2007–08 OFC Champions League explained

Year:2007–08
Dates:June 12, 2007 – May 4, 2008
Num Teams:9
Associations:8
Champion Other:Waitakere United
Count:2
Second Other:Kossa
Matches:17
Goals:53
Top Scorer:James Naka
Joe Luwi 4 goals
Prevseason:2007
Nextseason:2008–09

The 2007–08 OFC Champions League was the 7th edition of the Oceanian Club Championship, Oceania's premier club football tournament organized by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and the 2nd season under the current OFC Champions League name. The qualifying round was held at Stade Numa-Daly in Nouméa, New Caledonia, from 12 to 16 February 2007, with the main competition taking the form of a home and away group stage followed by a knockout round, which was played from 27 October 2007 until 11 May 2008.

The qualifying round was contested by teams from the three lowest ranked nations in Oceania and Vanuatu, who lost their automatic qualification place due to the withdrawal of their representative in the previous year's competition.

The winner of the tournament was Waitakere Utd of New Zealand, who reclaimed their title by beating Kossa FC of the Solomon Islands in the two legged final. The winners claimed Oceania's US$1 million (NZ$1.41 million) berth in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Participants

The following teams entered the competition.

AssociationTeamQualifying method
Teams entering the group stage
FijiBa F.C.2007 Fiji National Football League first stage champion
New ZealandAuckland City2006–07 New Zealand Football Championship grand final champion
Waitakere United2006–07 New Zealand Football Championship regular season premier
Solomon IslandsKossa2006–07 Solomon Islands National Club Championship champion
TahitiManu-Ura2005–06 Tahiti Division Fédérale champion
Teams entering the preliminary round
Cook IslandsNikao Sokattak2006 Cook Islands Round Cup champion
New CaledoniaBaco2006–07 New Caledonia Super Ligue champion
Papua New GuineaUniversity Inter2006 Papua New Guinea overall final champion
VanuatuTafea FC2007 VFF Bred Cup winner
Notes:

OFC O-League preliminary tournament

The Preliminary Tournament was played at Stade Numa-Daly Magenta in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Final

Kossa FC:
width=25!width=25
4 Tome Faisi
5 Samson Takayama
6 Mahlon Maemania
10 Francis Nee
11 Joe Luwi
13 James Naka
15 Seni Ngava
16
17 Gideon Omokirio
19
21 Severino Aefi
Substitutes:
1 John Morgan
3 Sam Maemania
8 Philip Ashley
9 Samsom Waahero
12 Roy Enori
14 Terry Oiaka
20
Manager:
Jacob Moli
Waitakere United:
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Richard Gillispie
DF 2 Jonathan Perry
DF 6 Darren Bazeley
FW 8
FW 9 Benjamin Totori
FW 10
MF 11 Neil Sykes
MF 13
MF 15 Christopher Bale
MF 16 Neil Emblen
MF 17 Jake Butler
Substitutes:
DF 5 Danny Hay
MF 7
MF 14
DF 20 Jason Rowley
DF 21
GK 22 Simon Eaddy
Manager:
Chris Milicich


Referee:
Rakesh Varman

Assistant referees:
Andrew Achari
Mahit Chilia
Fourth official:
Lencie Fred
----
Waitakere United:
width=25!width=25
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Richard Gillispie
DF 2 Jonathan Perry
DF 5
MF 7 Jason Hayne
FW 9
FW 10 Allan Pearce
MF 11 Neil Sykes
MF 13
MF 15 Christopher Bale
MF 16 Neil Emblen
MF 17 Jake Butler
Substitutes:
DF 6
FW 8
DF 20
DF 21 Graham Pearce
GK 22 Simon Eaddy
DF 24 Tim Myers
Manager:
Chris Milicich
Kossa FC:
width=25!width=25
4 Tome Faisi
5 Samson Takayama
6 Mahlon Maemania
10 Francis Nee
11 Joe Luwi
13 James Naka
15 Seni Ngava
16
17 Gideon Omokirio
19 Reginald Davani
21 Severino Aefi
Substitutes:
3 Sam Maemania
8 Philip Ashley
9 Samsom Waahero
12 Roy Enori
14 Terry Oiaka
20
Manager:
Jacob Moli


Referee:
Benjamin Williams

Assistant referees:
Tevita Makasini
Michael Joseph
Fourth official:
Norbert Hauata

Waitakere United win 6–3 on aggregate and advance to the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.

Top goal-scorers

PlayerTeamGoals
1 James Naka Kossa4
Joe Luwi Kossa
3 Keryn Jordan Auckland City2
Avinesh Suwamy Ba F.C.
Allan Pearce Waitakere United
Last updated May 11, 2008

References