Defending champs, NZ in
New Zealand football is ready to defend the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under- 17 Championship that gets underway in Suva and Ba on Wednesday.
According to coach Martin Bullock the 23-member squad is super excited to be back after the lapse of two years due to COVID-19. “We have to be here in September but to be here now, is a relaxing time for everybody; four days of preparation in Auckland. We did really well. The boys look forward to this to get games on the way.”
The five international in the squad include Konstantin Gorgiovski (midfield) who is based Macedonia, Stoke City FC Adam Watson (striker), Manchester City’s Marley Leulaui (centre back), Western United (Aus) Luca Coveny (centre back) and Sydney FC Anton
Isaako (centre back).
The 18-day championship will be held at the HFC Bank stadium, Suva for Group A and C matches and Fiji Football Academy ground
Waisea Nasokia
in Ba for Group C games from January 11-28, 2023.
The top two qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru next year.
Group A include host nation Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Group B consists of reigning champions New Zealand, New Caledonia, and American Samoa. In Group C, Tahiti, Vanuatu, and the Cook Islands will battle for a place in the quarter-finals.
Group winners, runners-up and the two highest-ranked 3rd placed teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals on January 21 and 22.
The semi-finals take place on January 25 with the tournament final set for HFC Bank Stadium on January 28.
Draws :
Games at the HFC Bank Stadium: Group A matches at the, Suva. Jan 12 Fiji – Samoa at 7pm, Jan 15 Tonga – Samoa at 4pm; Jan 18 Fiji – Tonga at 7pm. Group C - Jan 11 Tahiti – Vanuatu at 7pm; Jan 14 Tahiti – Cook Islands at 7pm; Jan 17 Vanuatu – Cook Islands at 7pm Group B at the Fiji FA Academy, Ba - Jan 11 New Zealand – New Caledonia at 3pm; Jan 14 New Zealand – American Samoa at 3pm and Jan 17 New Caledonia – American Samoa at 3pm. Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola