Direct entry to the 2014 OFC Champions League is up for grabs and the four contending sides – Kiwi Soccer (SAM), Lotoha’pai United (TGA), Pago Youth (ASA) and Tupapa Maraerenga (COK) – are all looking to secure that elusive berth in the group stages in Fiji next April.
OFC competitions co-ordinator Michael Song says this is the second edition of this competition, with this year’s added incentive of direct entry sure to make it a tightly contested event.
“Last year’s preliminary saw Tupapa Maraerenga play-off against New Caledonia side Mont Dore. They went down 3-1 in that match and missed out on a spot in the Champions League this year,” Song says.
“With no play-off this year all four teams will be looking to secure that spot which will make for some exciting football.”
The round-robin competition will be held in the American Samoa capital of Pago Pago from 15-19 October at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
The tournament will play out over three match days, with two matches per day kicking off at midday and 3pm on the 15, 17 and 19 October.
The winner of the Preliminary joins 11 other clubs in Fiji for the group stages in April 2014, including Waitakere United and Auckland City from New Zealand, plus the champion clubs of Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.
The champion and runners-up clubs from Tahiti, Vanuatu and host nation Fiji complete the line-up.
The group winners plus the best placed runner-up from the next group stage advance to a home and away semi-final with the winners facing each other in a one-off final at a yet to be determined venue.
The winner of the OFC Champions League 2014 represents OFC at the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014.
The draw is as follows:
Match Day 1
15 October, 2013
Lotoha’apai United v Tupapa Maraerenga 12h00
Kiwi Soccer v Pago Youth 15h00
Match Day 2
17 October, 2013
Lotoha’apai United v Kiwi Soccer 12h00
Pago Youth v Tupapa Maraerenga 15h00
Match Day 3
19 October, 2013
Pago Youth v Lotoha’apai United 12h00
Tupapa Maraerenga v Kiwi Soccer 15h00
*Simultaneous kick-off may be enforced on Match Day 3
OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
GROUP STAGE
APRIL, 2013
FIJI
Group A
Waitakere United
Solomon Islands 1
Preliminary winner
Tahiti 2
Group B
Auckland City
Tahiti 1
Vanuatu 2
Fiji 2
Group C
Vanuatu 1
Fiji 1
New Caledonia 1
Papua New Guinea 1
EXTRA INFORMATION
VIDEO CONTENT: The official draw available here
OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FACEBOOK PAGE
Want to know who the past champions of the OFC were? Top scorers? Memorable matches? Then visit the OFC Champions League Facebook page where you can keep up to date with all the action and news, past, present and future!
www.facebook.com/OFCChampionsLeague

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