Auckland City FC sit atop of the ASB Premiership with four wins from four matches and have their eye on a friendly with Asian Cup-bound Uzbekistan on 6 December prior to a winner takes all play-off at the FIFA Club World Cup with Moghreb Tetouan four days later.
The Navy Blues are shorn of the services of striker Emiliano Tade who is in South Africa training with Vasco da Gama while young up-and-comer David Browne is sidelined by injury.
Coach Ramon Tribulietx says enthusiasm for more international action is high within his squad’s ranks.
“The players are thrilled to compete in a tournament like the OFC President’s Cup against, in some cases, professional teams.
“It is also a good build-up for the FIFA Club World Cup which we are playing in two or three weeks’ time. Our team is very motivated and we’ll take the OFC President’s Cup very seriously,” he says.
Singapore U-23 arrived in New Zealand yesterday and are coached by Aide Iskandar who won over 100 international caps for his country as a player.
Iskandar has a Kiwi connection having made his debut for the Singapore national side against the All Whites back in 1995.
One player to keep an eye on is youngster Adam Swandi. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder plays his club football in Ligue 1 for Metz and has won four senior international caps. He made his debut for the senior national team aged just 17 years and 143 days old against Myanmar on 4 June 2013.
While a there is a truly cosmopolitan feel to the opening match of the tournament, Match Day 1 has a local derby feel to it when Fiji U-20 take on Vanuatu club side Amicale.
Amicale fell to a 4-1 defeat to Waitakere United in a friendly on Thursday but are eager to put things right when they face the FIFA U-20 World Cup-bound Fijians at 7.30pm NZST.
Amicale skipper – Fijian international, Esava Naqaleca – can’t wait to face his fellow compatriots in their first game.
“We’re really excited and can’t wait to play our first game against Fiji U-20,” he says.
“We came really close in the OFC Champions League but there’s a few new boys and the competition here will be much harder – but we’re hoping to win this time.”
Bolstering their line-up is former Central Coast Mariners and North Queensland Fury midfielder Panagiotis Nikas.
The 26-year-old joins Adrian Ucchino and former All Whites defender Ian Hogg in what appears to be a strong looking Amicale squad.
By contrast, Fiji U-20 arrive at the OFC President’s Cup full of confidence having completed an unbeaten three match tour of Australia.
Assistant coach Shalendra Lal says expectations are measured given that their opponents in Group B – Busaiteen and Amicale – are both senior teams and one a professional side.
“I would say we are going into the OFC President’s Cup to do our best, and the way the team has prepared with build-up matches in Australia I think we will do wonderful,” says Lal.
The side played three matches against Sydney-based teams including an Australia Fiji All Stars squad, the West Sydney Wanderers youth side and an Academy team – recording two wins and a draw.
“The first game we drew against the Sydney team, the second game we played against the local Indian community and managed to win 3-0. The final game we played the Academy team and we were losing 3-1 and we came from behind to win 4-3.”
Lal says the strong resolve which saw the side come from behind to secure a victory is what will help them this week against stronger sides like Amicale of Vanuatu and Bahrain club Busaiteen.
“We, the coaching staff, were very happy with what we achieved in Australia and we’re confident the team can repeat those performances here for the President’s Cup,” he says.
“Maybe we aren’t expecting to the win the competition, but we do expect some surprises to come from our matches.”
Media wishing to interview any OFC President’s Cup should contact the respective club contact prior to match day. Media are encouraged to use these contacts for further specific information or clarification.
