Fiji Airways OFC Champions league is the biggest club competition in Oceania, playing with a home base club this season is something special says Western United sneaky star Jack Whitney in Suva.
O-League as it known to many football fanatics around the Oceania is not something new to Whitney.
Whitney featured in past seasons with Melanesians powerhouse Amicale and reaches the last two twice in his career.
When asked in an interview in Suva about the significance of the OFC championship.
Whitney said OFC championship is the pinnacle of football in the South Seas.
“O-league is where only the elite players in the region plays their football.
“The intensity and pressure is very high and we have to step up our own performances.
“There will be no easy games and each players needs to put a lot of hard work come out on top,” he said.
Whitney have had massive experience in the OFC Champions league with Amicale.
“My debut season in the O-league will always stays with as a footballer.
“One of the best moments is when we beat Hekari in 2010 just after they represented Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan,” Whitney said.
Whitney also speaks highly of the remarkable victory over Auckland in the group stages last season.
“I played against Auckland more than twice and now with Western United, I really want to do better if we meet in the later stages this season,” he added.
Whitney played his career so far in the O-league with Amicale and this season he’s very proud to represent Solomon Islands rep Western United.
The sneaky wizard said after helping United qualify for the O-league, he looks forward to help United archive some good results.
The United’s winger shared his sentiments on his former club.
“I think compared to our days in Amicale, the team is going through a lot of changes, and they have many new players both regional and international.
“In their coaching team is a new coach from Europe.
“But I am well versed with their style of play and understand well few lads their like Fred and fellow countryman Nelson Sale.
“The most interesting thing is our first game will be against Amicale.
“I am looking forward to play against them and hopefully we’ll get a good result,” he said.
Winning and playing in Suva is not something new to Whitney.
He wins regional titles when on duty with national Futsal teams in Suva.
“I have winning habit in Suva and hope that history repeats itself.
“Local students studying in Fiji will be a boost for us, it can uplift the morals of our boys to perform.
“It will like we are playing at home,” he added.
Meanwhile, United early this week moved from Suva Hotel to Holiday Inn.
The atmosphere in the camp is good and all the players can’t wait play tomorrow.
By SIMON ABANA
In Suva