There are few surprises in the line-up with the exception of Nigerian striker Sanni Issa who has yet to make a competitive appearance in a Navy Blue shirt.
The forward won the OFC Champions League golden boot with Fiji’s Ba two seasons ago and last year turned out for Amicale.
“Sanni is arriving into Auckland tonight and will be with the group hopefully in Dubai. Obviously, Sanni will be short of preparation and understanding of what we are trying to do, but we will do as much work as we can with him to help and ease him into the team,” Tribulietx says.
Auckland City FC fly from Auckland to Dubai tomorrow evening where the squad will prepare for a friendly with Uzbekistan.
“We have a good 10 day camp together to prepare for the Moghreb Tetouan game and we have learned a lot of things about our opponents.
“They look like a very complete and technical opponent with a lot of different options in their front line and we will prepare as well as we can to compete for the game,” he says.
The rest of Tribulietx’s squad looks familiar to those who have followed the team’s progress this season.
Joao Moreira, injured during a pre-season friendly with Western Springs, will join the squad in Morocco.
Auckland City FC’s Kiwi contingent is as experienced as possible with six players boasting All Whites caps in skipper Ivan Vicelich, goalkeepers Tamati Williams and Jacob Spoonley, defender James Pritchett and midfielders Cam Lindsay and Tim Payne.
The squad is bolstered by a core of highly experienced players, most of whom boast professional clubs on their CVs, such as midfielders Daewook Kim and Mario Bilen, defenders Takuya Iwata, Angel Berlanga, Marko Dordevic, Darren White and John Irving. Striker Fabrizio Tavano has played professionally in both Italy and Mexico.
Tavano could be a vital figure for the Navy Blues and alongside Argentine triple golden boot winner, Emiliano Tade, will be expected to form a strong understanding with Ryan De Vries
Tribulietx has left room for youth with midfielder Sam Burfoot and forward David Browne included alongside
former New Zealand age-group internationals Andrew Milne and Simon Arms are also included.
Louie Caunter provides emergency back-up in goal.
Auckland City FC faces Uzbekistan in Dubai on December 4 in a warm-up match.
The Navy Blues take on Moghreb Tetouan in Rabat on December 10 in the FIFA Club World Cup playoff in Rabat.
Auckland City FC 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 2. Simon ARMS, 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Tim PAYNE, 9. Darren WHITE, 10. Ryan DE VRIES, 11. Cam LINDSAY, 13. Joao MOREIRA, 14. Sanni ISSA, 15. Ivan VICELICH (c), 16. Daewook KIM, 17. Marko DORDEVIC, 18. Louie CAUNTER (GK), 19. David BROWNE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 24. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 25. Fabrizio TAVANO
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX
Wednesday 10 December, 2014
FIFA Club World Cup playoff
Moghreb Tetouan (MOR) v Auckland City FC (NZL)
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

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