Visit www.oceaniafootball.com for full coverage, profiles, news and live updates.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Auckland City FC [NZL] vs. Singapore U-23 [SIN]
The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Monday 17 November 2014
Kickoff: 5pm
Referee: Ravitesh BEHARI [FIJ]
Auckland City FC
Squad list: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS [GK], 2. Simon ARMS, 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 8. Tim PAYNE, 9. Darren WHITE, 10. Ryan DE VRIES, 11. Cam LINDSAY, 14. Sanni ISSA, 15. Ivan VICELICH (c), 16. Dae Wook KIM, 17. Marko DORDEVIC, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 24. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 25. Frabrizio TAVANO, 26. Kohei MATSUMOTO
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX [ESP]
Singapore U-23
Squad list: 1. Syazwan BUHARI [GK], 2. Sheikh Hadi SH OTHMAN, 3. Afiq MAT NOOR, 4. Shamil SHARIF, 5. Stanley NG, 6. Nur Naim MOHAMED ISHAK, 7. Ammirul Emman MAZLAN, 8.Suria PRAKASH, 9. Muhaimin SUHAIMI, 10. Muhammad RAHMAT, 11. Faris Azienuddin KHAERI, 12. Amy Recha SAMION, 13. Shameer Aziq ABDUL RAZAK, 14. Ali Hudzali MOHD YUSU, 15. Fadli KAMIS, 16. Amirul Aii AZMI, 17. Sim TEck YI, 18. Adam SWANDI, 19. Rudy Khairullah ADI NEGARA, 20. R. Aaravin AARAVIN
Coach: Aide ISKANDAR [SIN]
Amicale FC [VAN] vs. Fiji U-20 [FIJ]
The Trusts Arena
Monday 17 November 2014
Kickoff: 7.30pm
Referee: Nick WALDRON [NZL]
Amicale FC
Squad list: 1. Chikau MANSALE [GK], 2. Ian HOGG, 3. Channel OBED, 4. Brian KALTACK, 5. Michele GRAZIA, 6. Adrian UCCHINO, 7. Dominique FRED, 8. Dalong DAMALIP, 9. Nikas PANAGIOTIS, 10. Manuel BRIGHENTI, 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 12. Latia TUILAU, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 15. Osea VAKATALESAU, 16. Amani VALEBALAVU, 17. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 18. Sailas NAMATAK, 19. Esava NAQALECA, 20. Marc VILLAESCUA [GK], 21. Goshen DONA
Coach: Jean Robert YELOU [VAN]
Fiji U-20
Squad list: 1. Misiwani NAIRUBE [GK], 2. Praneel NAIDU, 3. Garish PRASAD, 4. Jale DRELOA, 5. Tony TUIVUNA, 6. Mohammed KHAN, 7. Nickel CHAND, 8. Setareki HUGHES, 9. Gabrieili MATANISIGA, 10. Narendra RAO, 11. Joseva KOROI, 12. Ratu WARANAIVALU, 13. Mataiasi TOMA, 14. Ravnit CHAND, 15. Saula WAQA, 16. Jonetani BUKSH, 17. Kolino SIVOKI, 18. Al-taaf SAHIB, 19. Ashnil RAJU, 20. Shaneel NAIDU [GK], 21. Divikesh DEO [GK], 22. Samuela NABENIA
Coach: Ravinesh KUMAR [FIJ]
Broadcast details:
OFC TV will provide exclusive coverage from The Trusts Arena in Auckland with live streaming of all six matches from the group stage plus the play-offs and final on 23 November. The streaming will be available via www.oceaniafootball.com with low-resolution and high-resolution options to cater for different internet speeds.
Several broadcasters from around the region have come on board including VBTC in Vanuatu, EMTV and Kundu 2 in Papua New Guinea, FBC TV and Fiji TV in Fiji, Solomon Telekom in Solomon Islands as well as MediaCorp in Singapore and Cayman (27) in the Cayman Islands.
Live radio broadcast of selected matches includes coverage provided by APNA 990, Radio Tarana, Ethnic Media 360, Humm FM, VBTC Vanuatu with Radio Live Sport in New Zealand covering preview and reviews of the event.
Full live stream details:
Monday 17 November
Auckland City FC v Singapore U-23 Kick-off 5pm NZST
Live Stream link here
Fiji U-20 v Amicale Kick-off 7.30pm NZST
Live stream link here
Wednesday 19 November
Bodden Town v Singapore U-23 Kick-off 5pm NZST
Live stream link here
Amicale v Busaiteen Kick-off 7.30pm NZST
Live stream link here
Friday 21 Nove
mber
Auckland City FC v Bodden Town Kick-off 5pm NZST
Live stream link here
Busaiteen v Fiji U-20 Kick-off 7.30pm NZST
Live stream link here
Sunday 23 November
Play-off for 5th/6th Kick-off 1pm NZST
Live stream link here
Play-off for 3rd/4th Kick-off 4pm NZST
Live stream link here
OFC President’s Cup Final Kick-off 7pm NZST
Live stream link here