PNG's young footballers prevented from playing, Cooks' first-ever competitive win at U-19s, and trio of brothers star for Solomons
Visa issues prevent PNG from contesting first two games of Oceania U-19s
Papua New Guinea's under-19 football team missed two games of the Oceania men's football championships after encountering visa issues on the way to Tahiti.
The National newspaper quotes Papua New Guinea Football Association president, John Kapi Natto, as saying he's been told the reason for not allowing PNG to travel to New Zealand, en route to Tahiti, was because the squad did not obtain a visa to enter Tahiti.
But he said other teams were granted visa exemption, and there was a misunderstanding with airline staff which meant the team could not board its flight from Fiji to Auckland.
PNG missed its two opening group matches against Fiji and the hosts, with those two teams being awarded 3-0 wins.
But the team will be able to play its final, re-scheduled group match, against Tonga on Thursday local time.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu was unable to play both its pool matches against New Caledonia and Samoa due to flight delay.
The top two teams in the tournament will qualify for the Under-20 World Cup in 2023.
Historic win for Cook Islanders
The Cook Islands have won their first-ever competitive match at the men's Oceania Under-19s football championship, beating American Samoa 4-nil.
Goals from Silas Trego, Ngametua Tuakana and a Dalziel Beal brace earned victory at Stade Fautaua in Papeete and kept the nation's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.
The Cook Islands' only previous win in the tournament was awarded to them in 2001 after Samoa withdrew.
They will now wait for the outcome from groups B and C to discover if they advance to the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams.
Meanwhile, New Zealand secured top spot in Group A after a comfortable 6-0 win over Solomon Islands.
A brace apiece from Kian Donkers and Adam Supyk ensured New Zealand will receive a favourable draw in the quarter-finals, while Solomon Islands are also into the final eight as group runners-up.
The Kiwis have won three games, scoring 23 times, and conceding none.
Brothers star for Solomon Islands in futsal tournament
A trio of brothers all scored as Solomon Islands won its opening match at the Oceania Futsal Cup in Suva, Fiji.
Photo: OFC Media via Kirk Corrie.
Junior, Elis, and Benjamin Mana, from the Mataks Football Club, helped their side secure a 9-3 victory against New Caledonia.
Elis scored a hat-trick while Junior scored a double and Benjamin netted a goal in the win.
For Junior and Benjamin, the match was also their national debut for the Solomon Islands.
The siblings are aged from 20 to 22.
Fijiana name strong squad to deal with Wahine Māori
Fijiana 15s head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has named a 23-member squad to face New Zealand's Wahine Māori in Suva on Friday.
Seruvakula said they have named six forwards and two backs in the reserves, mainly because they know they will be fronting some big girls so they need to keep up with the momentum in the second half when their bodies get tired.
"We are putting in a very experienced side including those girls who played in the Super W and were part of the team which qualified for the Rugby World Cup in 2019," Seruvakula said.
"Everyone had put their hands up for selection but we had to select the best players and for now, these are the ones who have been chosen to deliver on the game day.
"First match is just to look at the combination of these girls and secondly to see what these girls can bring to the game before the final selection is done for the Rugby World Cup."
Fijiana then play Canada in Suva on Friday, September 23.
Surfers picked for World Surfing Games
Two French Polynesian surfers have been selected for the World Surfing Games starting on Friday in California.
This is a qualifying event for the 2024 Olympic Games in Tahiti.
Among the men, the 25-year-old Mihimana Braye has been selected for the first time.
In the women's event, 20-year-old Vahine Fierro has previously finished third in a World Surfing League event in French Polynesia.