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Scoop
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Group A Teams Ready For OFC Women's Nations Cup Kick-Off In Lautoka
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation Papua New Guineas head coach Ericsson Komeng, who recently led Hekari United Women to the final of the OFC Womens Champions League in Tahiti, returns to guide the national team as they defend the title they claimed in Fiji in 2022. Final preparations are underway for the four Group A teams ahead of the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025, with match day one set to kick off at Lautoka's Churchill Park this Friday. This morning, the head coaches and captains of Cook Islands, defending champions Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tahiti came together at a pre-tournament media conference in Lautoka, sharing their thoughts on the competition and their opening matches. Papua New Guinea's head coach Ericsson Komeng, who recently led Hekari United Women to the final of the OFC Women's Champions League in Tahiti, returns to guide the national team as they defend the title they claimed in Fiji in 2022. 'It's going to be tough,' Komeng admitted. 'The two friendlies against Fiji [last month] gave us a lot to think about. The girls were a bit down after the second loss, but I have a quality side and I'm confident.' Captain Ramona Padio returns to bolster the side from the ankle injury she suffered in the OFC Women's Champions League semi-finals and missed the recent Fiji friendlies, bringing experience and leadership back to the squad. But first choice goalkeeper Faith Kasiray has been ruled out with a wrist injury suffered in training before the side departed for Fiji. Komeng is expecting a strong challenge in their opener against Samoa. 'They're a quality side, and that first match is very important for us,' he said. Samoa is led by head coach Juan Chang Urrea, who has been instrumental in shaping the country's women's football programme, coaching the U-16, U-19, and senior women's teams. Later this year, he will take Samoa's U-17 side to their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. 'A lot of our girls represent Samoa from outside the country,' said Chang Urrea. 'This tournament will be a great learning experience. We know what the goal is, but we're focusing on taking things day by day.' Samoa brings a well-balanced team with a mix of youth and experience, with their clash Papua New Guinea clash an early litmus test for their campaign. Angela Wallbank will lead the Cook Islands, having coached Tupapa Maraerenga at the OFC Women's Champions League in May. Several players have been recruited from clubs in New Zealand, while one has joined from Perth. 'The biggest takeaway from the Champions League was seeing how other teams were structured,' Wallbank said. 'Now, with the ability to bring in players from New Zealand and Australia, we've added depth and balance across the park. That should help us counter some of the threats we identified in Tahiti.' Tahiti's squad, coached by Xavier Samin, includes six players from AS Pirae, who made their debut at the OFC Women's Champions League in May. The team's build-up has been challenging, with players juggling club commitments up until their departure for Fiji. 'With the team we have, we hope to go as far as possible,' said Samin. 'The Champions League in Tahiti gave us the chance to observe a lot of the players now in this tournament, so we have a good idea of the level of competition in the Pacific.' Group A action begins on Friday, with the Cook Islands taking on Tahiti in the tournament opener, followed by defending champions Papua New Guinea facing Samoa in the second match of the day. Full match schedule:
Scoop
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Group A Teams Ready For OFC Women's Nations Cup Kick-Off In Lautoka
Final preparations are underway for the four Group A teams ahead of the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025, with match day one set to kick off at Lautoka's Churchill Park this Friday. This morning, the head coaches and captains of Cook Islands, defending champions Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tahiti came together at a pre-tournament media conference in Lautoka, sharing their thoughts on the competition and their opening matches. Papua New Guinea's head coach Ericsson Komeng, who recently led Hekari United Women to the final of the OFC Women's Champions League in Tahiti, returns to guide the national team as they defend the title they claimed in Fiji in 2022. 'It's going to be tough,' Komeng admitted. 'The two friendlies against Fiji [last month] gave us a lot to think about. The girls were a bit down after the second loss, but I have a quality side and I'm confident.' Captain Ramona Padio returns to bolster the side from the ankle injury she suffered in the OFC Women's Champions League semi-finals and missed the recent Fiji friendlies, bringing experience and leadership back to the squad. But first choice goalkeeper Faith Kasiray has been ruled out with a wrist injury suffered in training before the side departed for Fiji. Komeng is expecting a strong challenge in their opener against Samoa. 'They're a quality side, and that first match is very important for us,' he said. Samoa is led by head coach Juan Chang Urrea, who has been instrumental in shaping the country's women's football programme, coaching the U-16, U-19, and senior women's teams. Later this year, he will take Samoa's U-17 side to their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. 'A lot of our girls represent Samoa from outside the country,' said Chang Urrea. 'This tournament will be a great learning experience. We know what the goal is, but we're focusing on taking things day by day.' Samoa brings a well-balanced team with a mix of youth and experience, with their clash Papua New Guinea clash an early litmus test for their campaign. Angela Wallbank will lead the Cook Islands, having coached Tupapa Maraerenga at the OFC Women's Champions League in May. Several players have been recruited from clubs in New Zealand, while one has joined from Perth. 'The biggest takeaway from the Champions League was seeing how other teams were structured,' Wallbank said. 'Now, with the ability to bring in players from New Zealand and Australia, we've added depth and balance across the park. That should help us counter some of the threats we identified in Tahiti.' Tahiti's squad, coached by Xavier Samin, includes six players from AS Pirae, who made their debut at the OFC Women's Champions League in May. The team's build-up has been challenging, with players juggling club commitments up until their departure for Fiji. 'With the team we have, we hope to go as far as possible,' said Samin. 'The Champions League in Tahiti gave us the chance to observe a lot of the players now in this tournament, so we have a good idea of the level of competition in the Pacific.' Group A action begins on Friday, with the Cook Islands taking on Tahiti in the tournament opener, followed by defending champions Papua New Guinea facing Samoa in the second match of the day. Full match schedule:
