2009 O-LEAGUE – MATCH DAY SIX PREVIEW

AUCKLAND – The first finalist for the 2009 O-League competition will be decided this Saturday when Solomon Island club champions Koloale FC host Fiji’s Ba for the final Group B match at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.

Both teams need three points to advance to the home and away final where they will have a chance at securing the US$500,000 playoff spot at the FIFA Club World Cup 2009 but if Saturday’s match ends in a draw then Papua New Guinea representatives Hekari Souths United FC will progress as Group B’s top team.

The second O-League finalist will be determined on Sunday 5 April when cross-town rivals Auckland City FC and Waitakere United meet in their Group A showdown at Douglas Field in Henderson.

With a home crowd likely to surpass 10,000 on Saturday, Koloale coach Luke Eroi is hoping the local fans will help drive his team to victory.

“My players always have more confidence at home and they’re eager to put in a good performance for the supporters,” says Eroi.

The newcomers to the competition are coming off a disappointing 0-1 loss to Hekari in their previous O-League match but Eroi says his players are capable of bouncing back.

“The focus in training since the Hekari game has been on our finishing and I’m confident we can score the goals we need to beat Ba this weekend.”

In terms of tactics, Eroi says Koloale will focus on playing a strong passing game.

“This Ba side has a lot of height and they will be strong in the air so we will look to keep the ball on the ground. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can name a strong starting line-up because we have no injury concerns at the moment.”

Meanwhile Ba have had a long break from the O-League having played their last match on 14 February against Hekari which they lost 1-3.

But the Fiji club champions have experience on their side with appearances in the previous two O-League competitions including a dream run to the final in 2007 where they narrowly lost to Waitakere. Ba will draw on that experience in their bid to power past Koloale this weekend. 

The last time the two sides met was in the opening Group B match on 2 November 2008 which ended in a goalless draw. If that scenario is repeated then Hekari will progress to the home and away final.

With so much at stake, security has been beefed up at Lawson Tama Stadium with police and wardens cobining their resources to ensure a trouble free match.

2009 O-LEAGUE GROUP B – MATCH DAY SIX

Match: Koloale FC [SOL] vs. Ba [FIJ]

Referee: Lencie FRED [VAN]

Koloale FC: 1. Zantas KABINI  [GK], 2. Welshman HOUKARAWA, 3. Jeffrey BULE, 4. Cecil BURU, 5. Richard ANISUA, 6. Timothy JOE, 8. Peter TALOGA, 10. Ezra SALE, 13. Lency SAENI, 14. Nicholas MURI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Joses NAWO, 18. Henry KOTO, 19. Henry FAARODO, 20. Shadrack RAMONI  [GK], 26. Kluivert DAGI, 27. Leonard OLEA, 30. Tony OTINI

Ba: 2. Avinesh SUWAMY, 4. Manueli KALOU, 5. Ronil KUMAR, 6. Jone VESIKULA, 7. Tuimasi MANUCA, 9. Josaia BUKALIDI, 11. Alvin SINGH, 15. Mavileko NAKAMA, 16. Malakai TIWA, 17. Malakai KAINIHEWE, 19. Shameel RAO, 21. Jone RALULU  [GK], 24. Rinal PRASAD, 26. Joshua WILSON, 29. Peni FINAU, 30. Osea VAKATALESAU

Group B Standings

Group B Results

02.11.08  Ba vs. Koloale FC                               0-0

2009 O-LEAGUE GROUP B – MATCH DAY SIX

Match: Waitakere United [NZL] vs. Auckland City FC [NZL]

Group A Standings

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Priscilla Duncan

E: [email protected]