Have heard that Phoenix's OFC bid has been considered 'underwhelming' by the decision-making panel. Find it difficult to see how they could fund two teams considering the difficulties they've already faced in recent months..
Have heard that Phoenix's OFC bid has been considered 'underwhelming' by the decision-making panel. Find it difficult to see how they could fund two teams considering the difficulties they've already faced in recent months..
Is that because most of the players that would be involved in a reserve team are playing in the first team?
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
CHC will represent the entire South Island which is currently pro football free
And
AFC as Auckland (Northland, Waikato & BoP too) have large Maori and Polynesian communities that I'm sure they want to tap into.
It's highly likely there are some very good young Fijian, Samoan and Tongan footballers in South Auckland that feel very disconnected from NZ football due to cultural links with Rugby and League. I'm sure OFC want these boys and girls to continue their football development instead of being lost to the game.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
CHC will represent the entire South Island which is currently pro football free
And
AFC as Auckland (Northland, Waikato & BoP too) have large Maori and Polynesian communities that I'm sure they want to tap into.
It's highly likely there are some very good young Fijian, Samoan and Tongan footballers in South Auckland that feel very disconnected from NZ football due to cultural links with Rugby and League. I'm sure OFC want these boys and girls to continue their football development instead of being lost to the game.
Taking the Auckland conglomerate bid over AFC would achieve that too to be fair.
For sure there will be an Auckland team in this OFC Pro League.
OFC are headquartered in the 09, the airport there is a big Pacific travel hub, and Marto is right a large Melanesian/Polynesian population, some of whom do play football.
Happy for an Auckland and Christchurch based team to be involved in the league, but neither team can then have anything to do with either professional side already in NZ. If the Nix bid is underwhelming and they arent selected - I'd expect even an underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making - then AFC cannot be selected.
Happy for an Auckland and Christchurch based team to be involved in the league, but neither team can then have anything to do with either professional side already in NZ. If the Nix bid is underwhelming and they arent selected - I'd expect even an underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making - then AFC cannot be selected.
Cannot or should not? If AFC’s bid is somehow much stronger than ours (I can’t imagine why it would be, but that doesn’t mean anything), what’s to stop OFC choosing them?
Posted earlier today from Nomads AFC facebook page:
Congratulations to former Nomads United First Team goalkeeper and Academy graduate Dublin Boon, who has signed a professional contract with Stellenbosch FC in South Africa’s Premier League, following his time with the Wellington Phoenix.
A fantastic achievement and a proud moment for everyone at the club. Well done, Dublin — we’re all behind you as you take this next step in your career!
0 pathways lol especially considering several players from Chch are in the Nix academy pathway.
But zero pathways currently if you remain living in the South Island.
If Libby Cacace because there was no Phoenix had to leave Wellington as a 15 yr old, and he spent 5 years at an Auckland A League club (say 2 years in the Academy & 3 years in the first team) - would Welly folk be less interested in his achievements overseas, than what in reality has happened?
I'd say for sure yes, as he'd be seen heavily as an Auckland product, never playing higher than youth football in his hometown. All his high profile football time in NZ being up in the 09.
Do Cantabs feel a bit less connected to Finn Surman's success at Portland, because he left so young for the Nix? Macey Fraser. I'd guess on some level that's likely. Same Otagoites and Jimmy McGarry.
And so for this type of scenario alone, I hope the Sth Island does get it's own pro club soon. OFC Pro League and/or even better the A League. A proper local pathway for Sth Island youngsters to live local, and play pro football.
Christchurch United posted an animated flythrough of plans for the United Sports Centre 2 weeks ago.
The most interesting stuff is from about 2 mins 15 - seems they have plans to build a small stadium in what is currently empty paddocks. Possibly with plans to host one of the OPL hubs?
Some of the planned things in the video are currently under construction (don't think the stadium is at the moment though?)
Don't know what the timeline is for all of this, or if all of it some of it is just a pipedeam, but interesting stuff all the same
Happy for an Auckland and Christchurch based team to be involved in the league, but neither team can then have anything to do with either professional side already in NZ. If the Nix bid is underwhelming and they arent selected - I'd expect even an underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making - then AFC cannot be selected.
