For this year’s edition, Amicale – nicknamed the ‘Red Roosters’ – have pursued an aggressive transfer policy where foreign talent is firmly at the top of their list.
New coach Nathan Hall is Australian and his appointment excited Andrew Leong, Amicale club administrator.
“Nathan Hall coming to Amicale is great news for our club and we’re all excited to have a young professional coach who has a lot of experience and has been coaching different clubs in Asia,” Leong says.
“One of his main jobs is to help other coaches in the club prepare our players before the OFC Champions League in April this year.
“He will not only coach Amicale but help Vanuatu and Port Vila football to scout top young players to trial with clubs in Europe and Asia,” Leong says.
Hall has bolstered his squad with three Serbian players Nicola Vasilic, Marko Dordevic and Milan Matic and 2013 OFC Champions League top scorer and best player Nigerian Sanni Issa, has transferred from Ba.
Also former Aston Villa, St. Johnstone and Dundee player Scotland’s Colin Marshall will be one of the attractions in the centre of midfield.
Despite searching beyond the Vanuatu archipelago for future stars, Amicale can also rely on a strong local contingent with experienced Solomon Islands international trio Alick Maemae, Jack Wetney and Nelson Sale providing guile and skill to the Amicale mix.
Amicale are ready to face their opponents but are aware about the strong and tough challenge waiting for them in Fiji.
“I am looking forward to the next exciting competition in Fiji and to be honest the competition will be strong,” Leong says.
Everything about Amicale’s meteoric rise to the top speaks of pace and ambition both on and off the pitch.
Emerging from behind the long shadow cast by Tafea FC, Amicale matched their rivals best ever OFC Champions League performance when they finished runners-up at the first time of asking when they reached the final in 2011.
Now with four straight domestic Premira Division titles – albeit 11 short of Tafea FC’s 15-in-a-row achievement – Amicale have already reached an OFC Champions League final and a semi-final.
As newly crowned Vanuatu champions, Amicale began their OFC Champions League story in the best possible manner downing defending champions Hekari United, 2-1, in 2010.
That perfect start as they finished top of their group but only one point ahead of Solomon Islands champions Koloale with three wins, two losses and a draw.
Their first place in the Group Stage set up a home and away final with New Zealand’s Auckland City FC where Amicale lost the 1st leg 2-1 at home narrowly before capitulating 4-0 the 2nd leg in Auckland.
Despite falling short Fenedy Masauvakalo finished top scorer with eight goals to win the Golden Boot trophy.
But that runners-up achievement proved a difficult act to follow for Amicale as they exited at the group stage.
The 2013 OFC Champions League edition was more colourful for the ‘Red Roosters’ reaching the semi-finals after finishing second of their group six points behind Fiji’s Ba.
They met Waitakere United in the semi-final but a 2-0 loss at home in the 1st leg and a 2-1 loss in the 2nd leg ended the hopes of a second final.
Amicale will open their 2014 campaign against Dragon on April 8, followed by Nadi on April 11 and then finish with a mouth-watering clash with current trophy holders Auckland City FC on April 14.

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