AUCKLAND - The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) General Secretary Tai Nicholas has moved to quash speculation that Wellington Phoenix FC will be admitted to the OFC O-League 2007/08 competition.

“The participation of Wellington Phoenix FC in this season’s competition is a non-starter.

The most obvious reason for not including the Phoenix is on sporting grounds.

The OFC O-League 2008/09 is already well underway and participating clubs have signed players and coaches with a set competition framework in place.

To change that framework at such a late stage would not be in the spirit of the FIFA Fair Play concept,” Nicholas said.

Current OFC O-League champions Waitakere United (NZL) face AS Manu Ura (TAH) in an OFC O-League match on Saturday 16 February in Tahiti with New Zealand’s FIFA Club World Cup representatives in red hot form.

Waitakere United trail Auckland City FC by three points in the NZFC competition. After an indifferent start to the defence of its FTF Division Federale title AS Manu Ura has climbed to the top of French Polynesia’s national competition after a morale-boosting win over nearest rivals and Coupe de Polynesie Francaise finalists AS Tefana last weekend.

OFC O-League

Group A

15/02/08

Stade Pater Stadium

AS Manu Ura (TAH) vs. Waitakere United (NZL)

Kick-off: 2000hrs (TAH)/1900hrs (NZL)*

*Please note Papeete GMT-1000hrs