The Oceania Football Confederation is pleased to announce the draw and format for the 2006/2007 OFC Champions League.
The top club teams from the top six National Associations, based on the 2006 OFC Club Championships, New Zealand will compete in a new two group home and away round robin tournament based on a league system.
The two group winners advance to a home and away final with the winner qualifying for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup and potential prize money of $US1 million.
The groups for the 2006/2007 OFC Champions League were drawn at the OFC Executive Committee Meeting in Munich, Germany on 6 June 2006 and are as follows:
GROUP A
AUCKLAND CITY (NZL)
AS TEMANAVA (TAH)
AS MONT DORE (NCL)
GROUP B
4R ELECTRICAL BA (FIJ)
PORT VILA SHARKS (VAN)
MARIST FC (SOL)
Defending OFC Champions, Auckland City, will begin the defence of their title with two difficult away matches, the first on Sunday January 21st 2007 against AS Mont Dore of New Caledonia, the second on Tuesday January 23rd 2007 against Port Vila Sharks of Vanuatu.
The only club apart from Auckland City to return from last season’s competition is Marist FC of the Solomon Islands.
Oceania Football Confederation General Secretary, Tai Nicholas, said the new competition format was an exciting prospect and gave football fans across the region a better opportunity to see the best players and clubs in action.
“Previously the OFC Club Championship was hosted at one venue. This placed pressure on facilities and the hosting National Association. With the new format spreading games out to different venues throughout the South Pacific I am sure the new format and potential qualification for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup will capture the imagination of fans.”