AUCKLAND – Waitakere United Coach Chris Milicich believes his side has ‘the best opportunity’, to take down cross tasman rivals Adelaide United at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 in 16 days time.

The two sides will meet on Thursday December 11th at the Tokyo National Stadium, in a play-off game with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals against Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka. The winner of that match will then meet European champions Manchester United in the semi –final.

Speaking at the Waitakere United/ FIFA media conference at Waitakere United’s home ground, Trusts Stadium, Milicich said his side learned many valuable lessons from last year’s FIFA Club World Cup experience and is excited at the prospect of meeting A-League outfit Adelaide United in the qualification match

“For our players it’s a chance to play against a side that play a style of football we understand and are familiar with,” Milicich said.

“It is our best opportunity and we have a great depth of knowledge about Adelaide, which will give us an advantage whereas last year against Sepahan we knew very little.

“There are players in our team like Danny Hay, Neil Emblen, and Jonathan Perry who have played against these players and can give individual opinions to teammates on how to play them, what they are likely to do and how to counter it.”

Presentations were made to Waitakere United Chairman Rex Dawkins and Milicich by FIFA media officer Gordon Glen Watson and guests included OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas, and Waitakere United players Danny Hay, Neil Emblen, Jonothan Perry, Roy Krishna and Benjamin Totori.

Dawkins said the preparation and management of the side is a big step up from last year and is excited to have secured a warm up game with a provincial side from Waitakere City’s sister city Ningbo, in China.

“We were lucky to be able to call on a relationship that Waitakere City has with Ningbo and have been invited to go there, all expenses paid, to play a provincial Chinese side on December 6. We believe there will be around 40-50,000 people at the stadium, so they are putting a lot of effort into the promotion of the game, so that will be terrific preparation.”

Waitakere defender Jonathan Perry was a member of last year’s squad who fell 3-1 at the hands of Sepahan in the play in match and said the warm up game will be a great help in preparing the side.

“It’s all about experience and hopefully we can build off last season’s mistakes. It won’t take us two minutes to get into the game this time or get up to speed. The preparation game in China is very important and will give us a better understanding of what we’re in for and up against.

“Last year playing against Sepahan it was such an unknown and we didn’t know what we were in for when we stepped out onto that pitch in the first half. We had to quickly get up to speed and didn’t react quick enough.

“We’re in a position where we can watch Adelaide on TV week in and week out. We have players in our team who have played against them and know the players individually and we know we can lift our game and respond to what they have to offer.

“A couple of years ago Auckland City FC played Sydney FC and lost the game in the 93rd minute so I think we can be as competitive as them.”

Nicholas said he hoped Waitakere could follow the lead of other Oceania teams who have recently secured wins at FIFA tournaments.

“I hope Waitakere will follow the lead of the other Oceania teams who have shown at FIFA tournaments that they can be very competitive on the world stage. We have recently seen some fantastic performances at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 tournaments by the New Zealand women’s teams, who have proven they can get results at the finals and Waitakere should draw inspiration from this.”

Photos: Shane Wenzlick

FIFA Media Officer Gordon Glen Watson awards a FIFA Plaque to Waitakere Chairman Rex Dawkins

The Panel: From left Gordon Glen Watson, Tai Nicholas, Rex Dawkins, Chris Milicich, Jonathan Perry, Neil Emblen

Latest signing: Fijian star striker Roy Krishna

Dynamic Duo: Krishna and Solomon Island international Benjamin Totori

Experienced heads: Jonathan Perry (left) and Neil Emblen