Unbeaten Lautoka are at the top of Group A and will look to make sure it stays that way with a victory over struggling Solomon Islands side Koloale while second-placed Amicale meet defending champions Hekari United in the pool’s other match.
In the only Group B game of the round, Waitakere United will hope to take advantage of the inactivity of New Zealand rivals Auckland City, who have had their clash with Magenta postponed until a yet-to-be determined date. The two Auckland-based sides are fighting it out for pole position in the group and a win for Waitakere over Tefana would give them the edge going into the business end of the season.
That match is a Friday evening kick-off on the artificial turf at Tefana’s Stade Louis Ganivet ground and Waitakere player-coach Neil Emblen is aware how crucial the encounter could prove.
The former New Zealand Knights player did not kit up for his team’s 6-1 ASB Premiership win over Youngheart Manawatu on Saturday but made sure he would be fit for the trip to Papeete by getting a match under his belt last week. Emblen lined up for feeder club Waitakere City in a mid-week friendly against fellow winter outfit Birkenhead United and was joined on the artificial turf at North Harbour Stadium by goalkeeper Andy Ralph.
The ex-English semi-professional injured his hand while warming up for the domestic clash with Auckland last November and has had to watch as Danny Robinson regained the No 1 jersey and made it his own with a string of impressive performances. But Ralph is now back to full fitness and ready to challenge his fellow Englishman for a starting place.
Also coming back into the squad is veteran midfielder Martin Bullock, whose experience and ability will be welcome assets on a surface unfamiliar to many of Waitakere’s players.
“He is not quite ready to play so we will have to see how he progresses,” Emblen says. “Artificial turf tests your touch so a player like him would be valuable.”
To make sure his charges will be ready for the challenge, Emblen put them through their paces at North Harbour Stadium’s artificial field on Monday and Wednesday before the squad flew out for Tahiti yesterday afternoon.
Defender Jack Pelter misses the match through suspension so the youthful back four of Aaron Scott, Jason Rowley, Tim Myers and Ashton Pett are likely to continue in front of Robinson or Ralph. Emblen has more options in midfield and attack with only the likes of Allan Pearce and Dakota Lucas, who both scored twice against Manawatu, Jake Butler and Chris Bale sure of their spots.
Opponents Tefana have just one point to show for their efforts so far but, significantly, that draw was secured in their only home match, a 1-1 deadlock with Auckland City in December. Their hopes of finishing at the top of Group B appear slim but a win here would keep those dreams alive. The fierce Tahiti-New Caledonia rivalry means they have plenty to play for regardless as they will be desperate to pick up some points and finish ahead of Magenta.
Coach Larent Heinis and his players also have a score to settle against Waitakere after being humbled 3-1 in the earlier O-League fixture between the sides. Goalscoring has been an issue – Tefana have found the net just twice from their three matches – so Heinis will be looking for the likes of strikers David Chang Koei Chang, Alvin Tehau and Taufa Neuffer to break their duck.
Hekari United have no such problems – the Papua New Guinea team’s five strikes make them the top scorers in Group A – but will be disappointed with their middle-of-the-road results. They have posted a win, a draw and a loss and will need to improve on that form to achieve their goal of booking a swift return to the FIFA Club World Cup.
They have already been in O-League action this year – the December clash with Lautoka was moved to January 15 due to Hekari’s Club World Cup commitments – but failed to score in that 0-0 stalemate. Defender Treva Ire was the stand-in coach for that match but Jerry Allen is now back at the helm and will be wary of the threat posed by an Amicale side packed full of attacking talent and in good form.
Hekari found out how tricky an opponent the Vanuatu side can be when they were beaten 2-1 on the opening day and Amicale president Jean Yves Chapod is hoping for a repeat of that result. Amicale are just a point behind Group A leaders Lautoka and Chapod has his heart set on a crack at the title.
But he believes the players must not get too far ahead of themselves and need to concentrate on securing three points this weekend.
“This match is not like a final, far from it,” Chapod says. “Whoever wins on Saturday will not be champions – there are two more games to go in the group and there are two other teams. We will have to earn the right to compete in the final.”
Fijian champions Lautoka are trying to do likewise and appear to be facing the ideal opponent to continue their good run in winless Koloale. The Solomon Islanders have lost 4-0 and 2-0 in their last two matches against Hekari and Amicale respectively, and were beaten 2-1 at home by Lautoka in round one.
But Lautoka coach Gurjit Singh says their current status as a wounded animal makes them a dangerous proposition.
“Koloale seem to be down in the competition but they are not yet out,” he says. “It will be a very tough match for us and we cannot afford to lose. We need to maintain our lead in the group if we are to qualify for the final.”