NEW CALEDONIA FAVOURITES AS INJURY STRIKES FIJI CAMP
Saturday, 17 November 07, 03:55 AM
Fiji international midfielder Pita Baleitoga has brought a sigh of relief in the national team camp on the eve of the match against New Caledonia. Baleitoga, who was under an injury cloud, has recovered from a knee injury and will be a key player in the absence of five regulars who have been ruled out of the match.
Coach Carlos Buzzetti said Baleitoga will strengthen the midfield when they take on New Caledonia in the all important World Cup qualifying match. Buzzetti said missing five key players has been a blow for the side however they will hope to field their best with the available players. "The more important thing is that Pita (Baleitoga) has recovered and looks free of injury," Buzzetti said. "He came to camp on Monday with a blow to his knee and now after treatment he was back training with the team and is in better condition and I am very stratified with that."
New Zealand-based Waitakere United midfielder Ronil Kumar has also added a new lease of life to the depleted side after the withdrawal of another Kiwi-based midfielder Salesh Kumar alongside veteran striker Esala Masi while Josaia Bukalidi and Malakai Tiwa are out injured.
Samuela Vula has personal commitments and Simione Tamanisau could not obtain leave from work. Ronil Kumar arrived on Wednesday night and had his first training run with the side yesterday morning.
All this week the national side has faced setbacks and injury scares however more good news was in store for the side when defender Jone Vesikula was cleared to play.
"We will change a few positions and the players are here to represent their country," Buzzetti said. Buzzetti will trim the current squad of 22 players to 18 on Saturday and will name the starting lineup to take on New Caledonia before the match.
Fiji needs a win against New Caledonia to get its campaign back on track after losing to New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup qualifiers last month.
New Caledonia will be boosted by their performances at the XIII South Pacific Games - Samoa 2007 that saw coach Didier Chambaron's side pip Fiji for the gold medal in a tense final match in Apia nearly six weeks ago.
Former AS Pirae midfielder Jose Hmae was the goalscorer that day and will have a key role to play for the visitors with the mecurial abilities of another ace player Pierre Wajoka likely to be absent.
Defensively New Caledonia will present Fiji with a serious challenge particularly if as expected Chambaron employs a 4-5-1 formation that worked so well for 'les cagous' at J.S. Blatter Playing Field in Apia.
With the bulk of Chambaron's team comprised from unbeaten Super Ligue leaders AS Magenta, New Caledonia will start the match as slight favourites given the long list of injury-enforced absentees from the Juan Carlos Buzzetti's squad.
SYDNEY – All Whites coach Ricki Herbert admits he is as worried about the temperature in Port Vila as he is about Vanuatu ahead of Saturday’s FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The mercury tipped a toasty 27 degrees Celsius in Sydney on Thursday as the All Whites put the final touches on their preparation at St Gregory’s College where the pesky flies far out-numbered the pupils at the massive private school.
But it is expected to be up to 10 degrees warmer come Saturday’s 2pm kickoff (4pm NZT) – conditions that will obviously play in Vanuatu’s hands.
“The heat and the condition of the ground are things that are not going to change, we just need to deal with them,” Herbert said on the eve of the All Whites flight to Port Vila.
“But I think what it does do though is dictate the intensity and periods of intensity we can play at. We need to be sensible and protect the ball when we do have possession and ensure we maximise any opportunities that do fall our way.
“It’s going to be all hands to the pump…it won’t be easy.”
Herbert is not due to name his starting XI until late Friday but it will be as interesting as the makeup of his bench is crucial given the testing conditions expected.
Vanuatu lost 3-0 to Fiji in the semifinals at July’s South Pacific Games in Samoa, the first phase of Oceania qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
New Zealand beat Fiji 2-0 in their first qualifier last month but Herbert and nine of his current squad only have to rewind to the last World Cup qualifiers – when the All Whites were upset 4-2 by Vanuatu in Adelaide in 2004 - for a reminder that no opponent can be taken for granted – and particularly not in their own conditions.
“History tells us to be wary of them,” Herbert said of Vanuatu.
“There seems to be a theory in New Zealand that these games are easy but they thought that about Fiji as well and that wasn’t easy. We’ll always be subjected to uninformed expectations but as a group we understand it will be difficult.
“Having said that, we remain confident and positive. This is group very keen to do well despite the absence of some key personnel…it’s fantastic in anybody’s career to have the opportunity to play in a World Cup qualifying tournament.”
All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner scouted Vanuatu at the South Pacific Games where they were able to reverse a 2-0 loss to the Solomon Islands in pool play to win the bronze medal playoff by the same score.
