Amicale FC are highly fancied to cause a stir at this season’s group stage tournament after a global search for top foreign talent engineered by their Australian coach Nathan Hall.
Former Aston Villa professional, Colin Marshall, is the headline signing while Serbian trio of Milan Matic, Nikola Vastic and Marko Dordevic also add steel to the line-up.
Fenedy Masauvakalo, Alick Maemae and last season’s OFC Champions League golden boot winner, Sanni Issa, are all shorn from Hall’s options, but he can rely on local talent in the shape of talismanic veteran midfield man Francois Sakama and the experienced Alphonse Bongnaim.
AS Dragon’s domestic season has been a rollercoaster ride marked by player defections and inconsistency. Gone are Henri Caroine, who has returned to New Caledonia, and Raimana Lee Fung Kuee, who signed for local rivals AS Pirae.
Tahiti international goalkeeper Mikael Roche, Jonathan, Teaonui and Alvin Tehau, plus skipper Nicolas Vallar, give AS Dragon a strong spine and plenty of experience after their FIFA Confederations Cup exploits last year.
“The first game is always important – you have to put your stamp on the group and state your intentions. But we have the Group of Death. All the teams will be very tough to play.
“We know it will be difficult with all the teams having good players, especially Amicale, who have signed a lot of players. But I think it will be a good game,” Roche says.
The match kicks off at 1pm at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.
The other match of the day pits five times champions Auckland City FC up against unknown quantity Nadi FC, one of the tournament’s two host clubs.
Auckland City FC completed a domestic treble of ASB Charity Cup, ASB minor premiership and ASB Premiership crowns and are desperate to return to the FIFA Club World Cup.
Coach Ramon Tribulietx has lost the services of midfielder Chris Bale and forward Adam Dickinson, who haven’t travelled to Fiji, but can draw on the talents of news signings Daewook Kim, Mario Illich, Sean Morris and striker Sean Lovemore.
Tribulietx remains cautious about his team’s prospects.
“We have just arrived in Fiji but we have very good facilities and therefore a nice place to prepare for this challenge.
“I believe in not making our minds up regarding a possible final score before playing matches.
“We will go game by game, as we always do, play the game we need to play according to what Nadi will offer as an opponent on the field.
“We will see how we can overcome their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare to play a good game and be competitive,” Tribulietx says.
For Nadi FC, lacking in experience at international level is offset by the signing of the impressive Samuela Drudru. Drudru, a former top scorer in the Fiji domestic league with Suva, could be one for fans and opponents to keep an eye on, as they seek to advance to the semi-finals.
The club has not appeared at this level for 15 years but the last time they did they nearly went all the way, losing out to South Melbourne in the final by 5-1.
Also of note for fans of Nadi FC is their previous meeting with a New Zealand club resulted in a victory – against Auckland City FC’s sister club, Central United.
A minute’s silence will also be observed for those affected by the Solomon Islands flood at all matches.
Match Day 2 at the OFC Champions League also continues with the “Kick Dengue Out of Fiji” campaign in conjunction with UNICEF Pacific, the Fiji Government, OFC and the Fiji FA. Tournament sponsors Vodafone, Courts and Sportsworld also play a prominent role in supporting football in Fiji and around the Oceania region.
Viewers can also watch the OFC Champions League group stage tournament via the OFC’s official YouTube channel here: http://bit.ly/1gWrT6G
The OFC Radio (ENG) link can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/1okoVwU
The OFC Radio (FRA) link can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/QB9xxp
Ends
Extra Information
Amicale FC v AS Dragon
Churchill Park,
Lautoka, Fiji
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Kick-off: 1pm
AMIvDRA
Head to head: No previous meetings.
Amicale FC
The players: Coach Nathan HALL has recruited from far and wide, bringing Scotsman Colin MARSHALL alongside Serbian trio Milan MATIC, Nikola VASILIC, and Marko DORDEVIC and Solomon Islanders Nelson SALE, and Jack WETNEY. Local midfielder Francois SAKAMA has extensive experience and could be a key figure.
The vital statistics: Amicale’s top finish in the Champions League was a home-and-away finals play-off against Auckland City in 2011.
