NEWSPAGE 28 November
2011

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

SAMOA: Samoa progress to Stage 2 after thrilling win
Source: OFC Media Press Release

Samoa will take part in the second stage of OFC qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Fiji in June 2012 after a last-gasp goal gave them a 1-0 win over a highly-motivated American Samoa on the final day of the Stage 1 qualifiers in Apia today.

Although the tournament was based on a league system, the final group match was essentially a grand final as a win for American Samoa would have secured their passage to Stage 2 and Samoa needed at least a draw to make it through.

It looked like that might be the outcome as the final whistle drew near at 0-0 but Samoa finally broke through their neighbours’ remarkable defensive effort when Silao Malo slipped the ball past outstanding goalkeeper Nicky Salapu in the 89th minute.

That clash was obviously the highlight of the day but the earlier match also brought plenty of drama, Tonga earning the first win of coach Chris Williams’ reign with a 2-1 triumph over Cook Islands, who finish at the bottom of the table with only one point to their name.

Judged on past performances, American Samoa were expected to be the ones bringing up the rear but shocked the footballing world to post a win and a draw in their earlier games, thus giving themselves the chance to progress to Stage 2 against all odds.

That unlikely possibility very nearly became a reality as they frustrated Samoa for large periods and carved out several opportunities of their own, the best of which fell to Diamond Ott in the 81st minute. The second-half substitute found himself with just Samoa goalkeeper Masi Toetu to beat and knocked the ball past him, only to see it strike the upright and roll agonisingly to safety.

The hearts of the American Samoa players were then broken further just eight minutes later when Malo made a local hero of himself by finding the net with one of the last kicks of the game after a counter attack.

“We found it difficult to find a way through because American Samoa defended really well,” coach Tunoa Lui said. “Their goalkeeper played his guts out today and made a lot of great saves. Luckily for us, we finally managed to score and take the game. It means a lot to us because we haven’t participated in an international competition for four years. It’s something that will put our federation back on the map again.”

From a personal point of view, the win was also special for Lui as it allowed him to replace some painful World Cup qualifying memories with a more positive one. Lui is a former coach of the opponents his side faced today and was in charge of American Samoa in 2001 when they infamously lost 31-0 to Australia, a record that still stands as a record in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Current American Samoa coach Thomas Rongen was disappointed to have fallen at the final hurdle but had nothing but praise for his team, whose performances this week have done much to redeem the reputation of American Samoan football across the globe.

“I can’t be prouder of a group of guys that came from absolutely nowhere and fought tooth-and-nail to make it this far,” he said. “We even had a chance to win the game, undeservedly maybe, when we hit the post towards the end. Our game plan was to hang in there and keep Samoa to zero for as long as possible because we knew we would get one chance to win it and we did. But in saying that the better team is going on to the next stage.”

Torrential downpours throughout most of the morning made play in the earlier game difficult but it was Tonga who dealt better with the challenging conditions and avoided the wooden spoon by posting their first win of the tournament.

Goals to Tonga’s Timote Maamaloa and Cook Islands’ Grover Harmon, in the 26th and 35th minutes respectively, made the score 1-1 at the break and, as was the case in the second game, it appeared as if the scoring was over as the match approached its conclusion. But Kinitoni Falatau had other ideas and struck in the last minute with an impressive finish after fine build-up play by Fineasi Palei.

“I thought the boys deserved the win, they’ve been training for a long time and put in a lot of effort today,” coach Williams said. “If you go back over the three games though, it’s a case of what if for us. If we’d made the most of our chances in this tournament who knows what could have happened. But we’re really happy to finish like that and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards for Tongan football.”

Cook Islands caretaker coach Paul Farrell-Turepu admitted the loss was a disappointing way to end the competition.

“We were hoping for better things but it just didn’t go our way,” he said. “The conditions made it hard but, to be fair, both teams had to deal with that and the winner was always going to be whoever adapted best.”

Samoa will now join the seven other OFC nations fighting for a place at the 2014 World Cup, namely Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu, in Fiji next June.

OFC Stage 1 Qualifiers - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™

Match Day Three Results

Tonga: 2 (Timote MAAMALOA 26', Kinitoni FALATAU 90')
Cook Islands: 1 (Grover HARMON 35')
Saturday 26 November
J.S. Blatter Stadium
Apia, Samoa

Samoa: 1 (Silao MALO 89')
American Samoa: 0
Saturday 26 November
J.S. Blatter Stadium
Apia, Samoa

Photo 1 - Samoa celebrate after thrilling win over American Samoa

Photo 2 - Tonga secured a win over the Cooks thanks to a late goal from Kinitoni Falatau
 

AUSTRALIA: Soldiers farewelled to the Solomons

One hundred and five soldiers, predominately from Queensland’s 11 Brigade have been farewelled by family and friends today at a parade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville.

The soldiers are deploying to Operation Anode in the Solomon Islands. Operation Anode is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, has praised the deploying soldiers and acknowledged their commitment to community and country.

“This current deployment of Reserve soldiers continues Australia’s commitment to the development and security of the Solomon Islands,” Senator Feeney said.

“Our soldiers epitomise many of the values that the Australian community holds dear.

“The most prominent one is their commitment to serving their country by getting in there and making a positive difference to their community and more broadly to the international community,” Senator Feeney said.

“We are extremely proud of the Reservists deploying today.

“These fine young men and women supported their community during the recent natural disasters in Queensland and now they are deploying in service of their country,” Senator Feeney said.

“They are a credit to our nation,” the Senator said.

The purpose of RAMSI is to assist the Solomon Islands Government in restoring law and order and economic governance.

