Draws for 2nd edition of Women’s Champions League set

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) yesterday confirmed draws for the second edition of the Women Champions League with Papua New Guinea champions Hekari United pooled in Group A with Solomon Islands’ Henderson Eels, Avatiu FC from the Cook Islands and a Vanuatu side.
The tournament set for March 10-23 in Honiara will see eight clubs from member nations of OFC pooled in two groups of four.
PNG’s representative Hekari are putting in the hard yards at training to make amends for last year’s runners-up finish.
Hekari team manager Vonnie Kapi Natto had told the paper last week that the club is working on arrangements to prepare the women’s side ahead of departure for the WCL in Honiara.
“We have already commenced preparation and arrangements for the women’s team. We want to see the girls do better this time,” Natto said.
The Hekari women settled for silver in the inaugural OFC WCL after New Caledonia’s AS Academy Feminine won the final while Solomon Islands Koloale FC took bronze over the two-week tournament in Port Moresby last year.
“Our goal now is to try and win gold at this coming Champion’s League. It will not be easy because all OFC countries have their best women’s clubs that will compete well so we need to work harder to achieve our goal,” she added.
Five teams competed in the inaugural tournament in Port Moresby last year and the growth of women’s football throughout Oceania is reflected in the tournament being expanded to eight teams for this year’s edition.
The tournament format consists of two groups of four teams, with each team to play each other once in the group stage, with the two highest placed teams from each group advancing to the semifinals. The winner of Group A will play the runner-up of Group B and the winner of Group B will play the runner-up of Group A.
The host nation’s champions Henderson Eels FC are in Group A and will play Hekari United FC, Avatiu FC from the Cook Islands and the Vanuatu representative team.
Fijian champions Labasa Women FC are in Group B and will face New Zealand’s Auckland United FC, Tonga’s Veitongo FC and the yet to be determined representative from New Caledonia.
Former Football Fern Maia Jackman, who helped conducted the draw yesterday said: “It’s exciting for women’s football in the region to build on the momentum created by the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023.”