The OFC U-17 Championship – Tahiti 2007 will burst into life this afternoon as the race for a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup – Korea 2007 gets underway against the spectacular backdrop of tropical Tahiti.
The opening match of the tournament will pit the fast attacking pace of Fiji against one of the pre-tournament favourites New Zealand. New Zealand coach Colin Tuaa will be looking to the dynamic strike force of Costa Barbarouses and Mario Hoffman to unlock the Fijian defence.
Fiji – led by coach Mohammed Farouk – will be looking to emulate the efforts of the Fiji U-20 side that ran New Zealand close in the OFC U-20 Championship – New Zealand 2007. Fijian striker James McKay will carry the hopes for his country as they look to catch New Zealand cold in the opening match of the tournament.
But New Zealand coach Colin Tuaa believes his team will not underestimate Fiji after seeing them in action at training. “They are physically big and strong, they look a tidy side and it will be tough opening game,” Tuaa said.
Hosts Tahiti begins their campaign with a mouth-watering clash against French-speaking rivals New Caledonia. Coach Eddie Etaeta is confident that his side have moved on from their disappointing performances in a recent friendly international series against New Zealand and will be looking for maximum points against New Caledonia. Etaeta acknowledges this won’t be easy.
“Our mentality is much stronger than it was in New Zealand last December and we have added new players to our group for this tournament. There is a strong desire in the camp to have a good competition as the host nation and we have prepared very well,” Etaeta said.
Goalkeeper Wou Lin Hitinui, Faatiarau Stephane and Manarii Benson have all been drafted in to add steel to a defence that was plundered by New Zealand strikers Petelo and Barbarouses last year. Etaeta is confident that the defensive frailties have been fixed but warned that New Caledonia would present a tough challenge first up.
“Our information about New Caledonia is limited but I am aware of the characteristics of New Caledonia football; they play at speed and can play accurate long passes and as I understand it, they have a tall defence. Our approach to this game will be one of patience,” Etaeta said.
New Caledonia U-17 come to the tournament with a good build-up programme behind them and an encouraging 3-0 victory over the New Caledonia U-20 side in December that illustrated the belief in the French Territory that this team could prove a surprise package. The coaching duo of Robert Drawilo and Didier Chambaron had involvement with the New Caledonia U-20 side in Auckland earlier this year and were lauded for the organisation and shape of their team, elements Etaeta expects to be in evidence in tonight’s opening match.
All Media requests for the OFC U17 Championship – Tahiti 2007 will be handled by OFC Media Officer Olivier Huc on location at the Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti.