Chapman
into the ropes” with the referee stopping the
fight in the third round.
Draw from the hat saw Soi going toe to toe with
southpaw Francis Pratsch in one of the quarter
finals. Pratsch dominated both first and second
rounds landing a number of good punches until
Soi got his rhythm in the third round, knocking
out Pratsch to advance to the semifinals.
The match up saw Soi going up against former
World Boxing Organisation (WBO) African title
holder Mohamed Azzaoui. The experienced Azzaoui
originally from Algeria with thirty three
professional bouts laid claim to beating a
string of Samoan contenders Junior Pati, Bob
Gasio, Seiaute Mailata, Amosa Zinc, Lighting
Lupe, Alapati Kitiona and Martin Opetaia over
the years.
Soi took the fight to Azzaoui, winning by a
split decision in the toughest of the two semi
finals.
The 2010 Last Man Standing champion Shane
‘Chopper’ Chapman won his earlier bouts with
ease against Samoan boxers Wilhem Schwalger in
the quarterfinal and last years finalist Monty
Filimaea Fauea in the semi final. Chopper has
never been stopped and also laid claim to
beating former Samoan boxing champions Niusila
Seiuli and Fale Siaoloa.
Soi provided the only knock outs of the 2011
Last Man Standing tournament taking his
unblemished professional record to seventeen,
winning twelve by KO.
According to NZFighter, “Soi looks to be ripe
for a world-class title.”
“Vaitele’s win is affirmations that with the
adequate resources to prepare and get our boxers
to participate in big international fights,
Samoa can deliver boxing world champions,” said
Pa’u Fereti Puni of Event Polynesia, the local
company that is leading the resurgence of
professional boxing in Samoa and development of
local boxers.
“The win should also silenced local critics
about the legitimacy of the Soi verses Azzaoui
fight that was promoted by Event Polynesia to
take place in Samoa in September 2009. A
replacement opponent was called in at the last
minute when Azzaoui was declared unwell a few
days before the fight.”
Currently in Samoa to visit his family is
another Samoan KO specialist Leti Leti. Event
Polynesia, Leti’s co-management, has confirmed
that there is a possibility of Leti fighting on
the Samoa Independence Pro Am Fights on Tuesday
31st May at Faleata Gym 1.
The upcoming boxing fixture will feature the
sixteen local professional boxers signed up last
month by Event Polynesia.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - (L-R) Ofisa Vili, Edwin Puni,
Vaitele Soi and Richard Brown of Team Soi.
Photo 2 - (L-R) Vaitele Soi with members
of his management Pa’u Fereti Puni, Vaiolo Lapa
Leatio’o, Tuilagi Saipele Esera and Savea Al
Harrington Lavea.
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(Photo:
Associated Press) |
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SAMOA: Samoa time travellers to leap a day into
the future
Source:
Associated Press via Guardian News
Samoa plans to leap 24 hours into the future,
erasing a day and putting an extra kink in the
international dateline, so that it can be on the
same weekday as Australia, New Zealand and
eastern Asia.
The island nation is planning to reverse a
decision made 119 years ago to stay behind a day
to help do business with American traders in
California.
That choice has meant that when it's dawn on
Sunday in Samoa, it's already dawn on Monday in
adjacent Tonga - and fast approaching dawn on
Monday in New Zealand, Australia and China.
Samoa has found its interests lying more with
the Asia-Pacific region and now wants to switch
back to the west side of the international
dateline, which runs roughly north-to-south
along the 180-degree line of longitude in the
Pacific Ocean.
"In doing business with New Zealand and
Australia, we're losing out on two working days
a week," said the prime minister, Tuilaepa
Sailele Malielegaoi
"While it's Friday here, it's Saturday in New
Zealand and when we're at church on Sunday,
they're already conducting business in Sydney
and Brisbane."
Samoa's change will have a cost: it has long
marketed itself as the last place on Earth to
see each day's sunset.
"It will be really confusing for us. I just
don't see the point, and we don't know the
benefits yet," islander Laufa Lesa told the
Associated Press. "The government says it's good
for the economy, but it's totally fine the way
it is now."
The prime minister already has a new tourism
angle: telling visitors they can celebrate the
same day twice, because American Samoa next door
will stay on the California side of the
dateline.
"You can have two birthdays, two weddings and
two wedding anniversaries on the same date - on
separate days - in less than an hour's flight
across [the ocean], without leaving the Samoan
chain," he said.
Tuilaepa hopes to scratch this year's 31
December from the calendar and celebrate the new
year a night early.
The original shift to the east side of the line
was conducted in 1892 when Samoa celebrated 4
July - US independence day - twice.
The dateline drawn by mapmakers is not mandated
by any international body.
