Group A contenders Auckland City and Waitakere United will be eager to pick up points on the road against AS Magenta and AS Manu Ura while Hekari United, Lautoka and Tafea all have a chance to go top of Group B before the final round of matches in three weeks time.
Defending champions Auckland City will miss captain Ivan Vicelich and recently recruited All White Jason Hayne who are both out through suspension while striker Keryn Jordan is still recovering from a knee injury. Chad Coombes, who earned his first cap for New Zealand against Mexico in Los Angeles this week, faces a tight stopover in Auckland before heading to Noumea on Saturday morning to join the team. Magenta will take confidence from their first-leg match against Auckland when they narrowly lost 2-1. With just two points from the competition so far, coach Alain Moizan will be hoping his side can cause an upset at Stade Numa Daly on Saturday.
In the other Group A match, Tahiti’s Manu Ura host Waitakere at Stade Paea in what could be a soggy encounter after a week of heavy rain in Papeete. Waitakere, currently two points behind Auckland City, will be desperate for a win to stay in contention ahead of their showdown at Kiwitea Street on Sunday 28 March. Manu Ura meanwhile will play for pride having picked up just one point so far.
Group B leaders Lautoka will enjoy home town advantage against Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United but will be without suspended captain Samuela Vula and coach Imdad Ali who is on leave for internal disciplinary reasons.
Lautoka President Shalendra Prasad says the team will try to handle this unsettling situation as best they can.
“We will not have a stand in coach for this match so team officials and senior players will take charge and work with the team. The morale of the team is high but not having a coach may hinder our preparation,” Prasad said.
“This is a do or die situation for us. We have to win this match at any cost in order to stay in the hunt. We will not be underestimating Hekari United as they will be coming fully prepared. In the first-leg match we were lucky to walk away with a 2-1 victory.”
Lautoka are on nine points with Hekari and Tafea close behind on seven. Hekari franchise owner John Kapi-Nato says it will be a challenging end to the season with two away games in a row which makes this weekend’s result so important.
“Lautoka will be thinking the same – this is a crucial match because whoever wins will take the lead going into the final group match,” said Kapi-Nato. “I have told the Hekari boys that this will be the match of their lives and they must not underestimate the Fijians.”
Meanwhile Vanuatu’s Tafea could also take the lead in Group B this weekend with a win against Marist FC at Municipal Stadium in Port Vila. Tafea have the luxury of playing their last two matches at home but can ill-afford to relax against the Solomon Islanders who are desperate to pick up their first point in the competition.
2010 O-LEAGUE – MATCH DAY 5 PREVIEW
This the official preview of Match Day 5. Please note squads are subjects to change.
Media wishing to attend any O-League match should contact the respective home club contract prior to match day. Media are encouraged to use these contacts for further specific information or clarification.
AS Manu Ura [TAH] vs. Waitakere United [NZL]
Friday 5 March 2010
Papeete, Tahiti
Stade Paea
Local kick-off: 19H30
Referee: Bertrand BILLION [NCL]
Assistant Referee: 1 Philippe REVEL [TAH]
Assistant Referee: 2 Paul AHUPU [TAH]
Fourth Official: Averii JACQUES [TAH]
AS Manu Ura: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 4. Jean-Yves LY WA UT, 5. Philippe MORETA, 6. Aldo TAUIHARA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 8. Vetea TEPA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 11. Hiashi KAKE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 15. Henri CHANON, 16. Daniel TAPETA [GK], 19. Heitini TUPEA, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA.
Coach: Patrick PITO [TAH]
Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MEYERS, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brant FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Alan PEARCE, 11. Neil SYKES, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 15. Craig Wylie, 16. Neil EMBLEN, 17. Jake BUTLER, 18. Zane SOLE, 19. Dakota SOLAS, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 21. Jack PELTER, 22. Liam LITTLE [GK].
