The second day of competition in the 2016 OFC Champions League is set to light up Auckland’s QBE Stadium with some mouth-watering action from Group B.
Team Wellington and Hekari United have been drawn into the same group for the second year running where they will be joined by Suva, a side desperate to improve on last year’s disappointing performance on home soil, and newcomers AS Lössi.
Reigning domestic champions Team Wellington and Suva from Fiji will kick-off proceedings and the men from New Zealand’s capital will be clear favourites. Matt Calcott’s side finished runners-up in last year tournament, after being pipped by six-time defending champion Auckland City in a tense penalty shoot-out.
According to Suva coach Gurjit Singh, Team Wellington can go all the way this year.
“We saw them during last year’s Champion League campaign in Fiji, they came very close to winning that. I believe they are even stronger and better now. The fact that they are the current New Zealand champions after beating a team like Auckland City in their title decider speaks for itself.”
Wellington will be flying high after capturing that maiden title four weeks ago. But coach Matt Calcott insists his side will not be complacent on Saturday.
“We haven’t had too much game time in recent weeks. With the national league finishing a month ago we are lacking a bit of match practise. We can’t afford a poor performance first up. In a group competition format, where only the top team is guaranteed a place in the semis, one slip up could be fatal. We can’t take anyone lightly.”
Hekari United from Papua New Guinea will start their 2016 campaign eager to prove critics wrong. The 2010 champions failed to progress to the semis last year after finishing second behind Team Wellington in their group and adding to the disappointment was losing their second consecutive PNG National Soccer League title to bitter rivals Lae City Dwellers earlier this year.
Hekari boss Jerry Allen believes his side has what it takes to repeat the club’s heroics from 2010. The key is for his players to believe in themselves.
“We have to focus on ourselves, and concentrate on doing the best we can. We cannot afford to be complacent or take anything lightly, if we do the basics, we should be ok.”
Meanwhile AS Lössi coach Stephane Drahusak couldn’t hide his excitement ahead of his side’s Group B opener against the former champions from PNG as they take to the field in this competition for the first time.
“We are very keen to get underway – from the players, the coaches to the management. We’ve been talking about this competition for a long time so we’re excited to be here and getting underway."