All eyes on Group B

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE group stages of the Oceania Champions League ends this weekend with much of the focus going on the race for the semi-finals in Group B.

Group A is decided with Fiji’s Ba and Vanuatu’s Amicale  securing safe passage to the knockout stage.

But Group B is still wide open with defending champions Auckland City and Tahiti’s Dragon fighting it out to join Waitakere United in the semis.

The Solomon Islands Warriors arrived yesterday to play Hekari in a dead rubber at the Lloyd Robson Oval tomorrow.

Hekari manageress Vonnye Kapi Natto said after their 1-0 victory over Oro FC at the Sir John Guise Stadium in midweek that she felt for her charges.

“We have three big games in the space of two weeks, playing in three countries, and this really grilled our Hekari players. We could have done better but it is a tough call for our local Papua New Guinean players,” she said.

Kapi Natto said they were ready to face the Solomon Islanders tomorrow. 

Hekari lost to the Warriors 4-2 during their island-tour and this is the last game for the PNG champions.

“A win will be a morale booster for the boys despite not making the top two. Our boys will play for pride, and will not treat Solomon Island Warriors lightly,” she said.

Hekari will be without goalkeeper Leslie Kalai, who broke his toes during training in Vanuatu, an injured Maciu Dunadamu who has returned to Fiji and Pita Bolaitoga, who is recovering from a hamstring strain.

The other match will see Ba welcoming Amicale to Govind Park, Ba. 

The Group B action sees Auckland City heading to Dragon before Mont-Dore play host to Waitakere United on Sunday.