Group A contenders Hekari United and Koloale will be eager to get their campaigns off to a good start at home to Amicale FC and Lautoka respectively while New Zealand sides Auckland City and Waitakere United will be looking to do the same in Group B when they entertain AS Magenta and AS Tefana.# #Defending champions Hekari will fancy their chances of picking up three points against Vanuatu side Amicale, who are new to the competition and would have wished for an easier start to life in the O-League. Hekari became the first Pacific team from outside New Zealand or Australia to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup with their upset win over Waitakere United in the previous campaign’s final and will be out to prove that was no fluke.# #The Papua New Guineans are favourites to win the group and have been boosted by the signing of star midfielder Henry Fa’arodo, who has joined from Solomon Island side Koloale. But, despite being new to this competition, Amicale have enough experience and talent themselves to cause an upset.# #The squad includes a group of Solomon Islanders, several of whom have played at a high level, such as Batram Suri, futsal international Jack Wetney, Stanley Waita and Alick Maemae.# #Amicale have almost enough Solomon players to be that country’s O-League representative but that honour instead falls to Koloale, who come up against a cosmopolitan Lautoka side.# #Koloale’s most high-profile player is Benjamin Totori, who has returned to the Solomons and his home city after a successful spell in New Zealand with Manawatu and Waitakere United. Coach Peter Eke was also keen to strengthen at the other end of the field and has done that with the signings of George Suri and Samson Takayama. Both are Solomon Islands internationals and Suri in particular brings with him plenty of top-class experience, having previously played for both Auckland and Waitakere in New Zealand. # #Fijian side Lautoka have also cast the recruitment net far and wide, signing up four Nigerians, five Australians and one Solomon Islander.# #Much will be expected of forward Kamal Hassan, who skippered Fiji at the OFC Futsal Championship in August and has also starred for the nation’s beach soccer side, while national U-20 rep Akuila Mataisuva is another to watch.# #Auckland and New Caledonian side Magenta kick off the Group B action at Kiwitea St on Saturday, while Waitakere meet Tahiti’s Tefana at Fred Taylor Park on Sunday.# #City have a new coaching team of Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx at the helm and have pulled off a major coup with the signing of All White midfielder David Mulligan. Former Scottish professional Stuart Kelly, once on the books of Glasgow Rangers, free-scoring striker Luis Corrales and New Zealand age-group international Phil Edginton are also shrewd signings.# #The side has lost a lot of experience though – Chad Coombes is pursuing a professional career in England while Keryn Jordan, Ki-Hyung Lee, Greg Uhlmann, Paul Urlovic and Grant Young have all retired. # #Waitakere will be desperate to regain the O-League title after losing it to Hekari last season but have also seen several key players head out the exit door, including the pacey Totori and former All White Brent Fisher. Chris Bale returns to the club after a spell with Team Wellington while winger Luiz Del Monte and striker Mike Gwyther have also been signed by player-coach Neil Emblen, who has been one of Waitakere’s best performers in recent years but is unlikely to strap on the boots as often this season.# #2011 O-LEAGUE MATCH DAY 1 PREVIEW # #This is the official preview of Match Day 1. Please note squads are subject to change.# #Media wishing to attend any O-League match should contact the respective home club contact prior to match day. Media are encouraged to use these contacts for further specific information or clarification.# #Hekari United [PNG] vs. Amicale FC [VAN]#Saturday 23 October#Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea#PMRL Stadium#Local kick-off: 3pm# #Referee: Nick WALDRON [NZL]#Assistant referee 1: Hilary ANI [PNG]#Assistant referee 2: David CHARLES [PNG]#Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN [PNG]# #Hekari United: 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 2. Gideon OMOKIRIO, 6. Abraham INIGA, 7. Benjamin MELA, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 11. Joachim WAROI, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 14. Niel HANS, 15. Samuel KINI, 16. Pita BOLATOGA, 17. Kema JACK, 18. Ericson KOMENG, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 25. Alvin SINGH, 26. David TARO, 28. Henry FA’ARODO, 30. Godfrey BANIAU [GK].#Coach: Jerry ALLEN.