Source: OFC MEDIA
New Zealand team Auckland City will definitely take part in the two-legged grand final and even a loss to Tefana on Saturday would not be enough to deny them top spot in Group B. Vanuatu team Amicale are almost certain to join them by winning Group A but there is still a tiny ray of hope for second-placed Lautoka.
The Fijian champions can draw level on points with the leaders if they beat Hekari United and Amicale lose to Kolaole but the latter’s vastly-superior goal difference would still see them through in that scenario. Amicale are 13 strikes better off than their nearest rivals in the for-and-against stakes and it would take a heavy loss, coupled with a big win for Lautoka, to prevent an Auckland-Amicale final.
Lautoka will be disappointed to be in this position after looking like genuine contenders for a final berth for much of the season. Gurjit Singh’s men started with two wins and a draw to put themselves in contention but a horror run of two comprehensive losses – 6-1 to Koloale and 5-1 to Amicale – has seen them drop off the pace.
They are still clinging on to the faint hope of progressing but are aware how difficult it will be to overrun defending champions Hekari in their Port Moresby backyard.
“They will be a very tough side to beat at home but we will be out to end our campaign on a high note,” Lautoka president Shalendra Prasad says.
Despite the presence of several imports in the Lautoka ranks, Prasad says the Blues line-up will have a distinctly homegrown feel about it on Saturday.
“We will be using all our local-based players for this match, although Valerio Nawatu and Krishna Samy are both out. Nawatu copped his second yellow card against Amicale while Samy was sent off.”
Having tasted life amongst the elite at the FIFA Club World Cup in December, Hekari were determined to do well in the O-League again and earn a trip back to the prestigious tournament. But things have not gone to plan and they lie at the bottom of Group A with only one win from their five matches.
The Papua New Guineans will be desperate to prove their quality against Lautoka and should actually be in confident mood after posting some good results recently in the domestic National Soccer League, a competition they are very much in the title-running for.
Koloale have also had a disappointing O-League season and a return of two wins will not be deemed acceptable by their fanatical fans, who have continued to pack out Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium despite the team’s underwhelming showings. But Peter Eke’s side have experienced a resurgence in form during recent weeks, posting 6-1 and 2-1 wins over Lautoka and Amicale respectively, and Saturday’s fixture is also intriguing as it brings together two teams stacked full of Solomon Islands flair.
Indeed, the local fans may not know who to cheer for at times as they see national heroes such as Batram Suri, Stanley Waita and Richard Anisua sweating it out in the red of Amicale. Fellow Solomon Islanders Alick Maemae and Jack Wetney – who have both been key figures in the Amicale attack – will not take part as Maemae is suspended and Wetney has picked up a minor foot injury.
Amicale have 11 Solomon Islanders in their ranks and former Hekari midfielder Waita says they feel at home in Port Vila. He says the locally-produced players are physically stronger than his countrymen but believes the Solomon Islanders add a touch of skill and flair to proceedings.
“We are not that strong but are good with the football on the ground,” Waita says. “If you mix the Solomon and Vanuatu players together, it is possible to get the results like we have against quality teams in the O-League.”
There is little riding on the two matches taking place in Auckland and each game is likely to have a distinctly different feel. City will be in high spirits and looking for a confidence boost ahead of their final appearance while the mood will be far more subdued across town at Fred Taylor Park as Waitakere round off an O-League campaign they will not fondly remember against Magenta.
The West Aucklanders began the season well enough with a win over Tefana and a draw against local rivals City but both those matches were at home and it was when they hit the road that the wheels started to come off. Neil Emblen’s team have failed to win on their travels, drawing with Magenta before losing to Tefana and Auckland, and the player-coach admits those away-day struggles have been their downfall.
“Where we’ve fallen short has been in the islands,” Emblen says. “We haven’t won away from home and we always know the Auckland games are going to be close. We’ve drawn one-all and lost one-nil against Auckland and you need to go and win at least one of your away games. We’ll be looking to rectify that if we can qualify for the O-League again next year.”
While neither Waitakere or Magenta have any chance of progressing, there is a fair amount of pride on the line as the New Caledonia side are ahead of United on the table and a point would be enough to kept it that way. Failing to finish in the top two would be unacceptable for Waitakere, who have been one of the Pacific’s benchmark clubs since their inception.
It will be far from easy to make sure that doesn’t happen as Emblen’s squad has been ravaged by suspensions. Several experienced players are missing – Jake Butler, Chris Bale, Jason Rowley and Martin Bullock – while key striker Roy Krishna is out for the season with a badly dislocated wrist.
City will also be without two of their most prominent figures in the form of David Mulligan and Manel Exposito but can afford to drop points against a Tefana side keen to add to their one win so far. All Whites midfielder Mulligan is in China for professional trials and will not return if successful – an absence that will be more of an issue if he is not available for the final – while Spanish striker Exposito is suspended.
Youngsters Aaron Bawdekar and Rory Kelly come into the squad to replace them and co-coaches Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx may see this as a good opportunity to give the rookies some O-League experience.
