We have seen how valiantly this side has represented our region in the past, and we know that they will once again wear the title of Oceania Club Champions with honour and pride.
Congratulations to the club, the players, staff and management on deservedly earning your seventh regional club title.
The 2015 Fiji Airways OFC Champions League was one of the most tightly contested of recent years, a factor which led to some exciting and unpredictable encounters.
This year only Auckland City and Ba FC of Fiji made a return to the knock-out stages, with New Caledonia club FC Gaitcha and fellow newcomers from New Zealand Team Wellington heralding in a new era of football supremacy in both nations.
The global following for our flagship club tournament continues to expand as fans throw their support behind their favourite clubs from around Oceania. In the Pacific, the fervent following of clubs like Amicale and Western United was evidenced in the huge crowds these two sides drew to ANZ Stadium in Suva.
Adding a different element to this year’s event was the addition of our first-ever naming sponsor Fiji Airways.
Fiji’s national airline has a strong presence in the Pacific region and services a number of our Member Associations.
Working with them to promote OFC, this prestigious competition and the host country of Fiji has been a rewarding experience and we hope that we can continue to nurture and develop a strong partnership moving forward.
Looking ahead, the kick-off to the biggest football extravaganza to hit Pacific shores is just around the corner.
We are counting down the final month to the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the desire to see some of football’s future stars in action on New Zealand soil is hitting its peak. But what we’re most excited about here at OFC is finally seeing our Oceania representatives New Zealand and Fiji prove themselves at FIFA’s second-biggest men’s event.
I remain resolute in my belief that the two representatives can do the OFC proud. The hard work and determination of these young sides to succeed in their own backyards will be resolute, and we can expect to see that from their opening matches.
This event is a great opportunity for New Zealand and this region. With global football powers Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Mexico as well as plenty of up-and-comers, right here on our doorstep we are in for a football treat that only rarely visits Oceania so let’s make the most of this opportunity.
Leaping even further ahead, I am pleased to have welcomed a six-strong FIFA delegation to Papua New Guinea late last month as the preparations to host the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup get underway.
It is an immense honour for Papua New Guinea to be welcoming this showcase of women’s football to our shores and we plan to put on the best show possible.
The Papua New Guinea Football Association has the full backing of the PNG Government for this project and with the work that has already been done in anticipation of July’s Pacific Games, we are certain that we will exceed expectations when it comes to delivering this event.
Yours in football,
David Chung
OFC President
FIFA Vice-President
PNGFA President

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