The Amicale star linked up with strike partner and 2011 O-League Golden Boot Fenedy Masauvakalo to cause the Auckland defence – which had conceded just two goals throughout the entire campaign – plenty of problems during an entertaining 1st leg encounter in Port Vila on April 2. But, despite Masauvakalo managing to find the net for his seventh goal of the season, Amicale went down 2-1 and must now take an attacking approach into the 2nd leg at Auckland’s Kiwitea St ground.
A 1-0 defeat would be enough to earn City the title – and a place at the lucrative FIFA Club World Cup – but Wetney feels his side is capable of putting more than one goal past Auckland’s reknowned rearguard and returning to Vanuatu with the O-League trophy as part of their precious cargo.
“I think we have a good chance of doing it,” he says. “In the first match, I don’t think we were in the game during the first half but we came back strongly in the second half. That proved we can play at the level we will need to and I think we can make it.”
Amicale put in a strong showing in front of 8,000 rowdy fans at PVL Stadium in the 1st leg but it wasn’t enough to earn a positive result and Wetney says the players had mixed emotions after the final whistle.
“Everyone was really disappointed but we were happy to be playing against such good players so it was still a great experience,” the Solomon Islands star says.
Joining Vicelich as the incumbent members of Auckland’s back four are Spaniard Angel Berlanga, former All White James Pritchett and ex-youth international Ian Hogg. Their solid performances have made the City defence into the meanest in the 2011 O-League and Wetney admits to being a tad star-struck at the prospect of facing them.
“I can’t explain what it’s like,” he says. “Vicelich was playing at the World Cup not very long ago against some of the best players in the world and now he is playing with us. The opportunity for me to play against players like that doesn’t come along very often.”
Wetney is no stranger to international football himself but that experience has come on a wooden floor with a roof over his head. The skilful striker is a key member of the Kurukuru, the Solomon Islands’ national futsal team, and will head straight back to his homeland after Sunday’s match to join the squad as they prepare for the OFC Futsal Championship, set to place in Fiji during May.
The scenario on that occasion will be much different – the Kurukuru are the dominant force in Oceania futsal and are favourites to take out the title – but Wetney sees no reason why Amicale can’t make light of their underdogs’ tag on Sunday and become the first Vanuatu club to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
“I think we’re capable of pushing Auckland and we have seen that they’re only human. We know they have weaknesses like everyone else and will do our best to exploit them in the 2nd leg.”
He says the chance to make history and book that Club World Cup spot is the main motivation for his team. The achievement of Papua New Guinea side Hekari United in beating New Zealand’s Waitakere United in last year’s final has been a key source of inspiration for the Amicale troops.
“Hekari have shown that it is possible for clubs like ours to make it and the Club World Cup has always been our aim,” Wetney says.

2011 O-LEAGUE 2ND LEG FINAL PREVIEW

Auckland City [NZL] vs. Amicale [VAN]
Sunday 17 April
Auckland, New Zealand
Kiwitea St
Local kick-off: 2pm

Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant referee 1: Tevita MAKASINI [TGA]
Assistant referee 2: David CHARLES [PNG]
Fourth official: TBC

Auckland City: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 2. Angel BERLANGA, 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 6. Stuart KELLY, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. David MULLIGAN, 9. Manel EXPOSITO, 10. Luis CORRALES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 12. Liam LITTLE [GK], 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Adam DICKINSON, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Albert VIDAL, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Adam THOMAS
Coaches: Aaron McFARLAND and Ramon TRIBULIETX
Amicale: 1. Ernest BONG [GK], 3. Young PAUL, 4. Selwyn SESE ALA, 5. Richard ANISUA, 6. Nelson SALE, 7. Jean-Robert YELOU, 8. Jerry SHEM, 9. Dereck MALAS, 10. Batram SURI, 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 13. Gibson DAUDAU, 14. Moffat DERAMOA, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 18. Richard GARAE, 19. Jack WETNEY, 22. Chikau MANSALE [GK], 25. Stanley WAITA, 29. Seimata CHILIA
Coach: Luke EROI