Solomon Islands will face Fiji in the opening match at 12:00pm before Vanuatu square off against American Samoa at 2:30pm and New Zealand meet Papua New Guinea at 5:00pm. Group stage matches are set to be played from 16-20 March with the semi-finals taking place on 22 March and the 3rd/4th play-off and final on 24 March.
Tickets for matches can be purchased from the gate and are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers/over-65s, while ages 12 and under can enter for free.
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Here’s a look at the action that’s in store.
Solomon Islands vs. Fiji – 12:00pm, Friday 16 March
This is a fitting opener to the tournament as both teams are expected to mount title challenges and the outcome could prove crucial to their chances of progressing past the group stages. Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and underdogs American Samoa have all been placed in Group A but only two can go through to the semi-finals, meaning a good start is essential. Both have performed well in Olympic qualifying in previous years with the Solomons coming particularly close to Games glory. Honours are even overall with both teams recording a pair of wins and the other match ending in a draw. Fiji have a score to settle though after being denied runners-up by the Solomons with a 3-2 defeat as hosts of the previous tournament four years ago. Coach Imdad Ali will look to the likes of striker Jone Salauneune, who has O-League experience with Fijian champions Ba, to fire his charges to a win but there is plenty in the opposing camp to worry goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva, particularly in the form of Ian Paia – also an O-League star with Koloale – and futsal international Micah Lea’alafa.
In their own words
“Fiji is always a tough match for us and we know they will be very physical. We want to keep the ball all the time and that will be our game plan not only against Fiji but throughout the tournament.” – Luke Eroi, Solomon Islands coach
“The Solomon Islands play really constructive football and we know they have been preparing well. In terms of our own preparation, the recent flooding in Fiji so has made it difficult. This is a very tight pool but that’s just how the draw came out so we have to accept the fact that we have to play, that’s it.” – Imdad Ali, Fiji coach
Vanuatu vs. American Samoa – 2:30pm, Friday 16 March
Judging by reputation and previous results, this encounter is a mismatch as Vanuatu are highly-regarded and American Samoa are the least-fancied side in the group. The favourites have been tagged the ‘Dream Team’ in their homeland as this is arguably the finest generation of footballers produced by Vanuatu in recent times and anything but a comfortable win here would be a major shock. But American Samoa are on a high at the moment after enjoying unprecedented success on the senior international stage and coach Rupeni Luvu has been able to include seven members of the ground-breaking 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers side. The most significant of these are defender JR Amisone, the skipper of the national team, and Shalom Luani, who scored against Tonga in the country’s first ever senior international win last November. Vanuatu coach Richard Iwai will feel he has enough talent to avoid an upset though and the ‘Dream Team’ will be in confident mood after posting a series of good results against club sides in Brisbane en route to Taupo. Key midfielder Eddison Stephen picked up an injury in Australia and could be in doubt for their opening match. Vanuatu triumphed 8-0 in the only previous Olympic encounter between the sides in 2004.
In their own words
“It doesn’t matter if American Samoa have not been very strong in the past, we will approach this game and every game like it’s the final. We are really happy with the facilities and the boys are looking forward to playing on the beautiful field.” – Richard Iwai, Vanuatu coach
“We had a warm up match against Samoa earlier in the week so that was a good opportunity to have one last look at our players. I know they call Vanuatu the ‘Dream Team’ but we are looking forward to it and we’ll try to match up with them.” – Rupeni Luvu, American Samoa coach
New Zealand vs. Papua New Guinea – 5:00pm, Friday 16 March
The most important match of Group B is likely to be this one as both sides will be confident of defeating Tonga, the only other side in the pool. The result here could therefore determine who finishes top and will provide a platform for the victor to launch a title push. The day’s final game brings the two highest-profile coaches together – Englishman Neil Emblen and Australian Frank Farina, who both enjoyed lengthy professional playing careers – and their tactical battle will be one of the most interesting facets of the tournament’s opening. ‘Oly Whites’ boss Emblen is without talisman Marco Rojas, on duty for Melbourne Victory tomorrow night but set to fly to New Zealand shortly after, but still has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal in one-cap All White Greg Draper and the promising Sean Lovemore and Dakota Lucas. His offensive confidence is such that he has concentrated mainly on defensive shape in the build-up and will be wary of the likes of Nigel Dabinyaba, a member of Hekari United’s O-League squad, and Alwin Komolong, who captained his country at the OFC U-20 Championship last April. New Zealand have never lost to Papua New Guinea in Olympic qualifying, scoring 17 goals and conceding five across four matches.
In their own words
“I’m sure Frank Farina’s time with Papua New Guinea has made them more tactically astute and given them a better defensive shape given his experience in international football. It will be a tough game and, while we know a couple of their players, the difficulty in this first fixture is we don’t know a lot about them as a team.” – Neil Emblen, New Zealand coach
“I think my knowledge and experience of the teams in Oceania will put me in good stead to help Papua New Guinea. This country has the talent and the mental game to prove themselves in the region.” – Frank Farina, Papua New Guinea coach