Latest news with #AngelineChua
Scoop
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Group B Teams Finalise Preparations For OFC Women's Nations Cup
With eight overseas-based players in her squad, Fiji head coach Angeline Chua is confident her team has what it takes to lift the trophy at the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025, which kicks off tomorrow in Fiji. Group B teams, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, are putting the finishing touches on their preparations ahead of their opening matches on Saturday at Suva's HFC Bank Stadium. At this morning's pre-tournament media conference, held at the Fiji FA headquarters, Chua spoke about the pride and motivation of playing in front of a home crowd. 'In Fiji, we love sports, and we love to host. It's so important for the players to have their families and fans there supporting them,' said Chua. 'Playing at home gives us a unique advantage, and we're determined to make the most of it.' Chua also reflected on the importance of Fiji's recent international friendlies against Papua New Guinea. 'Those matches were crucial for our development. It's tough for Oceania teams to get regular matches during FIFA windows, unlike other regions where countries are closer together. But international exposure is vital if we want to perform on the bigger stage,' she said. 'Travelling to PNG and coming away with positive results gave us belief and helped us assess where we stand ahead of this tournament.' Solomon Islands coach Moses Toata is overseeing a squad featuring several players from Henderson Eels, who reached the semi-finals of the OFC Women's Champions League in Tahiti in May. 'We're excited to be here and grateful for the opportunity to test ourselves against the best in the region,' said Toata. 'Preparation has gone well, but we need to stay focused – especially for our opening match against Fiji.' Tonga head coach Kilifi Uele, a seasoned figure in the Pacific football scene, has blended local talent with a handful of US-based players in a youthful squad. 'This is one of the youngest senior teams we've fielded, many are from the U-19 side that qualified for the OFC U-19 Women's Championship for the first time,' said Uele. 'We also have eight overseas players joining us, which is a big boost. Our goal is to reach the semi-finals.' Vanuatu, guided by Jean-Robert Yelou, enter the tournament with quiet confidence after a focused domestic build-up in Port Vila. Several players hail from the Penama Tigers, late withdrawals from May's OFC Women's Champions League, and others from the U-19 national side. 'Our preparation has had its challenges, but the women's league is back up and running, and there's growing commitment at home,' Yelou said. 'We're excited to show what we can do.' Beyond regional pride, the OFC Women's Nations Cup carries additional importance: valuable FIFA ranking points are at stake, which will influence seeding for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers, beginning in the Cook Islands later this year. Group A action kicks off tomorrow in Lautoka, with Cook Islands facing Tahiti in the tournament opener at Churchill Park, followed by defending champions Papua New Guinea taking on Samoa.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 25 June
The Fijians are in Group B of the OFC Women's Nations Cup alongside Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Photo: Christophe Fotozz, Tahiti Fiji women's football coach Angeline Chua has named a number of overseas-based players in her final 23-member squad for the upcoming OFC Women's Nations Cup in Fiji. The squad features a mix of seasoned players and fresh faces, with five overseas-based players included to bolster the team's campaign. Two of the key players in the team are forward Trina Davis, currently playing for FC Olympia USLW in the United States, and Preeya Singh, a promising midfielder from the University of California. The Fijians are in Group B of the Nations Cup alongside Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. The side will mee the Solomon Islands on 5 July in their opening match. Group A is made up of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti and Cook Islands. Pasifika heritage players Hoskins Sotutu and Mark Tele'a are reportedly in South Africa to play for the Barbarians against the Springboks on Sunday morning (New Zealand time). The two Blues players were left out of the All Blacks squad selected on Monday, and media reports say they are in Cape Town to join the Barbarians. The Barbarians, coached by former All Blacks coach Robbie Deans, and assisted by former All Black Sam Whitelock, will meet the world champions in Cape Town on Sunday. Tele'a, who is of Samoan origin, is moving to Japan to join the Toyota Verblitz club. Sotutu, who is of Fijian origin, has missed All Blacks selection for the second consecutive season. Fiji's weightlifting coach says they have recently shifted focus to recovery and injury prevention, gradually tapering the workload to ensure the athletes are in peak condition for the Pacific Mini Games. FBC News reported the nine-member team, under coach Henry Elder, is keen to showcase its talent and bring medals home. The 2025 Pacific Mini Games will officially open in Koror on Sunday. The Hyderabad Heroes and Chennai Bulls have qualified for the semi-finals of the Rugby Premier League sevens franchise tournament in Mumbai, India. The Heroes, who have Fiji sevens reps Joji Nasova and Terio Tamani as part of their five international players, have won seven of eight matches so far. The Bulls have won five, drawn once and lost three games to date. Toutai Kefu, head coach of the First Nations and Pasifika XV team to face the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on 22 July, hopes the playing squad will be named soon. The first-ever rugby clash between the combined heritage team and the Lions is attracting a lot of interest, with some big names being floated around. Kefu said the Wallabies selectors, led by head coach Joe Schmidt, will pick the players. The former Wallaby says the squad will assemble on 15 July to prepare for the game, which is part of the Lions' nine-match tour of Australia.