"An underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making"
Happy for an Auckland and Christchurch based team to be involved in the league, but neither team can then have anything to do with either professional side already in NZ. If the Nix bid is underwhelming and they arent selected - I'd expect even an underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making - then AFC cannot be selected.
"An underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making"
Why do you assume this?
Simply on the basis of money - amatuer clubs have none - or so they keep saying, the dont have the setup the nix have or even close to the quality of support.
CHCH United don't really operate like an amateur club. The "amateur clubs have no money" statement does not really apply to them.theprof
LT01
theprof
Happy for an Auckland and Christchurch based team to be involved in the league, but neither team can then have anything to do with either professional side already in NZ. If the Nix bid is underwhelming and they arent selected - I'd expect even an underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making - then AFC cannot be selected.
"An underwhelming bid from the Nix is way better than anything any of the amateur clubs are making"
Why do you assume this?
Simply on the basis of money - amatuer clubs have none - or so they keep saying, the dont have the setup the nix have or even close to the quality of support.
Not sure, but that's likely a part of it. It’s a little disappointing to hear for our sake, but not altogether surprising that our bid was not strongest if you look at how we run. Apparently we didn’t dot our Is or cross the Ts particularly well. Whereas AFC splashed out on an external party to do their submissions and Christchurch did a very professional job from what I've heard. And let’s be honest CHCH aint really an amateur club when you look at their setup and resource. I think probably a good thing for us to focus on our mens and womens aleague teams and get them competing back towards the top.Marto
BigBaller
Have heard that Phoenix's OFC bid has been considered 'underwhelming' by the decision-making panel. Find it difficult to see how they could fund two teams considering the difficulties they've already faced in recent months..
Is that because most of the players that would be involved in a reserve team are playing in the first team?
I don't understand why we haven't heard anything publicly from the Auckland conglomeration bid. Surely this dents their chances compared to the others e.g. Christchurch United who have been very public about their ambitions?
Yes it's obvious ChCh United badly want to be in this OFC League. Targeted it as soon as it was announced as having NZ teams. All over their socials. And Slava Meyn is a wealthy chap. Not rich enough to bankroll an ALM club solo, but okay for the this league. Likely a perfect fit for him.
The Nix who knows. As others have said is a bit of a feeling that they entered a bid once they knew AFC were. All a bit last minute without a proper business case/DD on whether it would work well for the club or not??
The smokey is the Auckland club conglomerate bid. I'm sure Ivan Vuksich who's apparently consulting on that bid would love to get one over Auckland FC.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with the other auckland team. Surely they wouldn't pick two auckland sides?
And I wonder if AFC will be under a different brand in the pro league? Would be weird if it was just their reserve teamcoochiee
Yes it's obvious ChCh United badly want to be in this OFC League. Targeted it as soon as it was announced as having NZ teams. All over their socials. And Slava Meyn is a wealthy chap. Not rich enough to bankroll an ALM club solo, but okay for the this league. Likely a perfect fit for him.
The Nix who knows. As others have said is a bit of a feeling that they entered a bid once they knew AFC were. All a bit last minute without a proper business case/DD on whether it would work well for the club or not??
The smokey is the Auckland club conglomerate bid. I'm sure Ivan Vuksich is apparently consulting on that bid would love to get one over Auckland FC.
I read a while back from OFC that NZ will only get two sides in the Pro League if there are not six strong enough Pacific Island bids, otherwise it will be one like allthe other countries. Also complicating the picture is the announcement that we are moving back to a full winter national league here in Aotearoa from 2027 (yay!!!). You'd imagine that would be played March/April through to September or so. How will the AFC and Nix reserve sides or Christchurch United play in that comp and the OFC Pro League?
I read a while back from OFC that NZ will only get two sides in the Pro League if there are not six strong enough Pacific Island bids, otherwise it will be one like allthe other countries. Also complicating the picture is the announcement that we are moving back to a full winter national league here in Aotearoa from 2027 (yay!!!). You'd imagine that would be played March/April through to September or so. How will the AFC and Nix reserve sides or Christchurch United play in that comp and the OFC Pro League?
The official process, as described by OFC, is that the 13 bids will be assessed according to certain criteria and given a score and the top eight scorers will be the eight teams, with the additional criteria that no country can have more than two teams and Australia can only have one. It seems highly unlikely that three of the four New Zealand bids would score in the 9-12 range (once the lower-ranked Australian team is scratched off), which they would have to for only one New Zealand team to make it.
