NZ club withdraws from inaugural women’s OFC league

NEW Zealand’s Eastern Suburbs FC have pulled out of the inaugural Women’s Oceania Football Confederation Champions League to be hosted in Port Moresby from June 1-10.
Their withdrawal has seen the tournament format change from two pools of three teams to a round robin with only five teams to compete for the title.
PNG’s representative Hekari United will now be competing against Labasa FC (Fiji), Kiwi FC (Samoa), AS Academy Feminine (New Caledonia) and Koloale FC (Solomon Islands) for a spot in the Fifa Women’s Club World Cup.
While details on New Zealand’s withdrawal have not been released, OFC will release the confirmed match schedule for the five countries in the coming week.
The tournament is scheduled for kickoff in two weeks with all matches to be played at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.
Meanwhile, OFC has announced yesterday the draw for the regional Under-16 women’s championship to be held in Tahiti from Sept 13-30.
PNG will be one of ten teams competing alongside Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
PNG is pooled in Group A with New Caledonia, Tonga and Solomon Islands. In Group B is New Zealand, Cook Island, Samoa while Fiji, Tahiti and Vanuatu are in Group C.
The ten sides were split into three groups: one group of four and two groups of three.
The three group winners, three second-placed teams and the two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. PNG’s football governing body is yet to release a statement for its team’s participation in this tournament.
It is understood PNG Football Association is relying on junior competitions from local member associations to select a squad for this tournament including a team for the U19 OFC women’s championship scheduled for next month in Fiji.
The association is yet to commence its National Youth Soccer League as all competitions have been put on hold.