The committee met in Johannesburg this week ahead of the OFC Congress to discuss the make-up of the O-League and other important matters relating to the confederation.
The 2011 O-League, which kicks off in October 2010, will feature the champion clubs of Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu. There are no changes from the format of the 2010 edition, which was won by Papua New Guinea side Hekari United.
The 2011 competition will be split into two groups of four teams and will follow a league system where each club plays one home and away match against each of the other clubs in the same group. The highest-ranked Group A side and the highest-ranked Group B side will then advance to a two-legged final stage to decide Oceania’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2011.
Group A consists of defending champions Hekari United FC (PNG), Koloale FC (SOL), Lautoka FA (FIJ) and the champions of Vanuatu, while Group B includes the two New Zealand teams, Auckland City FC and Waitakere United FC, AS Tefana (TAH) and AS Magenta (NCL).
The Vanuatu representative will be confirmed following the conclusion of the National Super League on Saturday, 19 June 2010.
Now in its fifth season, the O-League expanded last year from six to eight teams, reflecting the rising popularity of the competition and allowing more OFC member associations to take part.
OFC President Reynald Temarii believes the success of the O-League is a key factor in the development of football in Oceania.
“Building a strong club competition is a crucial component in our region’s development,” he says. “It will only help to improve the standards of quality and technical skill both on and off the field.”
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says the 2011 season is expected to be as intriguing as ever.
“With a total of 26 matches culminating in a home-and-away final in April 2011, this season’s O-League promises to throw up many twists and turns.”
The OFC Club Championships started in 1999 and became known as the O-League in 2007 when the competition adopted a home-and-away format. Waitakere United won the inaugural O-League and followed that up with another title triumph in 2008. Auckland City wrestled the trophy away from them in 2009, while Hekari became the only side from outside New Zealand to win a title in 2010.
Hekari will represent Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 in December alongside the five other continental club champions and hosts UAE.