Samoa boxers

look to Spain

BOXERS are Western Samoa’s best bet at the Olympics this year.

Eager to get their squad into shape for the four-yearly event, a team of six New Zealand-based Samoan boxers were in vited to Apia in early March.

New Zealand champions, heavy weight David Tua, middleweight Bob Casio, light-middleweight Sililo Figota, and welterweight Andrew Tua were among them. The other two were lightweight Fai Falemoe and light wel terweight Ameto Tuumuli.

Lone soccer team MELANESIAN Cup holders, Vanuatu, are the South Pacific’s lone entrant in the World indoor soccer tournament.

It is placed in Oceania qualifying round play-offs in Brisbane against Australia and New Zealand in June.

Vanuatu, which shocked tough op ponents in the Melanesian Cup last year but failed to get the gold at the South Pacific Games, will try out their luck in World Indoor Soccer as underdogs.

Vanuatu’s outdoor team coach Terry O’Donnel expects his side to qualify in the World Cup qualifying rounds against New Zealand and Fiji. The other pool,

redrawn after Western Samoa’s with drawal, has Australia, Solomon Island and Tahiti.

Singh wins third FIJI’S Vijay Singh collected his third European title when he shot a final round of 66 to capture the Turespana Masters in Malaga recently.

The Fiji-born golfer, who was engaged in a bitter row with the Fiji golfing association a few years ago, won by two shots from England’s first-year profes sional, Gary Evans. Singh turned 29 in February. His recent winning streak in Europe makes him one of most successful professionals from the islands.

Pick of the world TWO Pacific Islands-born players are named in a World XV selection to play three Test matches against New Zealand All Blacks in April. Western Samoa’s Peter Fatialofa, who captained the side to a historic World Cup quarterfinal finish, and Tongan-born Willie Ofahengaue are the lone picks from the region. Second-rower Fatialofa is based in New Zealand, but played for Samoa after missing out on All Blacks selection.

Ofahengaue now plays for Australia’s Wallabies and represented them at the World Cup final. The World XV will play All Blacks at Christchurch on April 18, Wellington April 22, and at Auck land on April 25. □