OFC set to kick off

THE Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League Group A fixture is set to kick-off at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Feb 15 with K1.6 million (US$500,00) in prize money and qualification to the Fifa Club World Cup up for grabs.
Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United will host New Zealand champions Eastern Suburbs, Vunuatu’s Galaxy and current OFC champions Hienghene Sport of New Caledonia.
In group B, Papua New Guinea’s NSL champions Lae City head to Port Vila, Vanuatu, to take on hosts and Vanuatu champions Malampa Revivors, Solomon Islands’ Henderson Eels and Lautoka of Fiji.
The Group A fixtures in Port Moresby will see six matches played from Feb 16-22.
According to PNG Football Association (PNGFA) president John Kapi Natto it will be the first time for a PNG club to host OFC group matches.
Kapi Natto said the hosting of the event would not only promote football in the rugby league-mad nation but would also market PNG to the world.
“I am appealing to football fans and residents in Port Moresby to turn out in numbers and support our club on our home soil,” Kapi Natto said. “We will have high profile international players who will be playing for their respective clubs and it will be exciting.
“On behalf of PNGFA, I would like to wish both Lae City and Hekari good luck in their respective pool matches. If they win their pools then we will host the finals as well.”
Group C and D will see eight other clubs from New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Fiji and Samoa play in New Caledonia and Tahiti.
The top two teams from each group progress to quarterfinals.