The Suva football team will play its pool games in Luganville, Vanuatu, after being drawn in Group A of the Oceania Football Confederations Champions League in May.

Suva will meet defending champions Auckland City, Samoan champion club Lupe Ole Solaga, and Solomon Warriors.

Suva head coach Babs Khan said all teams in their pool are champions.

“We can’t underestimate any team as they all are champions from their respective countries and likewise us,” Khan told Fiji FA Media

“It’s always good to be in a tough pool so we can have tough competition.”

The wily coach said they would treat all teams equally.

“We know the strength of Auckland City and Solomon Warriors but we are not underestimating Lupe Ole Solaga. We’ll go in the tournament as underdogs and will take each game as it comes,” he said

Khan said they would prepare for the matches accordingly.

“We will take our Digicel Fiji Premier League matches as our build-up and try to map out plans to face the giants in Vanuatu. We have been preparing for the Champions League for the past two years.”

He draws confidence from the fact they have a good squad.

“We have the same bunch of players who have been with us for the past two years and I have faith in them,” Khan said.

He confirmed Vanuatu’s Alex Senial would join the team after the Tri-Nations FIFA International Friendlies.

“Alex has been part of the system for the past two years and it’s good to have him back for the competition. We are proud to represent our country and we want to show our best to everyone,” said Khan

The Champions League is from May 14-27 with Pool A to be played in Luganville while Pool B matches will be played in Vanuatu’s capital of Port Vila.

It’ll be an exciting chance for Vanuatu to host a major OFC competition like the Champions League.

OFC pre-determined that home side Ifira Black Bird will play their group matches in Port Vila and was therefore drawn automatically into Group B.

The other Group B teams are Hekari United from Papua New Guine, Tiga Sport from New Caledonia and AS Pirae from Tahiti.

Each team will play each other once in the group stage with the two highest placed teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Story By: Leone Cabenatabua

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj