Malampa Revivors FC vice-captain Andre Batick believes his team will get a major boost from a boisterous home crowd during the OFC Champions League.
Luganville in Vanuatu is hosting Group B, which features Malampa, Lae City FC from Papua New Guinea, the Henderson Eels from the Solomon Islands and Fiji’s Lautoka FC.
Luganville Soccer City Stadium also happens to be the home ground of Malampa and Batick said it should be awash with support for his team when they open their campaign against Lautoka on Saturday.
“With 100 percent of the support we will have, it will help us to move to advance to the second round,” Batick said.
“It’s a very big thing that the OFC can bring the Champions League to our home ground and we are very happy to host the Champions League for the first time on home soil.”
Malampa coach Steve Varegali echoed that sentiment, ahead of the match where up to 5000 fans may be in attendance.
“We have confidence because of our crowd,” Varegali said.
Malampa played in the group stages of the OFC Champions League in 2017 and 2019 but have never advanced to the quarter-finals.
If they want to push on to the knockout stages, they will need the likes of Batick to deliver.
The five-cap Vanuatu international has three goals in six Champions League appearances and he will again be used in an attacking role this year.
“It’s a great honour to be part of the team again and as the vice-captain, I will do my best towards the team for this Champions League.
“Teamwork is a very important part that will lead us to get to the quarter-finals.”
Teamwork coupled with plenty of crowd support is a great starting point for Malampa as they get ready to get their OFC Champions League campaign underway.
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