austin111 wrote:
Nice stories. The new OPL is doing what its meant to. Develop Oceania talent. Im sure if it can run for a few more years the PI teams will up their games and compete seriously with their big neighbours.
Any rumours about expansion for next season?. The Nix have to get a team in ASAP. Probably along with New Caledonia. I suspect FIFA is busy with the WC so we might have to wait.
I think it will be a slow process for the Island teams to improve.
Hopefully each of the clubs can set up some sort of Academy and get some good coaches in their coaching their best teenagers.
Importantly the pitches need to be better. The ones in the Fiji hub were awful. I think the PNG one was also pretty average. Honiara's stadium and surface excellent.
Their teams still struggle to string more than 6 passes together, before trying the low % miracle ball. The best midfielders in the Island teams were mostly imports like Higashide at SI and Owen Smith at Vanuatu.
Better technical coaching, better truer pitches and their best young talent will then be getting the same resources that the best young talent in NZ has access to. More a level playing field then. But it might be 5+ years away, before we see real consistent noticeable improvement.
If you look at the Island national teams, New Caledonia has easily the best technically gifted footballers. Pushed both the All Whites & Jamaica. Though alot of them might be based in France. Hopefully they can get a team into this Pro League soon.
Hopefully each of the clubs can set up some sort of Academy and get some good coaches in their coaching their best teenagers.
Importantly the pitches need to be better. The ones in the Fiji hub were awful. I think the PNG one was also pretty average. Honiara's stadium and surface excellent.
Their teams still struggle to string more than 6 passes together, before trying the low % miracle ball. The best midfielders in the Island teams were mostly imports like Higashide at SI and Owen Smith at Vanuatu.
Better technical coaching, better truer pitches and their best young talent will then be getting the same resources that the best young talent in NZ has access to. More a level playing field then. But it might be 5+ years away, before we see real consistent noticeable improvement.
If you look at the Island national teams, New Caledonia has easily the best technically gifted footballers. Pushed both the All Whites & Jamaica. Though alot of them might be based in France. Hopefully they can get a team into this Pro League soon.