Vanuatu will be without Philip Tom Tomke and Francois Sakama who carry automatic suspensions from the South Pacific Games into the second phase of qualifying.
“Individually they’re technically of a very good quality and they’re a side that likes to get forward,” Herbert said.
“But what that might give us is an opportunity to develop our own attacking strategies quickly.”
Visit www.nzfootball.co.nz for full coverage of Saturday’s match which will not be broadcast on television.
Thai Airways All Whites (from): Mark Paston (GK), Jacob Spoonley (GK), Tony Lochhead, James Pritchett, Andy Boyens, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, Jeremy Christie, Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Duncan Oughton, Jeff Campbell, David Mulligan, Chris James, Shane Smeltz, Jarrod Smith, Daniel Ellensohn. Coach: Ricki Herbert.
Vanuatu (from): 1-David Chilia (GK), 20-Chikau Mansale (GK), 6-Ken Masauvakalo (vice-captain), 2-Andrew Chichirua, 5-Fedy Vava (captain), 3-Jacques Yaput Mafil Nawan, 17-Geoffrey Lego Gete, 18-Hubert Nake, 4-Ephraim Kalorib, 15-Jeffrey Nimanian, 7-Moise Poida, 12-Fenedy Masauvakalo, 19-Derek Malas, 16-Alphonse Wellin Qorig, 24-Rexly Tarivuti, 14-Pita Maki, 21-Robert Yelou Jean, 9-Jean Nako Naprapol, 10-Seule Soromon, 11-Rexon Tari. Coach: Robert Calvo.
PORT VILA - Vanuatu coach Robert Calvo says he is "hopeful" his country can cause another World Cup upset against New Zealand despite the suspension and loss of form of key players ahead of today's clash with Ricki Herbert's New Zealand All Whites.
Etienne Mermer, Richard Iwai and Jean Maleb find themselves left out of Calvo's 18-man squad with Philip Tom Tomake and the influential playmaker Francois Sakama absent after picking up yellow cards during the XIII South Pacific Games Men's football tournament.
Sakama's loss cannot be underestimated with the attacking midfielder achieving almost legendary status in Vanuatu after his rasping goal against Solomon Islands in the bronze medal match back in August was described as goal of the tournament by local observers. And it's not just Sakama's deadly finishing that will be missed, it will also be the youngster's ability to link play from front to back with his impressive range of passing.
Calvo will rely on the experience of Ken Masauvakalo, Fenedy Masauvakalo, skipper Fedy Vava and lightening-quick Suva striker Seule Soromon - who topped the XIII South Pacific Games goalscoring charts in Samoa - if his team is to earn a point against a New Zealand side missing Ryan Nelsen and Chris Killen.
Ivan Vicelich emerges as New Zealand's most experienced player with the 61-cap defensive midfielder likely to play a key role in his team's search for another vital away win on the road to South Africa. Vicelich's role remains unclear with the Dutch-based All White able to fulfill a role at centre back or in the middle of midfield.
Wellington Phoenix striker Shane Smeltz will be asked to continue his red-hot form with Chris Killen's absence leading to a call-up for uncapped Team Wellington striker Daniel Ellensohn. Jarrod Smith is another of Herbert's striking options with the Hawkes Bay United frontman yet to score at international level in nine previous outings.
Herbert's team remain favourites to at least take a point from this Port Vila mission but the prospect of playing in front of a local crowd expected to number anywhere between 6-10,000 will be an ominous prospect with the match the biggest sporting event in Vanuatu history since the hosting of the South Pacific mini-games several years ago.
The major talking point of the week has been about the state of the Port Vila venue. However due to the diligence of the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF), Vanuatu Government, New Zealand High Commission and local businesses, the stadium appears to have undergone a remarkable transformation which has won the approval of both camps ahead of kick-off.
New Zealand are missing two of their most influential players for the game against Vanuatu, Celtic striker Chris Killen and Blackburn defender, and All Whites captain, Ryan Nelsen.
As mentioned, the climate is extremely warm, almost tropical, in Vanuatu around this time of year, with it being their summer and all. New Zealand is much further south and does not experience such extreme heat.
Odds of 25.00 for a Vanuatu win are quite tempting, as is the 6.65 offered by Unibet for the 1X double chance.
New Caledonia also look in fine fettle against a Fiji side that have been hit by injuries and withdrawals. The Caledonians beat Fiji in the final of the South Pacific games by a single goal just two months ago and I'd quite happily place on wager on them doing the same thing again at odds of 4.00.
Oceania (OFC) World Cup Qualifying
