The opening match of the OFC Nations Cup, which will also
kick-off the second stage of the confederation's qualification
campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, takes place on
Saturday with New Zealand and Fiji determined to make a flying
start.
On the pitch, New Zealand look worthy of their
favourites' tag, with Celtic striker Chris Killen arriving in
Auckland today fresh from his first start - and his maiden Scottish
Premier League goal - for the Bhoys. The All Whites will be without
Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen, who has a hamstring injury,
leaving Wellington Phoenix midfielder Tim Brown with the
captain's armband.
New Zealand's squad has a youthful look to it with 13
players possessing less than 18 caps. The bulk of the experience
comes from Ivan Vicelich (60 caps) and Killen (26 caps), with
Duncan Oughton (18 caps), Leo Bertos (18 caps), Shane Smeltz (16
caps) and Dave Mulligan (16 caps) representing a fresh-faced
support group of seasoned club professionals plying their trade
mainly in the Australian A-League and in USA's Major League
Soccer.
Much will depend upon Killen, who now assumes the striking role
left vacant by the retired Vaughan Coveney, New Zealand's
all-time top scorer. Killen's credentials to fill those empty
boots look more than sound with 15 international goals already
alongside his name. His CV also shows stints with Manchester City,
Oldham Athletic, Hibernian and now Celtic, where he most recently
featured in the SPL against Gretna and in the UEFA Champions League
against AC Milan.
Fiji boss Juan Carlos Buzzetti - Tamanisau aside - has a
squad that has been in place for well over a year with the majority
of players coming from Fiji's number one football club, Ba.
Central defender Peni Finau captains both Ba and Fiji and is seen
as the rock upon which club and country can depend. Finau's
brother - Osea Vakatalesau - the towering, pacy, striker, also a
team-mate at Ba, hit ten goals at the XIII South Pacific Games
Samoa 2007 and struck consistently during last season's OFC
O-League competition.
Roy Krishna represents the future of Fiji international
football and the jet-heeled 19-year-old is keen to take a leading
role after being third-choice striker behind Josaia Bukalidi and
Osea Vakatalesau. With veteran striker Esala Masi's
international future uncertain following a knee injury prior to the
XIII South Pacific Games, Krishna's hopes of seeing more pitch
time look better than they did at the start of the year and his
winner in Fiji's 1-0 win over a New Zealand XI in Lautoka will
have done his cause no harm.
Relief
After the match had been in doubt due to the visa issues, NZF
CEO Graham Seatter expressed relief that it would take place.
"We're obviously delighted that the game has been
confirmed. There was always a belief that it would happen but there
was also a degree of doubt so it's nice that doubt has
gone," Seatter said.
"This is obviously a very important match. It's the
start of a very long campaign that the players are committed to,
one that we're (NZF) are committed to and hopefully the public
will get in behind."
Seatter is hoping for a strong show of support from New
Zealanders on Saturday as Auckland's Fijian community is
expected to come out in force. "Auckland doesn't have much
high level football now so hopefully this is an occasion that
people will grab."
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