Tahiti

New Caledonia would support Tahiti bid for Pacific Games

The Pacific Games Council confirmed Tonga's withdrawal from hosting the event earlier this month, and asked for expressions of interest from "experienced" hosts.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea declined to make a bid with Samoa the only country confirming its desire to stage the games.

New Caledonia also ruled itself out, having last hosted the games six years ago.

Chief executive of the territory's Olympic Committee, Michel Quintin, said whoever does take on the hosting mantle needed strong financial backing.

Tahiti on top at Va'a World Champs

Kevin Ceran Jerusalemy won the V1 Open Men's 18km race, while Chevalier Hikutini prevailed in the V1 Masters Men's event.

The French Territory also won yesterday's V6 Open Women's race and top the overall standings with four gold medals, one silver and two bronze from seven events.

New Zealand was next best with two gold medals, while Australia have one.

More than 650 paddlers from 33 countries and five continents are competing in the first world marathon championships, which runs for four days.

 

Endangered birds recover in Tahiti

Birdlife International's Pacific Invasives Programme Manager said among those on the verge of extinction are the Sandpiper and Polynesian Ground-dove, or Tuturuturu.

Steve Cranwell said bird numbers are rising after the Acteon and Gambier island atolls in French Polynesia were made predator free two years ago.

"It has since re-established on one of those that it was previously not present and increased in number on another so it is looking really promising," Mr Cranwell said

 

Coach: Win has given players self-confidence

Coach, Flemming Serritslev said the game was won in the same way as the first game last week in Port Moresby.

“This time, since we were equal in playing numbers, we had the upper hand for most of the match.

‘We knew that victory in the second match was absolutely necessary to continue in the World Cup qualifiers.

“Now that we have reached this first goal, our next goal is to beat the Solomon Islands in the Solomon Islands,” said Serritslev.

Serritslev added on that the feeling in camp was good and the team deserved the win.

PNG Kapuls defeat Tahiti 2-1 to keep World Cup hopes alive

Both sides had their fair chances of scoring but neither team was able to find the back of the net leaving the score at nil-all going into the break.

Returning from suspension, PNG’s striker Raymond Gunemba made his presence felt in a big way, firstly from his corner kick that found its mark through Patrick Aisa who headed the ball between two defenders and around goalkeeper Mikael Roche to break the deadlock in the 62nd minute.

Ten minutes later, Aisa returned the favour flicking the ball to Gunemba who curled it over Roche to put PNG in front at 2-0.

PNG go down to Tahiti 3-1

Both teams started strongly, but it was PNG who had more chances in the opening exchanges in front of a home crowd of 4, 209 spectators.

A foul on Patrick Aisa in the 9th minute presented PNG an opportunity to score and hit the lead.

Lining the ball up to take the kick just outside the penalty box, Netherlands-based striker, David Browne’s attempt just soared centimetres over the cross bar.

Obama arrives in Tahiti

A former US president Barack Obama has arrived in French Polynesia for what has been suggested will be a month-long stay.

Serritslev announces preliminary squad to play Tahiti

PNG senior men’s coach Flemming Serritslev on Monday announced his preliminary squad for the first match against Tahiti in Port Moresby at Sir John Guise Stadium.

Drawn in Group B with Tahiti and Solomon Island, PNG will be out to prove to both teams that beating them at home in the OFC Nations Cup last year is not by mistake.

PNG started off their preparation last month with the first training camp on the 25 January and the second training camp will be at the end of this month.

PNG to take on New Zealand at OFC U17 championship semis

The match is scheduled to kick off at Stade Mahina on 21 February at 7pm (February 22 at 3pm, PNG time).

The OFC championship is being hosted in Tahiti from February 11-24 with eight countries participating.

PNG made it through to the semi-final after defeating hosts Tahiti 2-1 on Saturday (PNG time).

PNG coach Harrison Kamake said his side’s mentality is what drove their success.

He added the boys had the fighting spirit towards the back end of the game and their defence contributed a lot to the overall play and it helped them in the end.

PNG hopes to bounce back at Championships

The OFC championship is being hosted in Tahiti from February 11-24 with eight countries participating.

Our boys are pooled in Group A alongside New Caledonia, Tahiti and Vanuatu while Group B consists of Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and New Zealand.

PNG is currently third on the points ladder after round one behind New Caledonia on first place and Tahiti on second. 

In their first match on Saturday, PNG went down to New Caledonia 3-2 while Tahiti defeated Vanuatu 1-0.