The Oceania All Stars are set to kick off against David Beckham and the LA Galaxy on Saturday infront of thousands of fans at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
The squad consists of 20 players from nine different countries and includes superstars Christian Karembeu, Mark Bosnich and Edgar Davids.
Oceaniafootball.com provides you with a look at the very first Oceania All Star team.
Captain Christian Karembeu
New Caledonian-born Christian Karembeu is an Oceania Football Confederation ambassador and the region’s most decorated footballer. Karembeu amassed 53 caps for France in his career including winning the FIFA World Cup with France in 1998. Karembeu won the UEFA Champions League twice with Spanish giants Real Madrid as well as league titles in Greece and the French Cup with Nantes in 1995. Karembeu was OFC Player of the Year in 1995 and 1998 and a member of the France squad that won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2001 and the UEFA European Championships in 2000.
An advocate for Pacific Islands talent, Karembeu would like nothing more than for the region’s talented youth to follow in his footsteps.
Tahitian international Raimana Lee Fung Kuee
Raimana Lee Fung Kuee is a Tahiti international who plays for AS Dragon in the French-
Polynesian Championnat D1. The versatile playmaker has represented Tahiti in various forms of football including two appearances at the OFC Beach Soccer Championship in 2006 and 2007.
Lee Fung Kuee was an impressive performer for Tahiti during its XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 campaign turning in some eye-catching performances in a struggling team. The mercurial skills of Lee Fung Kuee helped guide AS Pirae to a runners-up finish during the 2006 OFC Club Championship during a 3-1 loss to Auckland City FC. Lee Fung Kuee is currently one of the leading goalscorers in the early weeks of the 2008/09 Championnat D1.
Solomon Island international Alick Maemae
Firebrand midfi eld maestro Alick Maemae has the capacity to turn a match on its head with a flash of brilliance.
Maemae has mesmerized Kiwi football fans with his quick feet and silky skills with Youngheart Manawatu and took those abilities onto the international stage with the Solomon Islands national team.
The crafty wide-player tormented Australia in their FIFA World Cup qualifi er exchanges in 2005 and 2006 as the underdogs drew 2-2 in Adelaide with their illustrious opponents.
Maemae formed a formidable strike partnership with fellow Solomon Island striker Benjamin Totori at both domestic and international level and will be one to watch in December. Has since returned to the NZFC with Auckland City FC.
Solomon Island international Henry Fa’arodo
The mercurial Henry Faarodo is a Solomon Island midfielder with a wealth of experience in Australia and New Zealand. Burst onto the scene at Nelson Boys College and capped a remarkable rise to prominence in the Australian National Soccer League (NSL) with the Melbourne Knights.
Faarodo played for Perth Glory in the inaugural A-League season and in recent years has set the NZFC alight with some stunning performances for Canterbury United and Auckland City FC. Fa’arodo is a quick, skilful striker who performed with distinction at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 and most recently for Altona Magic FC in the Victorian Premier League. Returned home to turn out for Koloale FC in the 2009 OLeague and DJ League.
Papua New Guinea international David Muta
David Muta is the rising star of Papua New Guinea football after a stunning turn for the U-23 international team at the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Fiji earlier this year.
Muta’s gifted passing game won plaudits from observers as Papua New Guinea surprised many by turning in their best international performance in recent times including a 7-2 win over Vanuatu.
The amiable and charismatic midfield ace subsequently earned a move to Queensland with Sunshine Coast FC with national team coach George Cowie.
Muta has returned to Papua New Guinea with PNGFA National Soccer League (NSL) champions Hekari Souths for the 2009 OLeague season.
New Zealand international Steven Old
Steven Old made his breakthrough into the senior ranks as a raw teenager at Manawatu AFC under coach Colin Tuaa and made a meteoric rise to full international status and earned a trial with Italian Serie A club Parma.
The 22 year old has since captained New Zealand at U-17, U-20 and U-23 level, and has played against the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos. Old has played for both the Newcastle Jets and the Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League and recently represented New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
Vanuatu international Francois Sakama
Francois Sakama earned a reputation as a star in the making at the OFC U-20 Championship in 2007 and continued that rise with the Vanuatu national team as they clinched bronze at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007.
It was Sakama’s thunderous volley against rivals Solomon Islands that announced his arrival on the senior international stage and helped earn a two week trial with Israeli professional club Maccabi Netanya.