2011 O-LEAGUE MATCH DAY 6 PREVIEW
Auckland City [NZL] vs. Tefana [TAH]
Saturday 19 March
Auckland, New Zealand
Kiwitea St
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Assistant referee 1: Ian-Hendrick HINTZ [NZL]
Assistant referee 2: Brent BEST [NZL]
Fourth Official: Matt CONGER [NZL]
Auckland City: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 2. Angel BERLANGA, 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 6. Stuart KELLY, 7. James PRITCHETT, 10. Luis CORRALES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC 12. Liam LITTLE [GK], 14. Adam DICKINSON, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Albert VIDAL, 18. Paul GOTHARD [GK], 20. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Adam THOMAS, 26. Aaron BAWDEKAR, 30. Rory KELLY
Coaches: Aaron McFARLAND and Ramon TRIBULIETX
Tefana: 1. Gilbert MERIEL [GK], 2. Stephane FAATIARAU, 3. Pierre KUGOGNE, 4. Nahuiotiu TEIEFITU, 6. Heimano BOUREBARE, 7. Taufa NEUFFER, 9. Kenny NUI, 10. Hiva KAMOISE, 11. Jean Claude CHANG KOEI CHANG, 12. Arnaud SICOT, 13. James LEOU, 14. Manutea TAAE, 15. Lorenzo TEHAU, 16. Sebastian LABAYEN, 17. Roihau DEGAGE, 20. Axel WILLIAMS, 21. Angelo TCHEN, 23. Xavier SAMIN [GK], 24. David CHANG KOEI CHANG
Coach: Laurent HEINIS
Hekari United [PNG] vs. Lautoka [FIJ]
Saturday 19 March
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
PMRL Stadium
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Peter O’LEARY [NZL]
Assistant referee 1: David CHARLES [PNG]
Assistant referee 2: Hillary ANI [PNG]
Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN [PNG]
Hekari United: 1. Leslie KALAI [GK], 3. Roman TONGA, 4. Treva IRE, 6. Abraham INIGA, 8. Wira WAMA, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 14. Neil HANS, 15. Samuel KINI, 16. Elliot RAGOMO, 18. Eric KOMENG, 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 21. Malakai TIWA, 23. Ian YANUM, 24. Alfred HAKAMANOENUKU, 25. Alvin SINGH, 26. David TARO
Coach: Jerry ALLEN
Lautoka: 1. Jone SOROLO [GK], 3. Alvin AVINESH, 4. Semesa NAKOSIA, 5. Siga ALI, 6. Avindra NAIDU, 8. Malakai WAQA, 9. Leone VURUKANIA, 10. Sanni ISSA, 12. Kamal HASSAN, 13. Peni FINAU, 14. Shameel RAO, 16. Jone VONO, 18. Samulea DRUDRU, 22. Parmesh PRASAD [GK], 24. Isikeli JEKE
Coach: Gurjit SINGH
Koloale [SOL] vs. Amicale [VAN]
Saturday 19 March
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Lawson Tama Stadium
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Assistant referee 1: Jackson NAMO [SOL]
Assistant referee 2: Noel BERRY [SOL]
Fourth Official: Nelson SOGO [SOL]
Koloale: 1. Eddie RAMO [GK], 3. Freddie KINI, 5. Samson TAKAYAMA, 7. Jeffery BULE, 8. Steven SARU, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Ezra SALE, 11. Ian PAIA, 13. Lency SAENI, 14. Augustine SAMANI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Shadrock RAMONI [GK], 19. Abraham EKE JNR, 21. Gabriel EKE, 23. Steven ANISI, 25. Francis LAFAI, 28. Joses NAWO, 30. Leonard SALE OLEA
Coach: Peter EKE
Amicale: 1. Ernest BONG [GK], 3. Young PAUL, 4. Selwyn SESE ALA, 5. Richard ANISUA, 7. Jean Robert YELOU, 9. Dereck MALAS, 10. Batram SURI, 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 13. Gibson DAUDAU, 14. Moffat DERAMOA, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 18. Richard GARAE, 20. Joel NAKAPUE [GK], 25. Stanley WAITA
Coach: William MALAS
Waitakere United [NZL] vs. Magenta [NCL]
Saturday 19 March
Auckland, New Zealand
Fred Taylor Park
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant referee 1: Mark RULE [NZL]
Assistant referee 2: Glen LOCHRIE [NZL]
Fourth Official: Nick WALDRON [NZL]
Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON [GK], 3. Aaron SCOTT, 5. Keegan LINDERBOOM, 6. Jack PELTER, 9. Luiz DEL MONTE, 10. Allan PEARCE, 13. Mike GWYTHER, 16. Neil EMBLEN, 18. Zane SOLE, 19. Dakota LUCAS, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 21. Anthony HOBBS, 22. Andy RALPH [GK], 23. Ashton PETT, 26. Jack HOBSON-MCVEIGH, 30. Rory TURNER
Coach: Neil EMBLEN
Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 4. Jean Paul READ, 6. Wilson FOREST, 8. Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 10. Cesar LOLOHEA, 14. Jules WEA, 17. Andre SINEDO, 21. Alexis DUVAL, 23. Jean Claude JEWINE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 26. Leopold MAKALU, 29. Andre NAXUE
Coach: Alain MOIZAN
