The match-up between the champions and their predecessors is part of a feast of football for fans in New Zealand’s largest city this weekend and will be followed by two more eagerly-anticipated clashes.
Shortly after the action wraps up at Kiwitea St, the Wellington Phoenix will take on Adelaide United at Eden Park in the club’s first ever A-League game in Auckland and the first football match at the venue since 1988. The next day will see Waitakere United host Fijian visitors Ba, for which thousands of supporters are expected to cram inside Fred Taylor Park.
On a weekend with so much to look forward to, the significance of the Auckland-Hekari game is in danger of being overlooked but, were it a stand alone fixture, it would be more than worthy of such a billing.
The next fortnight is a key time in Auckland’s history as the side is putting the finishing touches on its preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup while Hekari are also at somewhat of a crossroads, having followed up their historic 2010 O-League win with an underwhelming showing in the following campaign.
Coach Jerry Allen and his men are therefore on a quest to re-establish themselves as a force on the Pacific’s biggest club stage and a positive result against Auckland would go a long way towards doing that.
Hekari took their first step on the path to redemption with a 1-1 draw away to Amicale, last season’s runners-up, in the opening round and Allen was delighted with the efforts of his charges on that occasion.
“I was very happy because Amicale are the champions of Vanuatu and are a good team,” he says. “We were missing most of our international signings for that game and had to rely on our local players. I was very proud of them.”
Allen has the services of those aforementioned foreign stars, namely Fijian international trio Maciu Dunadamu, Pita Bolatoga and Taniela Waqa, this weekend and is hoping the trip will be just as successful as Hekari’s last O-League outing in New Zealand – the second leg of the 2010 final against Waitakere United that booked them a place at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Auckland counterpart Ramon Tribulietx may want to bend the ear of Allen after Saturday’s match as he is now tasked with the same responsibility – preparing an amateur Oceania team to face some of the best sides on the planet at the Club World Cup.
The Hekari game and an ASB Premiership meeting with YoungHeart Manawatu are City’s only remaining matches before their departure for Japan and the players are quickly running out of time to impress Tribulietx and secure a spot in the line-up.
The Spaniard will name his final squad of 22 next Thursday, four days ahead of the official deadline set by FIFA. That means Saturday’s game looms as the last chance for the players to stake their claims.
“We’ve won five games since the season started and the competition for places has been intense,” Tribulietx says. “But I think we will be in a strong position to name our group by the end of next week.”
One of those wins was a 3-1 success on Sunday over local rivals Waitakere United, an opponent the City faithful always very much enjoy getting the better of.
“Winning there is not easy and it was tough right to the end. The players put in a great effort and I think everyone gave 100 per cent,” Tribulietx says.
The only downside to that victory was a knee injury to one-cap All White Chad Coombes, who has been named in the squad to face Hekari but may not play a part. Fortunately, Tribulietx has a ready-made replacement in fellow former All White James Pritchett, who will slot in on the right should Coombes fail his fitness battle.
2012 O-League Match Day 2
Auckland City [NZL] vs. Hekari United [PNG]
Saturday 19 November
Kiwitea St
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 2pm
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Assistant referee 1: Brent BEST [NZL]
Assistant referee 2: Nick VAN DER SALM [NZL]
Fourth official: Mirko BENISCHKE [NZL]
Auckland City: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. Chad COOMBES, 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 RIERA, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Andreu GUERAO, 22. Andrew MILNE
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX
Hekari United: 1. Leslie KALAI [GK], 5. John NAMANI, 6. Samuel KINI, 7. Raymond GUNEMBA, 8. Maciu DUNADAMU, 9. Nigel DABINYABA, 10. Wira WAMA, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 14. Neil HANS, 16. Pita BOLATOGA, 17. Kema JACK, 18. Eric KOMENG, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 20. Godfrey BANIAU [GK], 21. Clifton AUMAE, 25. Taniela WAQA, 29. Isoa DONALDSON
Coach: Jerry ALLEN