First up from Govind Park is Tahitian side AS Pirae – whose last outing in this competition saw them upset perennial favourites Auckland City – versus Samoan newcomers Lupe Ole Soaga.
Lupe finds itself at its first Champions League main draw after an impressive victory in the preliminary tournament late last year. The Samoan champions finished the qualifier with three wins from three, scoring ten goals in the process. Striker Silao Malo scored a competition-leading five goals in the tournament.
Their squad is a youthful one looking to make the most of a maiden trip to the continent’s biggest stage, with a sprinkling of experienced players added in. Australian import Scott Gannon has been drafted in for his third OFC Champions League and the side will be led from the back by experienced international defender Andrew Setefano.
But for the debuting Samoans, AS Pirae are a stern test first up. The Tahitian unit are looking to improve upon last year’s final-four finish, and despite a build-up plagued by injury still boast a squad that coach Sam Garcia admits is ‘not bad’. In their ranks are international defender Nicolas Vallar and Roy Kayara, a former member of Team Wellington.
One of the teams tipped to tussle with Pirae for supremacy in Group A are the hosts, Ba. The Men in Black open their campaign in the second match of the day when they welcome New Caledonian side FC Gaitcha.
For Gaitcha, a 16-month wait is finally over. The team – an amalgamation of national players – qualified courtesy of a domestic championship in 2013 and has been in training since January. Adding to the motivation for coach Kevin Coma has been the possibility of bringing a second New Caledonian side into the competition next season with a semi-final finish. To aid the cause, Coma, has added 2011 OFC Player of the Year Bertrand Kai to his squad.
But, like with Lupe, it’s a tough first outing at Govind Park. Shalen Lal’s squad has been in camp for the past fortnight at Ba’s Fiji FA academy and is looking to add to a storied history in the competition which has seen them reach the knockout phase in each of the past two seasons.
The club is calling for its fans to rally around the squad to help them improve on last year’s efforts and play in a first continental final since 2007.
Home advantage, along with a balanced squad blending youth and experience, will suggest that Ba starts the campaign as group favourites.
The matches between Pirae and Lupe, and Ba and Gaitcha, kick off at 4:30pm and 7pm, respectively, at Govind Park.
About the Vanuatu Cyclone Appeal
Tropical Cyclone Pam, a Category 5 cyclone has affected over 166,000 people on 22 islands, including 82,000 children. Schools, hospitals and care facilities have all been affected, leaving children vulnerable and without many basic services.
UNICEF currently has about 65 per cent of the funds required to deliver life-saving aid to thousands of children and their families in Vanuatu and other affected countries. An additional US$2 million is needed to provide access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, lifesaving health and nutrition interventions, education and protection until the end of 2015.
To donate please visit: www.supportunicef.org/cyclonedonate
For more information on the appeal please contact: Alice Clements at [email protected]
Sponsors
The OFC would like to acknowledge its sponsors Fiji Airways and Vodafone Fiji.
AS Pirae v Lupe Ole Soaga
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
Saturday 11 April 2015
Kick-off: 4:30pm
PIRvLUP
Referee: Robinson BANGA (VAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mark WHITEHEAD (NZL)
Fourth Official: Albert MARU (PNG)
AS Pirae
The players: Pirae carries with them a full squad of Tahitian players, including 2013 Confederations Cup players Nicolas Vallar and Teaonui Tehau.
The vital statistics: Pirae are no strangers to the upset, having registered victories against both Waitakere United and Auckland City in the 2014 OFC Champions League.
Coach quote: “We have a good team, a lot of discipline and we have some individuals who aren’t bad. Lupe is a side we have to respect because it’s the first match, and the first match is always complicated.”
Squad list: 2. Nicolas VALLAR, 3. Vincent SIMON, 4. Heimanu TAIARUI, 5. Edson LEMAIRE, 10. Tearii LABASTE, 11. Roonui TINIRAUARII, 12. Raimana DHALLUIN, 13. Roy KAYARA, 14. Heiarii TAVANAE, 15. Tainui LEHARTEL, 16. Efrain ARANEDA, 17. Marc VAKI, 18. Ariihau TERIITAU, 20. Jay WARREN, 21. Teaonui TEHAU, 32. Patrice FIRIAPU
Coach: Samuel GARCIA (TAH)
Lupe Ole Soaga
The players: Only three of Lupe’s travelling 22 have made appearances in the OFC Champions League previously, so the Samoan unit will be relying on the experience of Andrew Setefano, Lionel Taylor and Scott Gannon.
