The tournament is set to begin on October 29 and, as with the previous edition, there will be two groups of four teams competing for the coveted prize of representing Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup 2012 in Japan. But for the first time in the competition’s history, the two New Zealand teams – Auckland City and Waitakere United – will be split across Group A and Group B.
In the first of a two-part feature, oceaniafootball.com examines the squads of the clubs fighting for a place in the final from Group A and takes a look at their prospects.
Ba
The Fijian champions are returning to the Pacific’s biggest stage after a two-year absence and will be hoping to make a similar impact as they did in the inaugural O-League in 2007, in which they finished runners-up. In contrast to several of their rivals, the Men in Black will attempt to do so with an entirely homegrown line-up after coach Yogendra Dutt chose not to recruit any foreign talent. Koloale is the only other club in the eight-strong league to place such faith in the local produce and Dutt’s policy is certainly a change to the country’s previous O-League representatives Lautoka, who included players from Australia, Nigeria and Solomon Islands in their squad. Dutt clearly feels he has enough talent at his disposal within Fiji and has indeed been able to put together a group featuring plenty of quality and experience. Eight of the players were involved in Fiji’s Pacific Games campaign and will make up the majority of Dutt’s run-on side. Goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau skippered his country at that event and his leadership qualities will prove vital, as will the form of Alvin Singh, regarded as one of the most accomplished defenders in the Pacific. The centre back tasted top-class action by appearing for Hekari United at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, as did Tamanisau, Tuimasi Manuca, Malakai Tiwa and rangy striker Osea Vakatalesau. They will be keen to book another trip to the prestigious tournament by making Ba’s O-League return a winning one.
Mont-Dore
Last season’s New Caledonia representatives were Magenta and they did not make much of a mark, beating Tahiti rivals Tefana twice for their only wins of the competition. But football in the French territory is on a high at the moment after the Les Cagous national team won the Pacific Games as hosts in September and Mont-Dore appear well-placed to have a serious crack at a final berth. Three members of that triumphant national squad – Jean-Patrick Wakanumune, Olivier Dokunengo and Michel Hmae – feature in the ranks and coach Thierry Sardo will be hoping the confidence gained from that gold-winning performance rubs off on the rest of the squad, which is made up completely of homegrown talent. Goalkeeper Teriitehamo Robson, midfielder Pascal Kenon and striker Ricardo Pelletier will add some youthful exuberance to proceedings but there is also plenty of experience in the form of elder statesmen Jean-Marc Hmaloko and Georges Wadenges, 35 and 36 respectively. Mont-Dore were involved in the inaugural O-League in 2007 and endured a campaign to forget, losing all four matches and scoring just one goal. But they were pitched in a difficult group with New Zealand sides Auckland and Waitakere and will fancy their chances of a vastly-improved showing. Waitakere put nine goals past them over the sides’ two meetings last time so revenge against that opponent will be high on Sardo’s priority list, as will victory against francophone foes Tefana.
Tefana
The Tahitians are making their second consecutive appearance in the O-League and will be looking to put the experience gleaned from last year’s efforts to good effect. Tefana finished at the foot of Group B after posting only one win from their six matches but that victory gave an indication of the potential of the side as it came against Waitakere, who possess one of the strongest squads in the Pacific. The team has a very familiar look to it with coach Laurent Heinis still at the helm and 18 players returning. Heinis will also be boosted by the fact that eight of his charges featured in the bronze-winning Tahiti team at the Pacific Games and will hope they can also take inspiration from the Tiki Toa, the national beach soccer squad, who became the first ever Tahiti side to pick up a win at a FIFA event by beating Venezuela at the Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy in September. Goalscoring will be an area Heinis looks to improve on as Tefana struck just five times in the last campaign, Axel Williams doing enough to finish top scorer with only two goals. Williams is likely to be joined in attack by Taufa Neuffer while goalkeeper Xavier Samin will aim to carry over his good Pacific Games form at the other end. The likes of Stephane Faatiarau, Jean-Claude Chang Koei Chang and Tauraa Marmouyet will offer Samin protection while the midfield will be run by fellow internationals Stanley Atani, Lorenzo Tehau and Sebastian Labayen.
Waitakere United
Two-time winners Waitakere have a proud history in the O-League but their last title arrived back in 2008 and the west Aucklanders will view the previous three campaigns as a failure by their high standards. They will be desperate to prove they are still one of the Pacific’s leading sides by at least making the final and the new format theoretically gives them a greater chance of doing so as they are now in a different group to fierce rivals Auckland. But the flipside is that Neil Emblen’s men face more trips to the islands and that will be of concern as they did not perform well on the road last season, dropping points with a draw in New Caledonia and a loss in Tahiti. Those results cost them dearly in the race for the final and Emblen has cited United’s away form as an area in which they must improve. Waitakere consistently produce squads to rival the best in Oceania and this year’s crop is no different, with the majority of the line-up returning from last season and the acquisition of several new signings. The most interesting of these is young striker Gagame Feni, who will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Solomon Islander Benjamin Totori in making a major contribution. The other fresh faces include Ryan Zoghby, Mauri Wasi and Ross McKenzie while a batch of promising young Kiwis, such as Luke Adams, Sean Lovemore, Bill Tuiloma and Jordan Vale, will also be looking to break into the starting side.
For the 2012 O-League draw click here
For the full squad lists click here

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