The military component of RAMSI is comprised of personnel from four troop-contributing nations: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
 

(Photo: Business Spectator)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PNG has hurdles before women MPs voted in
Source: Business Spectator

Papua New Guinea's only female MP, Dame Carol Kidu, says she is cautiously optimistic women will run in the 2012 election, but fears the move could be swamped by the Supreme Court's upcoming verdict on the government's legitimacy.

PNG's parliament last week passed the Equality and Participation Bill, a change to the constitution guaranteeing women up to 22 seats in the parliament after the June 2012 election. However, a "nuts and bolts" law defining boundaries for the new electorates has yet to pass.

While he has given his firm commitment to the passage of the boundaries law, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill adjourned parliament on Friday until December 6, three days before the Supreme Court will rule on the legitimacy of his election in August.

The surprise adjournment also postpones the national budget, due two weeks ago.

Dame Carol says Mr O'Neill told her the law would be introduced on December 6, although the potential political fallout from the court decision on December 9 could come at the expense of the women's electorates.

"The political dynamics are going to become quite strange over the next few weeks with the court decision, and it needs two passages," she told AAP on Sunday.

"I was expecting it to happen this week. I asked the PM, he said he would put it through on the sixth.

"I am cautiously optimistic."

The December 9 decision overshadows every aspect of PNG's political class because of its potential to reinstate the former government of Sir Michael Somare.

Dame Carol said passing the required nuts and bolts law to make concrete Wednesday's historic vote could pose a logistical challenge, with the elections due in June.

"The problem is it requires two votes," she said, referring to the requirement for the bill to be given a first and second reading on separate days.

The Queensland-born, 15-year veteran of PNG's parliament said she was philosophical about the passage of last week's enabling legislation.

With the December decision and election so close and now only three scheduled sitting days before parliament lifts until March, MPs were trying to put notches in their political belt.

"There are people voting for it that I know don't want it," Dame Carol said.

"There are people on my side ... there are people on the government side who were so against it, but now it's politically convenient."

Photo Caption: Papua New Guinea's only female MP Dame Carol Kidu
 

(Photo: SPREP)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Security concerns in Solomon Islands prompt withdrawal of no confidence motion
Source: Radio New Zealand International
 
A planned motion of no confidence in the Solomon Islands government has been abandoned, with the opposition admitting it didn’t have the numbers.

The opposition lodged the motion soon after the election of Gordon Darcy Lilo as prime minister last week.

That election sparked rioting in Honiara and fears of a repeat today led to heightened security with increased police numbers and some businesses not operating.

But as our correspondent, Dorothy Wickham, reports, the Speaker, Sir Allan Kemakeza, told Parliament this morning that the opposition agreed yesterday to withdraw the motion.

“The Speaker of Parliament, when he spoke in Parliament today, highlighted the fact that the numbers were obvious - that they [the opposition] wouldn’t be able to get the numbers - and because of the current situation that we have with the law and order issues that have been taking place after the election of the Prime Minister last week, that it would be unwise to go ahead with something that had no sure ground.”

Photo Caption: Newly-elected Solomons Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo
 

AROUND THE WORLD: Forum countries attend international aid effectiveness meeting
Source: Pacific Island Forum Secretariat Press Release
 
Pacific Island Forum countries will make strong representation at the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4) in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 29 November to 1 December 2011.

The HLF4 aims to review the global progress in achieving the commitments made by partner countries and development partners under the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action, to improve the effectiveness of development assistance and shape new commitments to further ensure all resources that support development efforts will help reduce poverty and accelerate progress in achieving the MDGs.

About 2000 delegates will converge on Busan comprising developing and donor countries, government representatives, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, and private sector representatives, who will among other things:

• assess global progress in improving the quality of aid against the agreed commitments;

• share global experiences in delivering the best results; and,

• agree on a Busan Outcome Document to further enhance efforts globally and within countries to make aid more effective in reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

“With the unique challenges, vulnerabilities and limited capacities of some of the Forum island countries impacting on their ability to lead and progress their development agenda, it is important that the Pacific is well represented at this High Level Forum and advocate for specific recognition,” says Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Mr Slade said: “Countries in the region are considered recipients of some of the highest aid per capita although their progress on development outcomes including the Millennium Development Goals remain comparatively slow and mixed.”

Forum Leaders recognize the significant challenges to FICs in achieving their national development priorities and their commitments to internationally agreed development goals and targets.

The Pacific Plan was adopted as the master strategy on regional cooperation and integration. A range of regional frameworks and principles including the Pacific Aid Effectiveness Principles have been adopted to provide guidance and direction in implementing the priorities of the Plan.

“The Forum through its Secretariat will use the Busan High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to show case the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination (Forum Compact), which was adopted by Forum Leaders in 2009 through a Side Event jointly organised with the African Union agency, the New Partnerships for African Development (NEPAD) as a regional framework for promoting good practice in development cooperation,” said Mr Slade.

The Forum Secretariat has also secured time within the Knowledge and Innovation Space at the Busan HLF4 to promote the usefulness of the Peer Review process under the Forum Compact as an innovative and tailored process for the region. The value in looking beyond the experiences of the Pacific and draw from lessons learned in other regions to strengthen the peer review process or to foster inter-regional peer to peer learning will be considered through a mini-debate which will draw on experiences in the Caribbean region.

Forum Secretary General, Mr Slade said: “The plan is to use both the Joint Side Event with the Africans and the Mini-debate as an attempt to influence the outcomes of the Busan High Level Forum to address some of the challenges of the Pacific region’s development agenda.”