The OFC recently held its first ever television seminar in Tahiti with representatives from Canal France International (Guy Muller, Hedi Heml and Thomas Roux) joining OFC President and FIFA Vice-President ReynaldTemarii for the three-day event that was aimed at forging a closer relationship between OFC’s member associations and their respective television networks. FIFA and OFC ambassador Christian Karembeu participated in the seminar and backed calls for more domestic and international football on local television networks, with the OFC and CFI supplying technical equipment and training programmes for local people.
Karembeu and former Rangers and Auxerre goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier were also present at an OFC media conference in Tahiti to help launch the FIFA Football for Hope/OFC Football for Life matches between the France ’98 team and a Christian Karembeu XI in Noumea, and a Pascal Vahirua XI in Stade Pater, Tahiti in May 2008. The matches have received overwhelming support from Te Rama Ora (support for victims of crime), La Ligue (cancer research and support) and L’association Tokani Nui (mental health agency) in Tahiti.

Mexico 1986 world champion Sergio Batista has become the new coach of Argentina’s youth teams. He took over the reins from Hugo Tocalli, technical director of the 2007 U-20 world champions who stepped down last November.

CONMEBOL has signed a sponsorship contract with Banco Santander of Spain for its flagship club competition, which will now be known as Copa Santander Libertadores as from the beginning of 2008. The contract is due to last for five years. The Spanish group has replaced Toyota Motor Corporation, which acted as sponsor for this celebrated competition from 1998 to 2007.