Nearly as many Samoans now live in Australia and
New Zealand as the 180,000 living in the
islands, which are located about halfway between
New Zealand and Hawaii and rely on fruit and
vegetable exports as well as tourism.
In 2009, Tuilaepa enacted a law that switched
driving from the right to the left, to bring
Samoa into line with Australia and New Zealand.
He said then the change would make it easier for
Samoans in Australia and New Zealand to send
used cars home to their relatives. Opponents
predicted traffic disruption, but this did not
happen.
Tuilaepa said: "Today we do a lot more business
with New Zealand and Australia, China and
Pacific Rim countries such as Singapore." The
change of date would make commerce with the
Asia-Pacific region "far, far easier".
Photo Caption: Samoa and its current
position on the international dateline. The
islands' prime minister wants to move his nation
into the same time zone as Australia.
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(Photo:
Reuters) |
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AUSTRALIA: Australia pledges $480m in aid to PNG
Source:
Australia Network News
Australia will provide $US480 million in aid to
Papua New Guinea next year, making it the second
largest aid recipient after Indonesia.
The Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan, delivered
his fourth budget, and the first for Prime
Minister Julia Gillard's Government, on Tuesday.
The budget includes increasing foreign aid to
$4.8 billion in 2012.
The Australian Government says PNG still faces
serious challenges despite the longest period of
economic growth in history from its resources
sector.
Australia says PNG is unlikely to meet any of
the millenium development goals by 2015, and aid
will be repositioned to focus on PNG's
struggling health and education sectors.
It says the importance of aid to PNG's revenue
is declining as its mining sector grows.
Photo Caption: The Australian Government
says the importance of aid to PNG's revenue is
declining as its mining sector grows.
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 37 finalists for sports awards
Source:
The National
The finalists for the 2011 South Pacific Sports
Awards were announced Wednesday (May 11, 2011)
after it was extended for another two weeks to
lure more nominations for various categories.
When announcing the finalists at the PNG Sports
Federation conference room at the Sir John Guise
Stadium yesterday, SP Sports Awards selection
committee chairperson, Emily George Taule, said
she was impressed with the level of
participation coming from as far as Kimbe,
Tabubil, Popondetta, Wewak, Lae, Eastern
Highlands and Chimbu.
“The nominations reflect a better understanding
and appreciation of the awards from the general
public,” Taule said.
Unlike previous years, there were a total of 81
nominations but with certain categories having
less nominations, organisers had to extend the
time frame.
Taule added that three nominations were invalid
and the selection panel had to sit down and
consult each other at several meetings to decide
on the finalists.
It was a five-member selection panel consisting
the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee,
PNG Sports Foundation, a representative from the
PNG Athletics Commission and two other sports
associates.
There are finalists in the 13 different
categories on offer and the final winner of each
category will be announced at the SP Sports
Awards night at the Crowne Plaza on May 28.
Taule said finalists for each category were
selected based on a selection and nominations
received.
“Some nominations did not have supporting
documents and were considered invalid - with no
supporting statement to justify why that nominee
was considered for that award,” Taule said.
She added that the committee was very thorough
in its selections and discussions were quite
intense to come up with the finalists.
She also said 37 out of the 81 nominations had
been shortlisted as the finalists for each
category.
The finalists are:
sports reporter of the year - Steven Mase (FM
100), Peter Pusal (The National), Kevin Teme
(The National)
technical official of the year - Numa Graham
(sailing), John Ovia (cricket), Richard Wagambie
(rugby league); sports administrator of the year
- Vonnie Kapi Natto (soccer), Fredrick Matthies
(rugby union), Stanley Nandex (kickboxing)
best sportsperson with disability - Timothy
Harabe (para-sport-powerlifting), Pope Hazave
(para-sport-powerlifting)
distinguished services to sport - Tony Green
(athletics), Ronnie Mea (basketball), Numa
Graham (sailing)
junior team of the year - PNG soccer U17 men’s,
PNG Hebou Barramundis U19
junior female athlete of the year - Judith
Meauri (swimming), Tanya Ruma (cricket), Marcia
Tere-Apisah (tennis)
junior male athlete of the year - Raymond Jr
Haoda (cricket), Steven Kari (weightlifting),
John Rivan (athletics)
national performance award - Anthony Aruha
(rugby football), Geoffrey Loi (table tennis),
William Maba (soccer/volleyball)
team of the year - Hebou Barramundis mational
men’s (cricket), Hekari United FC (soccer),
Kimbe Rebels (rugby union)
sportswoman of the year - Norma Ovasuru
(cricket), Barbara Stubbings (squash), Toea
Wisil (athletics)
sportsman of the year - Raymond Jr Haoda
(cricket), Ryan Pini (swimming) and Nelson Stone
(athletics).
