Soccer

FIFA Women’s official match ball launched

The ninth successive football produced by adidas for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, OCEAUNZ’s design is inspired by the unique natural landscapes of the two host nations, with visuals nodding to the vast mountains of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia’s connection with the Indian Ocean.

The ball is a celebration of the cultures of both host countries and features designs by Aboriginal artist, Chern’ee Sutton, and Māori artist, Fiona Collis. Their art is also part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 brand identity, Beyond Greatness™.

Yamano Cup scout potential players

Thirty-six (36) teams within the Yamano tribe in Ambunti participated in the competition – 20 teams in men’s soccer and 16 teams for women’s volleyball. The competition took place between 5th and 12th January.

The games were played at the Kumbawei Sports grounds.

President of Yamano Sports Association Solomon Aplas said the games ended on a high note with potential players selected to participate in the District this September.

Gareth Bale announces retirement from football: ‘I have realised my dream’

Bale, one of Britain’s most decorated players, has stepped away from the game midway through his contract at Los Angeles FC, which was due to expire this summer.

Bale’s decision comes little more than a month after he vowed to continue playing after Wales’s disappointing group-stage exit at their first World Cup finals tournament for 64 years. Bale captained Wales on his first appearance at a World Cup finals.

Croatia claim World Cup third place in 2-1 win against Morocco

Key points:

  • Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic scored for Croatia
  • Their coach said Saturday's bronze-medal game was the tournament highlight
  • Morocco was the first African or Arabic team to reach the last four at a World Cup

Croatia, who were runners-up in 2018, prevailed with goals by Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic to end their World Cup on a high as Luka Modric possibly bid farewell to the soccer extravaganza.

Bougainville Scouted for Upcoming Soccer Talent

National Senior Men’s Team Coach Marcos Gusmao and National Under-19 Coach Anthony Pakakota visited Bougainville at the invitation of the President of the Bougainville Football Federation, Justin Helele recently.

The duo were on their first scouting trip to Bougainville and they were very happy to see the many raw talents that showed potential to join the PNG squad in the future. Both coaches were able to watch the Under 19 soccer match between team Arawa and Buka this week including two other matches organized for the duo to watch and possibly select some players.

OFC Women In Final Group Matches

In Group A match on Saturday, 16th July, the match between Vanuatu and Cook Islands ended in a 1-1 draw at the HFC Stadium in Suva, Fiji.

The Cook Islands will now take on Samoa in the group’s final game tomorrow, July 19 while Tonga will be waiting on results from elsewhere to discover if they will advance to the quarterfinals.

For Group B results, tournament favourites, PNG edged Tahiti 2-1 yesterday to top their Group and advance into the semifinal.

‘An insult to football’: Mbappe slammed after inking ‘scandalous’ $898m PSG deal in major backflip

“I am very happy to stay in France, in Paris, in my city,” Mbappe told supporters on the Parc des Princes pitch before he marked his new deal with a hat-trick in PSG’s 5-0 win over Metz in their final Ligue 1 match of the season.

tanding next to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Mbappe said: “I hope I’m going to be able to continue to do what I like most — winning football matches and trophies with all of you.”

Mbappe’s hat-trick on Saturday took his total of league goals for the season to 28.

OFC’s Just Play Program Underway

The program was shelved due to mismanagement and was revived under the president John Kapi Natto after it was seen as a very powerful medium to get the message across the mass population through schools and community.

Just Play Manager, Christine Wamala-Uru, was relieved to see the first phase of the pilot program is getting off the ground in Port Moresby. The program will be conducted in three regions of the National Capital District with Moresby Northwest schools being the first to be followed by Moresby South and Moresby North West by the end of the month or next month.

Teams ready for club championships finals

These are the top eight clubs in the country who have come through the club championships regional qualifiers.

The Club Championship finals hosted by National Capital District Public Servant Soccer Association will see four men’s and four women’s teams competing in the three-day tournament.

In the men’s division are Mungkas FC (Southern), City United FC (Northern), Kimbe Bay Mates FC (NGI) and Tabubil FC (Highlands).

In the women’s division are FC Wantoks (Southern), Mix Mates FC (NGI), Prima Power (Northern) and Guria FC (Highlands).

Women’s soccer team making final preps

“The preparation has been going really well,” said assistant coach Aka. “The players are working hard and with the full team together it’s easier to work with everyone.

“We have 23 players in this final two-week camp in Port Moresby, which kicked off last Monday, where the players have been put through their paces in fitness drills and a handful of field training sessions.