Timor Leste Juarai Timor Sea Cup di Darwin

Tim sepak bola Dili (Timor Leste) menjuarai "Timor Sea Cup" pertama setelah menekuk tim tuan rumah Northern Territory (NT) berusia di bawah 18 tahun di putaran final yang berlangsung di stadion sepak bola Darwin, Larrakia Park, Sabtu petang, dengan skor 3-0.
Pertandingan dua kesebelasan itu dibuka Konsul RI Darwin Harbangan Napitupulu dengan pelemparan koin. Menteri Urusan Hubungan Asia NT, Kon Vatskalis ada di antara ratusan orang penonton yang menyaksikan jalannya putaran final, kata Sekretaris II Fungsi Pensosbud Konsulat RI Darwin, Arvinanto Soeriaatmadja.
Kedua kesebelasan bertanding secara sportif dan anak-anak Timor Leste lebih menguasai lapangan. "Gol ketiga bahkan terjadi beberapa saat sebelum babak kedua berakhir," kata Arvinanto.
Sejak kejuaraan trilateral ini dimulai 17 September lalu, tim kesebelasan Dili sudah menunjukkan kelasnya. Pada pertandingan pertamanya melawan kesebelasan NT berusia di bawah 15 tahun, tim kesebelasan Dili menang telak dengan skor akhir 6-1.
Saat melawan kesebelasan Kupang yang mewakili Indonesia Kamis (18/9), tim Dili kembali menang dengan skor 2-1. Tim "Merah Putih" sendiri berada di posisi ketiga dengan sekali menang melawan tim NT berusia di bawah 15 tahun (4-2).
Kejuaraan trilateral "Timor Sea Cup" ini baru pertama kali diselenggarakan walaupun sudah direncanakan tiga tahun lalu. Pemerintah negara bagian NT membiayai seluruh keperluan pertandingan ini, kata Arvinanto. (kapanlagi.com)

AUS Defence Minisiter Visits Indonesia, East Timor

The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP Minister for Defence
Wednesday, 17 September 2008 124/2008
Minister For Defence Visits Indonesia And East Timor
The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, will visit Indonesia and East Timor from 17 to 19 September to meet with his counterparts and visit Australian Defence Personnel deployed to East Timor.
This will be the Minister’s first trip to Indonesia. He will meet with his counterpart, Dr Juwono Sudarsono, for the second time this year.
“I’m looking forward to meeting again with Minister Sudarsono, following his visit to Australia in March earlier this year, to discuss progress in cooperation initiatives and identify engagement opportunities to continue to drive the relationship forward,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
”The Australia-Indonesia Defence relationship, like the broader bilateral relationship, reflects our shared interests in regional security and continues to strengthen.”
The Ministers will discuss progress on a range of initiatives developed since they last met including enhanced education and training cooperation, strategic assistance to the Indonesian Department of Defence and industry and science engagement.
“Defence cooperation between Australia and Indonesia contributes directly to the security and stability of the region. My discussions with Dr Sudarsono will ensure that we have a shared understanding of our security priorities to enable us to best use defence resources in the most efficient and effective way to achieve this goal.”
The Minister will then travel to East Timor for his first visit to Dili. He will meet with senior East Timor officials and visit the East Timor Defence Forces (F-FDTL) training centre at Metinano, including the Australian Defence Cooperation Program Specialist Training Wing currently under construction. (scoop.co.nz)

Inaugural Timor Sea Cup

Darwin is playing host to two under-18 boys soccer teams from our nearest neighbours to our north - Nusa Tenggara Timur and Timor-Leste.

The Minister for Asian Relations, Kon Vatskalis, said 36 boys have travelled to Darwin for the inaugural Timor Sea Cup

Kicking off today, the tournament will be held at Larrakia Park until Saturday 20 September 2008.

Three teams from Nusa Tenggara Timur, Timor-Leste and the Northern Territory will play off for their chance to win the inaugural cup.

“This event is a chance to further develop community and cultural links between the Northern Territory, Nusa Tenggara Timur and Timor-Leste,” said Mr Vatskalis.

“We hope to see the tournament incorporated into next year’s Arafura Games, and encourage even more players to come to the Top End.”

Entry to the tournament is by gold coin donation and everyone is welcome to watch the games. (newsroom.nt.gov.au)