Sakama followed that up with a well-taken goal against New Zealand during a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Oceanian Qualifier in Wellington. Currently on the books of Vanuatu club champions Tafea FC.
Solomon Island international Nelson Sale
Nelson Sale is a Solomon Island international defender who captained his country at the recent OFC Olympic Football tournament in Fiji and starred during the XIII South Pacifi c Games — Samoa 2007. Sale was a star performer for the Solomon Islands team that drew 2-2 with Australia in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup and lost 1-2 in the rematch in Honiara against such performers as Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton.
Sale has recently signed for Auckland City FC in the New Zealand Football Championship and will line up alongside his international team mate Alick Maemae.
New Zealand international Jarrod Smith
Jarrod Smith is a New Zealand International who currently plays for Toronto FC in the MLS. Smith represented New Zealand at U-20 and U-23 level before gaining his first full international cap against Malaysia in 2006.
Smith spent four years at West Virginia University in the USA, and was selected by Toronto FC wi
th the first pick of the supplemental draft.
Smith signed for Toronto in March 2008 and scored his team’s second goal on route to a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy.
New Zealand international Jacob Spoonley
Jacob Spoonley is a New Zealand U-23 international goalkeeper rated as one of his countries bright young talents.
Spoonley represented New Zealand at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada where he won admiration for his starring performances against Gambia, Portugal and Mexico. Spoonley stepped up a level at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament with appearances against Brazil, China and Belgium. Spoonley is the top young goalkeeper in New Zealand and has recently transferred from the Wellington Phoenix to Auckland City FC for the upcoming NZFC season.
Vanuatu international Fedy Vava
Fedy Vava is a Vanuatu international who currently plays for Tafea FC. The tall defender has been the cornerstone of the Vanuatu rearguard since 2001 and was an integral part of the squad that defeated New Zealand 4-2 in World Cup qualifying in 2004.
Fedy Vava shares the national team captaincy with Tafea FC team-mate Moise Poida who starred for the Karembeu XI against France ‘98 in Noumea in May. Vava has helped guide Tafea FC to their record breaking 14 Port Vila League titles in a row sequence and has extensive international experience in the OFC O-League and OFC Club Championship.
Vava is also a Vanuatu Futsal international and recently competed at the OFC Futsal World Cup Qualifying tournament in Fiji in June.
New Zealand international Ivan Vicelich
Ivan Vicelich is a recently retired All White who has experience of professional football in Holland, Australia and New Zealand with Roda JC, RKC Waalwijk, Football Kingz, Waitakere City and Central United.
Vicelich amassed 63 caps over 13 years for New Zealand and has recently returned home to play for Auckland City in the NZFC. The defender helped guide New Zealand to two memorable wins over Australia in the OFC Nations Cup in 1998 and 2002 and was recognised for his efforts when he was named the New Zealand footballer of the year.
Vicelich has represented New Zealand at two FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments in 1999 and2003. He also scored a crucial goal for New Zealand during a 2-0 win over Fiji in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Oceanian Qualifier in Lautoka last year.
Dutch International Edgar Davids
Edgar Davids is a Dutch international with 74 caps for the Netherlands and was one of the players chosen by Pelé to be featured in the FIFA 100, a compilation of the world’s greatest living footballers.
He has played for Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan, Juventus FC, FC Barcelona, Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan), Tottenham Hotspur and again for Ajax.
Davids distinctive look has made him both popular with fans and recognisable on the world stage. He suffers from glaucoma, which requires him to wear protective goggles during football, together with dreadlocked hair, this has become Davids’ trademark look.
Vanuatu International Suele Soromon
Seule Soromon is a dynamic Vanuatu striker who was the top scorer at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007. He has made an instant impact in this year’s NZFC with Hawkes Bay United and scored a goal against the Wellington Phoenix in a game earlier this year.
Fijian international Esala Masi
Esala Masi is a Fijian international who currently plays for Altona Magic in the Victorian Premier League in Australia.
Masi is widely regarded as the best Fijian Football of all time and has played professionally in Australia for over 10 years. Masi made his debut for the Fiji National football team in 1997 and has since gone on to win over 30 caps for the national team – captaining them on several occasions.
New Zealand international Cole Peverley
Cole Peverley is a central midfielder who recently won his first All White Cap after a string of impressive performances with the New Zealand U-23 side at the Olympics in Beijing.
His work rate, vision and range of passing has made him one of the top young players in the country and has shone in this year’s NZFC for Hawkes Bay United.