Squad list: 1. Chikau MANSALE (GK), 4. Davide TALONE, 6. Sivan SWAMY, 8. Milan MATIC, 9. Esava NAQELECA, 10. Nikola VASILIC, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 16. Daniel NATOU, 17. Nelson SALE, 18. Robert TOM, 20. Michael RUTHERFORD (GK), 21. Paul YOUNG, 23. Roddy LENGA, 24. Kensi TANGIS, 25. Laitia TUILAU, 26. Silas NAMATAK, 27. Octav MELTECOIN, 28. Johnny TIRAENG, 29. Dominique FRED, 30. Jack WETNEY, 31. Marko DORDEVIC, 32. Rodney SERVEUX, 33. Joel NAKAPUE (GK), 34. Colin MARSHALL, 35. Richard ANISUA, 38. Barry MANSALE
Coach: Nathan HALL (AUS)
AS Dragon:
The players: Dragon fields an all-Tahitian team, with the exception of Pembele GONGUI hailing from Angola. The team is without many of their players from last season but Steevy CHONG HUE and Jonathan TEHAU remain to bolster Dragon’s offence.
The vital statistics: Dragon debuted in the Champions League last season, narrowly missing out on semi-final qualification. Skipper Nicolas VALLAR makes his 5th Champions League appearance.
Squad list: 1. Mikael ROCHE (GK), 2. Victor SNOW, 4. Pierre KUGOGNE, 6. Jacques TETAUIRA, 7. Efrain ARANEDA, 8. Yannick VERO, 9. Samuel HNANYINE, 10. Teaonui TEHAU, 11. Andre TEIKIHAKAUPOKO, 12. Alvin TEHAU, 13. Steevy CHONG HUE, 14. Dylan PAAMA, 16. Edson LEMAIRE, 17. Sylvain GRAGLIA, 18. Teheipuarii HAUATA (GK), 19. Teata SIMON, 20. Torea MARUOI, 21. Jonathan TEHAU, 22. Nicolas VALLAR, 23. Rainui RUA, 24. Pembele GONGUI, 25. Tamatoa WAGEMAN, 26. Sebastien GAIRIN, 27. Alessandro VALLAR
Coach: Ludovic GRAUGNARD (FRA)
Auckland City v Nadi FC
Churchill Park,
Lautoka, Fiji
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Kick-off: 4pm
AKLvNAD
Head to head: No previous meetings.
Auckland City FC
The players: Auckland City have lost Roy KRISHNA and Albert RIERA to the Wellington Phoenix, but look for Sean LOVEMORE and Sean MORRIS to fill in the gaps alongside former K-League representative Daewook KIM.
The vital statistics: It is Auckland City’s tenth year participating in the Champions League and the Navy Blues will be looking for a solid start to retain their title with a record 50 appearances in the competition. All-time leader in OFC Champions League appearances James Pritchett will add to his tally with his 47th appearance in this competition. Auckland City FC’s sister club, Central United, played and lost to Nadi in the 1999 OFC Club Championship 15 years ago.
Squad list (from): 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 7. James PRITCHETT, 9. Darren WHITE, 10. Ryan de VRIES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Daewook KIM, 17. Joao MOREIRA, 18. Louie CAUNTER (GK), 19. David BROWNE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 25. Sean LOVEMORE, 26. Sean MORRIS, 27. Mario ILICH
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX (ESP)
Nadi FC
The players: Nadi fields a mix of youth and experience in their team with Jone SALANUENE and Rusiate MATAREREGA from the Fijian U-20 side looking to make their mark. Watch also for Samuela DRUDRU who previously tasted Champions League action with Lautoka.
The vital statistics: The last appearance
Nadi made in the Champions League was back in 1999 where they came runners-up. Their second OFC campaign will see Kamal SWAMY’S side making the most of their home advantage.
Squad list (from): 1. Beniamino MATEINAQARA (GK), 2. Malakai RAKULA, 3. Rahul KRISHNA, 4. Jone SALAUNEUNE, 5. Rusiate MATAREREGA, 6. Astley LEE, 7. William VALENTINE, 8. Krishna SAMI, 9. Vuniuci TIKOMAIMEREKE, 10. Uraia LOKI, 11. Ilimotama JESE, 12. Ame VOTONIU, 13. Jolame VUKUVUKI, 14. Samuela DRUDRU, 15. Napolioni QASEVAKATINI, 16. Amani VALEBALAVU, 17. Mataiasi TOMA, 18. Eliki RAVOSAI, 19. Shafim BUKSH, 20. Lekima GONERAU, 21. Vereti DICKSON (GK), 22. Levi SAUKURU (GK), 23. Ratu BAINIVALU, 24. Arvin PRATAP, 25. Isoa RATUVA.
Coach: Kamal SWAMY (FIJ)