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Final Showdown: Auckland United And Hekari Womens FC Renew Rivalry In Title Rematch
Press Release – OFC Bate's counterpart at Hekari Womens FC Ericsson Komeng, says his players learned plenty from last year's final and are determined to go one better. The coaches and captains of Auckland United FC and Hekari Womens FC have faced off ahead of this weekend's final at the OFC Women's Champions League in Tahiti. The two sides will meet in the title decider for the second year running with defending champions Auckland United FC winning 1-0 in the final in Honiara, Solomon Islands last year. The New Zealand champions edged a competitive Group B match 2-1 last week, and the two sides are deserving finalists having been a class above their other opponents in the tournament. Both teams expect another closely fought encounter on Saturday Tahiti time. (Sunday in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.) 'We are expecting the same again from Hekari, good energy, good pressure.' Auckland United coach Ben Bate said. ' We have seen what Hekari will bring in the first 20 minutes and we want to start well and get on the front foot early against them.' He added. Bate's counterpart at Hekari Womens FC Ericsson Komeng, says his players learned plenty from last year's final and are determined to go one better. 'With respect to Ben and his team we have to show up on the day and hopefully create more chances because they are the defending champions and a quality side and we just have to give our best.' Komeng said. Goal scoring hasn't been a problem for either side at the tournmaent with both teams winning by 6-1 margins in the semi-finals. Auckland United captain Talisha Green is confident her side can go back-to-back. 'Yeah, we're really excited. I think finals are what we play for, these big matches, so everyone's looking forward to it, pumped up. I think they're going to come out physical, they're going to come out strong and they're going to come out quick. That is their strength, and we need to do the best that we can to nullify that.' Her counterpart Marie Kaipu (7 goals) is in a race for the tournament's golden boot with Auckland United's Zoe Benson. (8 goals) But winning is all that matters for the Hekari Womens FC captain. 'Yes, we are all ready to go to the final. We have to score one or two more goals.' The winner of the tournament will compete in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year in a playoff against the AFC champions with the winners visiting the CAF champions in round two.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
OFC Women's Champions League: Auckland United, Hekari FC cruise into final
Defending champions Auckland United FC and Papua New Guinea's Hekari Women's FC will clash in the final of the 2025 OFC Women's Champions League on Saturday. Photo: OFC/RNZ Pacific Defending champions Auckland United FC and Papua New Guinea's Hekari Women's FC have set themselves up for a rematch when they play in the 2025 OFC Women's Champions League final on Saturday. Both teams powered their way through the semifinals in Papeete, Tahiti, on Thursday to secure their place in the final. Hekari proved too strong for Fiji's Ba, winning 6-1 at the Stade Pater in the first semi-final, and booked a spot in their second straight OFC Women's Champions League final. Reigning champs Auckland United played in the second game game of the day and showed their dominance over Henderson Eels of the Solomon Islands, also winning 6-1 in the end. Auckland defeated Hekari 2-1 in pool play last week and also in last year's finals in Honiara. OFC said that Hekari turned in their best performance of the tournament in a dominant display and that had they been more ruthless in front of goal in the first half, would have won more emphatically. Ericsson Komeng's side dominated possession from the outset, were fluent in their buildup play but lacked quality in front of goal in the first spell before turning in a clinical second half performance. Ba were outplayed throughout the clash, but managed a goal in the first half to keep a 1-all draw at halftime. Luisa Tamanitoakula claimed the Fijian team's lone goal from the penalty spot. Hekari managed three through Nenny Elipas, who scored one in the first half and two in the second. Other goals came from Marie Kaipu, who claimed a double and Phylis Pala, with one. In the second semifinal, Auckland made a statement against Henderson Eels, scoring three times in the first seven minutes to effectively seal progression to the final. OFC said Zoe Benson scored a hat-trick inside 28 minutes to overtake Hekari United's Marie Kaipu in the race for the Golden Boot. She now has eight for the tournament, one clear of the Papua New Guinea side's captain and star striker. Henderson Eels playmaker Ileen Pegi showed her class in a brief moment of respite for the Eels with a strong run down the flank, before cutting back inside of Saskia Vosper and unleashing a stunning right-footed strike to beat a despairing Hannah Mitchell in the Auckland United goal. That goal in the 26th minute was as good as it got for the Solomon Islanders on attack. They did manage a free kick against the crossbar late in the second half. At the other end, while Betty Sade had a tough time in the Henderson Eels goal, she produced a moment of magic to deny Ava Pritchard from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. Leading by 5-1 at the break, Auckland United FC ensured there would be no dramatic comeback from their opponents two minutes after the restart when substitute Danielle Canham scored Auckland's sixth goal of the game. The final of the 2025 OFC Women's Champions League will be played at 2pm on Saturday (NZ time). The match will be telecast live and free on FIFA+.