The vital statistics: Striker Silao Malo will be one to watch as he looks to add to his five-goal haul in qualifying.
Coach quote: “Our team is a really young team. It has good potential for the future – that’s our main target now. This is good exposure, we’ll be here to gain some more experience. We expect tough opponents but we will be prepared for that. We’ll make the most of it – we’re going to do our best to be at the top to qualify for the semi-finals.”
Squad list: 1. Ted SIKOVI, 2. Vaalii FAALOGO, 3. Andrew SETEFANO, 4. Vito LALOATA, 5. Suivai ATAGA, 6. Lionel TAYLOR, 7. Silao MALO, 8. Karetia SOAFA, 9. Lapalapa TONI, 10. Luki GOSCHE, 11. Ishmael TAULAI, 12. Faafua ATAGA LALOATA, 13. Oscar AMATAGA, 14. John TE’O, 15. Victor LAPALAPA, 16. Soliai LETUTUSA, 17. Ikenasio GOSCHE, 18. Scott GANNON, 19. Paul UALESI, 20. Apisaloma FAAFUA LEIATAUA, 21. Vaa TAUALAI, 22. Mataio TOETU
Coach: Paul UALESI (SAM)
Ba FC v FC Gaitcha
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
Saturday 11 April 2015
Kick-off: 7pm
BAvGAI
Referee: Nicholas WALDRON (NZL)
Assistant Referee 1: Folio MOEAKI (TON)
Assistant Referee 2: Christopher WOLKEN (NZL)
Fourth Official: Ichikawa POLOVILI (TON)
Ba FC
The players: Ba is a mixture of youth and experience; with four members of the squad previous Fijian U-20 internationals and the spine of their side boasting 20+ appearances in the Champions League.
The vital statistics: Ba are semi-finalists two years running and are looking to qualify for a first final in eight years The Men in Black lost on away goals to Waitakere United in 2007.
Coach quote: “It’s always the case that the first game is the toughest one. I don’t predict results beforehand but Ba will be giving it their best for the first game.”
Squad list: 1. Misiwani NAIRUBE, 2. Avinesh SUWAMY, 3. Meli CODRO, 4. Manasa NAWAKULA, 5. Ronil KUMAR, 6. Jone VESIKULA, 7. Laisenia NAIOKO, 8. Jonetani BUKSH, 9. Abbu ZAHID, 10. Mavileko NAKAMA, 11. Alvin SINGH, 12. Remueru TEKIATE, 13. Kini VILIAME, 14. Shameel RAO, 15. Saula WAQA, 16. Malakai TIWA, 17. Narendra RAO, 18. Praneel NAIDU, 19. Josefata NEIBULI, 20. James HOYT, 21. Shaneel NAIDU, 22. Jone SOROLO, 23. Keegan LINDERBOOM
Coach: Shalen LAL (FIJ)
FC Gaitcha
The players: Kevin Coma has pulled together a squad of some of the best players from New Caledonia. Former OFC Player of the Year Bertrand Kai boasts a Champions League record of two games, two goals, and two wins.
The vital statistics: It’s been a long wait for FC Gaitcha having qualified for the 2015 Champions League with domestic victory all the way back in 2013.
Coach quote: “It’s a team that’s both young and old; we have both experienced players and ne
w players from New Caledonia. We don’t really have a lot of playing time behind us, but we’ve been preparing since January and we’re excited to show everything we’ve learned. We may be a small team, but we have a massive heart and we’ll play every game like it’s a final.”
Squad list: 1. Rocky NYIKEINE, 2. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 3. Leopold MAKALU, 4. Loic WAKANUMUNE, 5. Jean-Paul READ, 6. Cedric SANSOT, 7. Emile BEARUNE, 8. Patrick DIAIKE, 9. Pierre WAJOKA, 10. Marius BAKO, 11. Bertrand KAI, 12. Jean-Christ WAJOKA, 13. Georges BEARUNE, 14. Jedidha SAIKO, 15. Patrick DRAWILO, 16. Mickael ULILE, 17. Jean-Louis TOTO, 18. David BEARUNE, 19. Christian LUEWADRIA, 20. Jim OUKA, 21. Yvanick PAWAWI, 22. Gerald QAEZE, 23. Pierre NYIKEINE
Coach: Kevin COMA (FRA)