OFC President congratulates All Whites on historic feat

OFC President Reynald Temarii has congratulated the New Zealand All Whites after their historic 1-0 victory over Bahrain in Wellington at the weekend to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaTM.

A Rory Fallon goal in the 45th minute was enough to send the Oceania champions through to football's biggest stage - a feat they have not achieved since 1982.

President Temarii says it is a momentous occasion for New Zealand and for Oceania football.

"Qualifying for the FIFA World CupT is a moment to be savoured. It is something that this team has worked incredibly hard to achieve and something that will bring pride to thousands of football fans across the Pacific," said President Temarii.

"I would like to pass on my congratulations to the All Whites and to New Zealand Football for believing in this dream and making it happen."

Football fans have had to wait 27 years for New Zealand to qualify for their second FIFA World CupT but Temarii believes last night's victory could be the start of greater representation for OFC at FIFA's pinnacle event.

"This success will give confidence to the All Whites while also encouraging other Pacific Island nations that the goal of qualifying for the FIFA World CupTM is within reach."

Temarii says that the qualification is the outcome of strategic decisions taken in 2005 between FIFA, OFC, Football Federation Australia (FFA) and New Zealand Football (NZF).

"In 2006 Australia officially moved into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) while at the same time OFC secured the right from FIFA to play AFC's fifth-place qualifier on the road to the World Cup - a more appealing proposition than the previous pathway of playing a COMNEBOL representative."

"On top of this, FFA, through an agreement with OFC, allowed a team from New Zealand (Wellington Phoenix) to play in the A-League which gave an opportunity for some of New Zealand's best footballers to play professionally."

Temarii says he has always considered the departure of Australia into Asia as a wonderful opportunity for the emergence of other Pacific nations to compete on the world stage.

"The Solomon Islands at the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Tahiti at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2009 and New Zealand playing in various other FIFA competitions since 2007 is a perfect illustration of that."

"I remain convinced that the positive and significant evolutions of NZF on the international football stage is first and foremost the fruit of the exemplary leadership of its new Chairman Frank van Hattum, elected just one year ago, and CEO Michael Glading with whom OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas is working closely."