City to take on Galaxy

The National Sports

By PATRICIA KEAMO
LAE City have been placed in Group A with Tahiti’s AS Venus, Vanuatu’s Galaxy and Solomon Islands’ Central Coast of the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League scheduled for August in Auckland, New Zealand.
Group B comprises the Cook Island’s Nikao Sokattak, New Zealand’s Auckland City, Fiji’s Rewa and reigning champions Hienghene Sport, of New Caledonia, who will play each other once before the top-two teams from each pool progress to the semifinals.
While dates and location for the fixtures are yet to be released by the confederation, City will take on Galaxy in their opening match before meeting AS Venus and Central Coast respectively.
City head coach Bob Morris told The National that his side would not underestimate any team as it would be his first coaching appearance in the tournament.
“Every team are going to the tournament with only one goal and that is to win,” he
“I am going there to compete with my players who have experience competing internationally.
“I will also have the services of our only import player, Jibola Afonja, joining us from Fiji. I also have Pala Paul but we are working with Gulf Komara to reach an understanding to release him just for the tournament.
“Unfortunately, one of my key players in Emmanuel Airem (defender) will not be part of the squad (due to an injury), but I have someone to replace him when we have our first game.
“Our preparations are on target.
“We may have a lead-up match before going to New Zealand.
“But I’m looking forward to the tournament and I will do my best.”
Meanwhile, confederation competitions director Chris Kemp said for the first time, the upcoming tournament will include a total of NZ$175,000 (about K388,000) in prize money to be shared between the top-four teams in the champions’ league.
“The losing semifinalists will each earn NZ$12,500 (K27,000), the runners-up NZ$50,000 (K111,00) and the winners NZ$100,000 (K222,000),” he said.
“The (semifinal) winners will advance to the final with the champions of Oceania crowned for 2022 and they will qualify for the Fifa Club World Cup (later this year).”
Fixtures: Lae City v Galaxy, AS Venus v Lae City, Lae City v Central Coast.