Solomon Kings FC battles to secure top four spot as OFC Pro League resumes in Fiji tomorrow
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Attention is turning to Round 5 of the OFC Pro League, with Solomon Kings FC facing a crucial set of matches in Suva, Fiji beginning tomorrow.
The Solomon Islands club currently sits fourth on the league table with 15 points and will be aiming to hold on to a top-four position when the competition reaches a decisive stage.
Round 5 will see Solomon Kings FC join South Island United, Vanuatu United FC and Tahiti United in Suva, where all four teams will play three matches across three match days at HFC Bank Stadium.
Kings will open their campaign against Tahiti United on Saturday before facing Vanuatu United and South Island United in the remaining fixtures.
With only five points separating fourth placed Solomon Kings from seventh placed Tahiti United, the race for a place in the top four remains wide open heading into Round 5.
According to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the upcoming matches could determine which teams progress to the Leaders Group when the competition splits into two divisions later in the tournament.
“Only five points separate fourth placed Solomon Kings FC from seventh placed Tahiti United, meaning all four clubs in Suva have a chance of finishing in the top half when the dust settles on Round 5,” the OFC media release stated.
Solomon Kings will be eager to regain momentum after dropping points in their previous matches in Honiara, where they collected just one point from two games.
Despite that setback, the Solomon side remains in contention for the top half of the standings and will need strong performances in Fiji to secure their place among the competition’s leading teams.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu United FC arrived with renewed confidence after collecting four points against the league’s top two sides during the previous round.
Their head coach Lars Hopp said the break between rounds allowed the team to reset and refocus.
“We’ve given the players some time away during the break.
“It’s been good to step away from the competition for a few weeks and look at the bigger picture of where we sit,” Hopp said.
Elsewhere, the other four clubs in the competition — Auckland FC, South Melbourne FC, Bula FC and PNG Hekari FC — will play their Round 5 matches at Govind Park in Ba.
Fans across the Pacific will be able to follow the matches live on FIFA’s official streaming platform.
The OFC Pro League is the premier club competition organised by the Oceania Football Confederation, featuring eight clubs from across the Pacific region. After Round 5, the league will split into two groups, with the top four teams forming the Leaders Group while the remaining four enter the Challengers Group for the remainder of the season.
Photo: Supplied
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