Taule acknowledged the support of SP Brewery for
the gala event to recognise PNG’s finest
sporting heroes. She also thanked support
sponsors, Air Niugini, The National, FM 100,
EMTV, Crowne Plaza, Theodist, Graffiti Signs and
City Pharmacy Ltd.
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(Photo:
Oceania Football Confederation) |
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SOLOMON ISLANDS: Koloale become first S-League
champions
Source:
Oceania Football Confederation Press Release
The men in green from Koloale have one foot in
the 2012 O-League after winning the inaugural
Telekom S-League, the Solomon Islands national
competition.
The Honiara-based side confirmed they would be
champions with a 1-0 victory over Hana at Lawson
Tama Stadium and have now completed the first
step towards qualifying for the O-League, a
tournament they were involved in this year but
last made an impact on in 2009 with a runners-up
placing.
Koloale must now go on to also win knockout
competition the S-League Championship to gain
direct entry into the O-League or be forced into
a play-off with the winner of the Championship.
On a dark and drizzly day that forced the Lawson
Tama floodlights to be switched on, Hana put in
a solid effort in the first half to keep Koloale
scoreless at the break. But they could not
maintain those standards in the second spell
and, with so much firepower in their ranks, it
was only a matter of time before Koloale struck.
Joses Nawo proved the match-winner when he tried
his luck from the edge of the area and the shot
found its way into the net with a bit of help
from the slippery surface.
Koloale's points haul now increases to 35 and
they cannot be caught by any of their opponents.
Wrapping up the campaign with a win is a fitting
way for Koloale to have ended a season they have
dominated from start to finish. The Peter
Eke-coached side have bagged a total of 11 wins
and two draws from their 14 matches, losing just
once against the Solomon Warriors.
Much of the reason for Koloale's success can be
put down to their recruitment drive prior to the
season, a search which netted former Waitakere
United striker Benjamin Totori, ex-Auckland City
defender George Suri and Hekari United duo Henry
Fa'arodo and Gideon Omokirio.
But a strong backbone of loyal players was
already at the club in the form of Shadrock
Ramoni, Mostyn Beui, Jeffery Bule and Francis
Lafai, who have all been with the club for a
number of years already.
The week-long S-League Championship will take
place within the next few weeks after the
remaining S-League catch-up matches have been
played.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to
www.siff.com.sb
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(Photo:
USS Cleveland PAO Images) |
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WORLDWIDE: NZ Defence Force exercise with US
Navy draws to a close
Source:
New Zealand Defence Force Press
Release
After four weeks of humanitarian aid and
disaster relief (HADR) activities on
Niuatoputapu in Tonga, and Espiritu Santo in
Vanuatu, HMNZS CANTERBURY and the USS CLEVELAND
have parted company.
The two ships and more than 850 combined
personnel were together for the HADR exercise
Pacific Partnership.
The exercise has been two firsts for the NZ
Defence Force: the first time in more than 28
years that the US Navy and Royal New Zealand
Navy (RNZN) have exercised together, and the
first time a US-led exercise has been commanded
from a RNZN ship.
Lieutenant Colonel Don Jones, commander of the
NZ Defence contingent for Pacific Partnership,
says the exercise had a first for him too.
“It’s the first time I’ve been on exercise with
the US and they approach things a little
differently to how Kiwis do, but it complements
what we can do. They have a lot of resources and
they’ve got big hearts. Having the people and
MH60 helicopters that USS CLEVELAND was able to
bring to the effort was excellent.”
Commander Jim Gilmour, Commanding Officer of
HMNZS CANTERBURY, says that being a part of
history when a US Naval Flag Officer shifted his
pennant to a New Zealand ship for the first time
ever, was particularly special.
“It was while we were at Niuatoputapu that I got
my first glimpse of USS CLEVELAND as she headed
past, allowing one of her MH60 helicopters to
deliver COMDESRON 23, Captain Jesse Wilson, US
Navy, to take a first look at our ship. A couple
of days later Capt Wilson returned with his
staff and his pennant, and they commanded the
exercise from HMNZS CANTERBURY for almost a
month. It can’t be overstated what a big deal
that has been for the RNZN, and I can honestly
say that this past month has been one of the
most satisfying in my career.”
New Zealand Defence Force medics, engineers,
divers and builders have put 8500 man hours into
HADR tasks on the ground in Niuatoputapu and
Espiritu Santo, working alongside personnel from
the US, Australia, France, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
supported the development work with
approximately $500,000 of funding from the New
Zealand Aid Programme.
Photo Caption: HMNZS CANTERBURY
(foreground) and USS CLEVELAND accompanied by
its landing craft and two Royal Australian Navy
heavy landing craft and helicopters, departing
Luganville.
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