8 Apr 2014

Sport: Opening wins for Tafea and Ba in O-League

12:12 pm on 8 April 2014

Vanuatu's Tafea FC made an instant impact on their return to the Oceania Champions League, upsetting 2010 winners Hekari United from Papua New Guinea 3-1 in the opening match of the new season.

Meanwhile hosts Ba FC were convincing 2-0 winners against 10-man Magenta from New Caledonia in front of their home fans at Govind Park.

On Tuesday the action moves to Churchill Park in Lautoka with Amicale FC from Vanuatu up against Tahiti's Dragon.

Amicale clinched their fourth straight Port Vila Premier League title last month and have played a handful of friendly matches since to remain match-fit.

Amicale finished third in last year's O-League and coach Nathan Hall believes his side will be contenders again.

"I made my intentions clear when I arrived in Vanuatu that I wanted to coach a team that's, realistically, challenging for this championship. I think over the past few months we've put together a team that on paper is a very very good team, very balanced, we've got a lot of experience and younger players who are very dynamic and sharp We need to play well and we need to start quickly because three days in seven days you can't afford to make any mistakes. If you slip up once then you're playing catch-up".

In the later match defending champions Auckland City take on local side Nadi.