The issue of alignment with other competitions clubs participate in is a massive unknown and one of the reasons why this could all get very messy. I can share that the OFC Pro League composition should be known well before any final decisions are made on New Zealand's national competitions.
Well yes a winter NL won't happen until 2027, so stands to reason the two NZ OFC League clubs (starting Jan 2026) will be known well before the 2027 NL clubs are announced.
Just meant the principles of the NZ winter NL are being decided at the moment though and it would be awkward if they were finalised before the OPL, ie this month, but instead they won't be until late October/early November, ie a month later than the OPL.
I read a while back from OFC that NZ will only get two sides in the Pro League if there are not six strong enough Pacific Island bids, otherwise it will be one like allthe other countries. Also complicating the picture is the announcement that we are moving back to a full winter national league here in Aotearoa from 2027 (yay!!!). You'd imagine that would be played March/April through to September or so. How will the AFC and Nix reserve sides or Christchurch United play in that comp and the OFC Pro League?
Perhaps put the Nix first time in the comp instead
Any talk from clubs on social media is just that - talk. The OFC is meeting at the moment to work through the bids and finalise the top 8.
But my understanding with Christchurch United at least is that they've been told they have a strong bid and are a good chance of being in - that being said nothing is confirmed yet.
I really really hope the Nix dont get picked to join this league. We are seriously over streached already. The mens team needs loads of work and we have high hopes for the womens team. Lets just focus on getting some stuff right. The prospect of sending a squad plus support staff off for mini tournaments in the Solomons or Port Moresby doesnt thrill me at all
Apparently the combined Auckland team has fallen over, due to an inability to get affiliated in time. That pretty much guarantees AFC as one of the teams, especially with one of the hubs to be in Auckland.
So Christchurch United v Wellington Phoenix for the other NZ spot. Although I've heard PNG has two high-quality bids, and so does Fiji. So it may not necessarily be the cakewalk some people are imagining.
Care to expand on your comnent AP? Its a bit too cryptic for me
I think AP is referencing what Doney said on the pod and at a members function last year about the club looking to setup a charter school so kids and learn around training. Gets them more time to develop.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Thirteen clubs have successfully submitted their club licensing documentation to support their bids to enter the inaugural OFC Professional League next year.
The documentation will be evaluated by mid-August, and a decision on the league’s participating clubs is expected by the end of August.
OFC Professional League manager Stuart Larman says the conclusion of the submission phase marks another key milestone in the competition’s journey.
“The clubs have worked very hard to meet all the requirements of the club licensing regulations and their submissions are now being assessed, with evaluations expected to be completed by mid-August,” Larman said.
Following this, the independent OFC club licensing committee will review the assessments and recommend the successful applicants to the OFC executive committee. A final decision is scheduled before the end of August.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and Football Australia have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will drive the growth of football across the Pacific and deepen cooperation between the two organisations through to 2029.
The agreement has been signed today at the 2025 Australian Football Leadership Summit in Sydney by OFC President Lambert Maltock and Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac. It cements decades of collaboration and establishes a clear framework for future development.
OFC President Lambert Maltock says the MoU is an important step for the region. “Australia has deep roots in Oceania football, and this MoU marks an important step in strengthening our partnership. Working with Football Australia will bring new opportunities, resources, and expertise that will benefit players, coaches, referees and communities across the Pacific.
‘This directly connects with OFC’s strategic pillars: Development, Education, and High Performance and will pave the way to success both on and off the pitch, while also building stronger ties between our Member Associations and Football Australia.” Maltock said.
Under the MoU, OFC and Football Australia will collaborate on player pathways, coach and referee development, competitions and international matches, governance and administration excellence, knowledge-sharing, and social responsibility programs. The partnership is designed to ensure football communities in both Oceania and Australia are strengthened, with opportunities and expertise flowing both ways.
A key element of the agreement is Football Australia’s formal support for the establishment of the OFC Professional League, set to begin in January 2026. By sharing technical, governance, regulatory, and competition expertise, Football Australia will contribute to the league’s success as a professional pathway and qualification route for international competitions, benefitting clubs and players across Oceania.
