Football: Auckland ready for President's mystery men

Ramon Tribulietx. Photo / Phototek

Auckland City FC's preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup head into the unknown after the Oceania champions were drawn alongside Singapore U-23 and Cayman Islands outfit Bodden Town in next month's OFC President's Cup at the Trusts Arena.

Auckland, whose season already boasts two other international-themed competitions, play in the inaugural President's Cup just three weeks prior to taking on Moroccan champions Moghreb Tétouan at the Club World Cup.

But coach Ramon Tribulietx believes there is a hunger for more matches against diverse opposition among his team.

"This is a good experience for our side, the youth of the Singaporeans combined with their speedy game will be a good test for us and Bodden Town will probably be a skilful side that we will be able to see before our first match," he said.

While little video footage of Bodden Town is available, Singapore U-23 play regular international fixtures with clips available on YouTube for Tribulietx to mull over.

"It will be good to have these different games before we leave for Morocco and it is also another interesting competition itself where we want to be as competitive as possible," Tribulietx said.

Auckland City have been kept apart from Amicale who they defeated in last season's OFC Champions League final.

The Vanuatuans instead face the only fulltime professional side in the President's Cup, Bahrain's Busaiteen, and competition underdogs Fiji U-20.

The two Oceanian representatives are well known to Tribulietx but the multicultural Busaiteen side have to start as competition favourites given their professional pedigree.

But that status has not always worked in favour of Auckland's past fulltime opponents with the Sandringham club knocking over the likes of Central Coast Mariners, Wellington Phoenix, TP Mazembe and Al-Ahli, to name just four.

"Busaiteen are a very good side with experienced professional players from Brazil and the Middle East; we know Amicale will be very competitive and Fiji U-20 will want to take this as a great opportunity to prepare for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand next year.

"The President's Cup looks a good competition and we will all benefit from participating," Tribulietx said.

The top two teams in each group advance to a final with playoff matches for fifth and third also scheduled on the final Match Day.

And one aspect of the draw that will require careful management is the fixture list.

Auckland City play its two most important matches on Friday and Sunday, with just a day's rest between their last group game against Bodden Town and a potential final.

"Playing two games in three days is obviously not ideal, especially at this level of football, so we will have to plan and prepare well with our squad rotation to make sure we are competitive in both fixtures," he said.

The OFC President's Cup kicks off at the Trusts Arena 17-23 November.