OFC Champions League ready for kick-off

However, the introduction of a new competition in Oceania means the latest edition of OFC's premier club tournament begins amid some uncertainty

- STEVE MENARY

The 24th edition of Oceania's top club tournament – and the 19th under the Champions League title - has had a tumultuous run-in that has not helped the standing of a competition that is about to be overshadowed.

The OFC Champions League is usually staged in May but has been brought forward to run from March 30 to April 12. This is because football's world governing body FIFA does not want any other competitions being staged at the same time as its own enlarged Club World Cup being held in the United States.

The OFC's more streamlined event was due to be staged in Fiji, but bringing the dates forward to please FIFA left the hosts without a stadium; rugby union side the Fijian Drua already had the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva booked for those dates. As a result, Fijian representatives Rewa, winners of the country’s national league twice in the past three seasons, lost the benefit of home advantage as the competition was shifted to the Solomon Islands.