The Vanuatu club champions have been drawn in Group A alongside Solomon Island champions the Solomon Warriors, Ba from Fiji and Hekari United of Papua New Guinea in the premier Oceania club tournament.
The side had hoped to have the services of Ipswich Knights striker Peter Drager of Australia, however the deal which was announced in January has since fallen through.
Instead the side is looking to add a different Australian player to their ranks in the form of 23-year-old goalkeeper Michael Rutherford.
The young keeper has been playing for 15 years in the New South Wales first division with Leichhardt Tigers and more recently Camden.
Rutherford says he is excited by the chance to represent Amicale in the OFC Champions League.
“I can’t wait to join up with the team and start training for the first match of the competition in the Solomon Islands,” he says.
“Hopefully we can go all the way to the finals.”
Amicale has also added two more local players to their side with midfielder Dominique Fred confirming he has left Shepherds United to sign with the club while defender Samuel Kaloros has joined from Erakor Golden Star.
Fred has already made two appearances with Amicale in friendly matches against Lamap FC and the Vanuatu U-17 side, against which he scored the opener for his new club.
Kaloros meanwhile played a part in Erakor’s rise from the second division just two years ago to coming runners-up in the TVL Premier League in the 2012 season.
Amicale vice-president Andrew Leong says the 24-year-old completed his trial and has also made appearances for the club in the same matches as Fred.
“I am happy because a humble player like Samuel Kaloros has stepped up to join the club to play in the OFC Champions League and he is a very good defender,” Leong says.
The young defender says he is pleased to have the opportunity to live his dream and play in a top competition.
“To achieve my dreams I must find a club and I am very happy because Amicale FC have accepted me to play with them,” Kaloros says.
“My biggest objective now is to train hard and play good football so the coaches and management can recruit me to play for Amicale in the OFC Champions League.”
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

Share