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]
AS Magenta [NCL] vs. Auckland City FC [NZL]
Saturday 6 March 2010
Noumea, New Caledonia
Stade Numa Daly
Local kick-off: 15H00
Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant Referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant Referee 2: Ruilly ERMANE [NCL]
Fourth Official: Marius GAICOIN [NCL]
AS Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 3. Judigael IXOEE, 5. Andre WAHNAWE, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 8. Marius BAKO, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 13. Roy KAYARA, 14. Joachim WEA, 15. Steeven LONGUE, 16. Michel HNE [GK], 17. Andre SINEDO, 22. Jean Marc WAMEJO, 24. Lamo XEWE, 27. Jean Philippe SAIKO, 29. Andre NAXUE, 32. Ludovic BOIT.
Coach: Alain MOIZAN [NCL]
Auckland City FC: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 2. Kris CARPENTER, 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chad COOMBES, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 10, Grant YOUNG, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 18. Paul GOTHARD [GK], 20. Greg UHLMANN, 22. Adam DICKINSON.
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]
Tafea FC [VAN] vs. Marist FC [SOL]
Saturday 6 March 2010
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Municipal Stadium
Local kick-off: 15H00
Referee: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]
Assistant Referee 1: Michael JOSEPH [VAN]
Assistant Referee 2: Alick LUKUI [VAN]
Fourth Official: Robinson BANGA [VAN]
Tafea FC: 1. Alfred MALAS [GK], 2. Samson OBED, 3. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN, 4. Roger JOE, 6. Fredy VAVA, 7. Moise POIDE, 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL, 10. Richard IWAI, 11. Etienne MERMER, 12. Richard IATA, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 15. Jonah TURU, 16. Frazer MAEBULE, 17. Geoffrey GETE, 18. Robert TOM, 19. Michell KALTAK, 20. Len MERKA [GK], 23. Nines TAKAU.
Coach: Imdad ALI [FIJ]
Marist FC: 1. Mickael KOUMA, 2. Chrisanto MISIGA, 4. Emmanuel POILA, 9. Abraham INIGA, 11. Commins MENAPI, 13. Lenson BISILI, 14. Tutizama TANITO, 17. Gibson HOSEA, 20. Navusu KITU [GK], 22. Jacob PEKAU, 24. Simon TOVA, 26. Ben HIBISCUS, 27. George LUI, 29. Philip MISIBINI, 30. Arnold KENI.
Coach: Patrick MINITI [SOL]
Lautoka [FIJ] vs. Hekari United FC [PNG]
Sunday 7 March 2010
Lautoka, Fiji
Churchill Park
Local kick-off: 15H00
Referee: Chris KERR [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Ashwin KUMAR [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 2: Ravinesh KUMAR [FIJ]
Fourth Official: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Lautoka: 2. Samuela KAUTOGA, 3. Alvin AVINESH, 5. Semesa NAKOSIA, 6. Malakai WAQA, 7. Valerio NAWATU, 10. Kamal HASSAN, 11. Sailesh SAMY, 13. Apasai SMITH, 14. Elvin PRASAD, 15. Marika ROBANAKADAVU, 16. Jone VONO, 17. Arvindra NAIDU, 19. Leone VURUKANIA, 20. Osea VAKATALESAU, 22. Aliverti BALELOA [GK], 27. Salesh KUMAR, 28. Parmesh PRASAD [GK], 29. Poasa BAINIVALU.
Coach: Imbad ALI [FIJ]
Hekari United FC: 1. Godfrey BANIAU [GK], 2. Gideon OMOKIRIO, 4. Cyril MUTA, 6. Eddie NGAITIN, 7. Benjamin MELA, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 11. Joachim WAROI, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 15. Charles PARANDA, 16. Pita BOLATOGA, 17. Kema JACK, 18, Eric KOMENG, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 25. Stanley WAITA, 26. Alick MAEMAE, 28. Henry FA‘ARODO.
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [SOL]