# #Amicale FC: [from] 1. Ernest BONG [GK], 2. Stewart GARAELOTHI, 3. Young PAUL, 4. Selwyn ALA, 5. Richard ANISUA, 6. Nelson SALE, 7. Jean Robert YELOU, 8. Jerry SHEM, 9. Dereck MALAS, 10. Batram SURI, 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 12. Anthony HARRY, 13. Gibson DAUDAU, 14. Moffat DERAMOA, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 16. Mostyn SANGA, 17. Alick MAEMAE, 18. Richard GARAE, 19. Jack WETNEY, 20. Joel NAKAPUE, 21. Philip TOMAKE, 22. Chikau MANSALE [GK], 24. Roger WAIWAI, 25. Stanley WAITA, 27. Malcolm MARALAU, 28. John TAIVA, 31. Edika MAETA#Coach: William MALAS# #Club contacts:#Hekari United: Henry Morabang +675 761 01910 or morabangh@thenational.com.pg#Amicale FC: Harry Atisson +678 776 6332 or harryatisson@yahoo.com# #Koloale FC [SOL] vs. Lautoka [FIJ]#Saturday 23 October#Honiara, Solomon Islands#Lawson Tama Stadium#Local kick-off: 3pm# #Referee: Chris KERR [NZL]#Assistant referee 1: Jackson NAMO [SOL]#Assistant referee 2: Gerarld OIAKA [SOL]#Fourth Official: Georges TIME [SOL]# #Koloale FC: [from] 1. Eddie RAMO [GK], 2. Welshman HOUKARAWARA, 3. Freddie KINI, 4. Cecil BURU, 5. Samson TAKAYAMA, 6. George SURI, 7. Jeffrey BULE, 8. Steven SARU, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Ezra SALE, 11. Ian PAIA, 12. Haddis AENGARI, 13. Lency SAENI, 14. Augustine SAMANI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Shadrock RAMONI [GK], 19. Abraham EKE JR, 20. Felix RAY JR, 21. Gabriel EKE, 22. Presley FUTA, 23. Steven ANISI, 24. Peter AUGA, 25. Francis LAFAI, 26. Henry WALE, 28. Joses NAWA, 30. Leonard SALE OLEA.#Coach: Peter EKE# #Lautoka: [from] 1. Parmesh PRASAD [GK], 2. Samuela KAUTOGA, 3. Krishna SAMY, 4. Semesa DOIDOI, 5. Marika ROBANADAVU, 6. Malakai WAQA, 7. Valerio NAWATU, 8. Malakai LAVETIA, 9. Leone VURUKANIA, 10. Kamal HASSAN, 11. Abbu SHAHEED, 12. Alvin AVINESH, 13. Billy DARWICH, 14. Shameel RAO, 15. Mathew MAYORA, 16. Jone VONU, 17. Muni NAIDU, 18. Judd MOLEA, 19. Niumaia TAGI, 20. Ilaitia TUILAU, 21. Nahuel ARRARTE, 22. James CHRONOPOULOS [GK], 23. Nnamdi EHZIEM [GK], 24. Slyvester EKURE, 25. Chijioke NDIWE, 26. Sanni ISSA, 27. Samuela DRUDRU, 28. Keli JEKE, 29. Mataisuva AKUILA, 30. Daniel SEREVINO.#Coach: #Club contacts:#Koloale FC: Timothy Aruafu +677 26075 or 747 3916 or taruafu@solomon.com.sb#Lautoka: Shalendra Prasad +679 999 0050 or westerncustomltk@connect.com.fj# #Auckland City FC [NZL] vs. AS Magenta [NCL]#Saturday 23 October#Auckland, New Zealand#Kiwitea St#Local kick-off: 3pm# #Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]#Assistant referee 1: Mark RULE [NZL]#Assistant referee 2: Glen LOCHRIE [NZL]#Fourth Official: Matt LONGER [NZL]# #Auckland City FC: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 2. Angel BERLANGA, 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Phil EDGINTON, 6. Stuart KELLY, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. David MULLIGAN, 9. Francisco AVENDANO, 10. Luis CORRALES, 11. Danijel KOPRIVCIC, 12. Matthew UPTON [GK], 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Adam DICKINSON, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 19. Daniel MORGAN, 20. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 23. Adam THOMAS.#Coaches: Aaron McFARLAND and Ramon TRIBULIETX# #AS Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK [GK], 3. Judikael IXOEE, 6. Wilson FOREST, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 8. Marius BAKO, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 11. Albert ITREMA, 13. Roy KAYARA, 15. Steven LONGUE, 16. Michel HNE [GK], 17. Andre SINEDO, 22. Jonathan KAKOU, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 26. Francis WATRONE.#Coach: Alain MOIZAN# #Club contacts:#Auckland City FC: Steve Vuksich +649 21 137 6106 or vuky@mcgregorbailey.co.nz#AS Magenta: Edmond Bowen +687 790 245 or edmond.bowen@free.fr# #Waitakere United [NZL] vs. AS Tefana [TAH]#Sunday 24 October#Auckland, New Zealand#Fred Taylor Park#Local kick-off: 3pm# #Referee: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]#Assistant referee 1: Brent BEST [NZL]#Assistant referee 2: Ian-H. HINTZ [NZL]#Fourth Official: Mirko BENISCHKE [NZL]# #Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 6. Jack PELTER, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Chris BALE. 10. Allan PEARCE, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 13. Mike GWYTHER, 16. Neil Emblen, 18. Zane SOLE, 19. Dakota LUCAS, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 23. Ashton PETT, 24. Luke ADAMS, 25. Sean LOVEMORE, 28. Andrew RALPH [GK].#Coach: Neil EMBLEN# #AS Tefana: 1. Gilbert MERIEL [GK], 2. Stephane FAATIARAU, 3. Pierre KUGOGNE, 4. Nahuiotiu TEIEFITU, 5. Viritua TIAIHO, 6. Heimano BOUREBARE, 7. Taufa NEUFFER, 8. Tetiamana MARMOUYET, 9. Rene ATREWE, 11. Jean Claude CHANG KOEI CHANG, 12. Arnaud SICOT, 15. Lorenzo TEHAU, 16. Sebastien LABAYEN, 18. Tauraa MARMOUYET, 19. Alvin TEHAU, 20. Axel WILLIAMS, 21. Angelo TCHEN, 23. Xavier SAMIN [GK], 24. David CHANG KOEI CHANG.#Coach: Laurent HEINIS# #Club contacts:#Waitakere United: Terry Maddaford +649 021 444 257 or maddaford@xtra.co.nz#AS Tefana: Leon Tefau +689 784 852 or teonemahina@mail.pf# #OFC MEDIA #
