The third edition of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League kicks off on Sunday with two highly anticipated matchups in New Zealand and Fiji.

The only two sides to win the O-League –current champions Waitakere United and inaugural O-League winners Auckland City FC –will open their season at Kiwitea St in Auckland, while Solomon Island champions Koloale FC travel to Ba for their competition debut.

Koloale FC (SOL), Hekari Souths United FC (PNG) and Port Vila Sharks (VAN) are the new additions to the six team 2009 tournament with the latter completing the ‘group of death’ with Auckland and Waitakere.

The new faces are expected to help the O-League exceed last year’s cumulative attendance figure of 80,000 fans across the five countries.

The 2008 O-League winners Waitakere United are in the midst of preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup competition in Japan in December, but the importance of the season opener is not lost on Coach Chris Milicich who has been preparing for this match for eight weeks.

“The importance can’t be under emphasised, it’s a game where a win can provide a huge jump on the other team and could create a huge problem to catch them,” Milicich said.

“From our perspective the importance is to get a good result – whether that’s a draw away from home or a win we’ll take it.”

Both sides have looked abroad to strengthen their squads with Auckland boasting 10 different nationalities in their squad and Waitakere six.

Arguably Auckland’s greatest acquisition is former All White defender Ivan Vicelich, returning home after 8 seasons of professional football abroad. He will likely form a defensive partnership with Spanish signing Xavi Roca who boasts stints as Barcelona and Villarreal on his football CV.

Not to be outdone Waitakere have signed Brazilian midfield ace Adriano Pimenta who has played in the UEFA cup with Swiss side FC Thun – to boost their midfield and help feed the attacking threat of Solomon Island international Benjamin Totori and Fijian Roy Krishna up front.

Waitakere held the upper hand in last season’s O-League encounters, securing a 1-0 win away from home courtesy of an Allan Pearce header, before holding Auckland to a 1-1 draw at the Trusts Stadium. The win guaranteed them a place in the 2008 O-League final with Kossa FC.

Auckland City FC Coach Colin Tuaa is expecting a typical “arm wrestle” match between the two sides and is optimistic of “a little bit of football in between.”

“It is vital to get a good start on Sunday for our confidence and to get some momentum going both for the O-League and heading into the NZFC.

“We are very ambitious and clear in what we want this season, to make the O-league playoffs and win back the NZFC title and we have recruited a squad capable of doing that.

“I would ideally like to have another three or four competitive games under the belt but I’m happy where we are. The younger players in the squad have been training very well and the fitness levels are good, combinations are developing, it might take another three or four games but overall I’m very pleased.

Tuaa is familiar with the Waitakere style of play and said his side are well prepared to deal with their threat.

“They have quality players up front and a very rugged midfield which we need to be able to combat. I’m very confident we can do both and come out on top.

In the Group B opener Koloale will be looking to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Solomon Island champions Kossa FC who made it all the way to the grand final before succumbing to Waitakere 6-3 on aggregate.

The O-League final first leg in at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara drew a crowd of over 20,000 people and Koloale will be looking for the same support from the Solomon Island faithful when they host their games at the same venue.

But first they must focus on a difficult season opener against experienced Fijian champions Ba at Govind Park.

Malakai Tiwa will lead a side packed full of Fijian internationals in front of the passionate Ba faithful and Koloale will need the best out of experienced professional striker Henry Faarodo to unlock their defence.

Oceaniafootball.com will be providing live text updates for all 2009 O-League matches.

CLICK HERE FOR 2009 O-LEAGUE MEDIA GUIDE

2009 O-League

AUCKLAND CITY FC v WAITAKERE UNITED

Group A

Kiwitea Stadium

Auckland

New Zealand

Sunday 2 November 2008

Kick-off: 15h00 (NZT)

AKL: 1. Ross NICHOLSON (gk); 2. Nelson SALE; 3. Matt FRIEL; 5. Matt WILLIAMS; 6. Ki-Hyung LEE; 7. James PRITCHETT; 8. Chad COOMBES; 9. Paul URLOVIC; 10. Grant YOUNG; 11. Alick MAEMAE; 12. Jacob SPOONLEY (gk); 14. Keryn JORDAN; 15. Ivan VICELICH; 16. George SURI; 19. Salesh KUMAR; 20. Greg UHLMANN; 22. Xavi ROCA; 24. Milos NIKOLIC;

Coach: Colin Tuaa

WAI: 1. Richard GILLESPIE (gk); 2. Jonathan PERRY; 3. Aaron SCOTT; 4. Tim MYERS; 5. Danny HAY; 7. Daniel ELLENSOHN; 8. Paul SEAMAN; 9. Benjamin TOTORI; 10. Allan PEARCE; 12. Roy KRISHNA; 13. Daniel KOPRIVCIC; 14.Jeff Campbell; 15. Christopher BALE; 16. Neil EMBLEN; 17. Jake BUTLER; 18. Iann HOGG; 22. Daniel ROBINSON (gk); 29. Adriano PIMENTA;

Coach: Chris MILICICH

Referee: Peter O’LEARY (NZL)

Assistant Referee 1: Brent BEST (NZL)

Assistant Referee 2: Glenn LOCHRIE (NZL)

Fourth Official: Chris KERR (NZL)

BA v KOLOALE FC

Group B

Govind Park

Ba

Fiji

Sunday 2 November 2008

Kick-off: 15h00 (FIJ T)

Squads:

Ba: 1. Jone SOROLO (GK); 2. Avinesh SUWAMY; 3. Shalen LAL; 5. Ronil KUMAR; 6. Jone VESIUKLA; 7.Tuimasi MANUCA; 8. Keni DOIDOI; 9. Josaia BUKALIDI; 10. Ronald LAWRENCE; 11. Alvin SINGH; 12. Pita BALEITOGA; 15. Mavileko NAKAMA; 16. Malakai TIWA; 17. Malakai KAINIHEWE; 19. Shameel RAO; 20. Epeli CODRO (gk); 22. Kiniviliame TURAGALAILAI; 24. Rinal PRASAD;

Coach: Yogendra DUTT (FIJ)

KOL: 1. Zantas KABINI (gk); 2. Welshman HOUKARAWA; 3. Jeffrey BULE; 5. Richard ANISUA; 6. Timothy JOE; 8. Peter TALOGA; 10. Ezra SALE; 11. Ian PAIA; 12. Oscar SARA; 13. Lency SAENI; 14. Nicholas MURI; 15. Mostyn BEUI; 16. Joses NAWO; 17. Mahlon HOUKARAWA; 18. Henry KOTO; 19. Henry FAARODO; 20. Shadrock RAMONI (GK); 24. Steven ANISI;

Coach: Luke Eroi (SOL)

Referee: Lencie FRED (VAN)

Assistant Referee 1: Tony MELTETAMAT (VAN)

Assistant Referee 2: Michael JOSEPH (VAN)

Fourth Official: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)