![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/260130PT009-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>PNG Hekari FC\u2019s coach Marcos Gusmao. OFC Pro League 2026, Press Conference ahead of match day 1 of the 2nd round, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Friday 30 January 2026. Photo: Shane Wenzlick \/ www.phototek.nz<\/p>\nPNG\u00a0Hekari\u00a0FC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The pressure is on PNG Hekari FC, as they attempt to make-up for a difficult start to the competition in front of their home fans, losing both of their first two matches, and failing to find the back of the net.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team did not perform well in Auckland. At home we will try to play more offensively, and do our best,\u201d says head coach Marcos Gusm\u00e3o.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
PNG\u00a0Hekari\u00a0FC face league leaders Auckland FC in a difficult start to their home round,\u00a0before playing Vanuatu United FC and South Island United.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAuckland FC are a good team, and I think\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0great for us to play against clubs from New Zealand and Australia, to expose us to a higher level.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Auckland FC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Flying high with three wins from their first three matches, Auckland FC made the\u00a0most of\u00a0home comforts during the opening round and\u00a0sit\u00a0atop the table early on.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
After playing host side PNG Hekari FC, they\u2019ll take on Tahiti United and Solomon Kings FC during the second round of the competition.<\/p>\n
Head coach Luke Casserly admits the conditions will be a major challenge though, something Auckland FC have had very little experience with in the past.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s been tricky and the conditions have been quite different since we\u2019ve arrived here. We\u2019re going to have to adjust,\u201d Casserly says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
South Melbourne FC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Having had one of their opening round fixtures postponed, South Melbourne FC\u00a0sit second behind Auckland FC on the ladder with two wins from two.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe know confidence and performance are\u00a0very important, but we also respect all\u00a0our opponents,\u201d says head coach Sinisa\u00a0Cohadzic.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Just like Auckland FC, South Melbourne\u00a0arrive\u00a0without the familiarity of the hot and humid conditions present\u00a0in\u00a0the islands.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe got to play a friendly game in 40 degrees heat a couple of days ago, so some of the players now have experience. But it will still be a challenge, and just like everybody else, we have to deal with it and adjust.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n Solomon Kings FC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The only other club still unbeaten after the opening round, Solomon Kings FC travel to neighboring Papua New Guinea with four points from their two games. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re happy with the start, but it\u2019s too early to make comparisons to other teams, and we\u2019re\u00a0taking\u00a0one game at a time,\u201d says head coach Ben Cahn.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Kings begin their second round of fixtures against Bula FC on Sunday, before playing South Island United and Auckland FC.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBula FC really impressed me with their performances during the first round. They set up quite well and I think it will be a good game.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n South Island United\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n After suffering defeat to rivals Auckland FC in their opening game, South Island United responded\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0victory, and\u00a0head\u00a0to Port Moresby\u00a0with three points on the board\u00a0from their opening two games of the competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve\u00a0got a platform we can build on, and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0pretty happy\u00a0with the potential of the team,\u201d says head coach Rob Sherman.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n South Island United\u00a0scored twice in the first ten minutes to beat Vanuatu United FC in Auckland, and will play South Melbourne FC, Solomon Kings FC, and hosts PNG\u00a0Hekari\u00a0FC, in what shapes as a tough second round schedule.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0evolving, and I was\u00a0very pleased\u00a0with the first half performance of our second game in Auckland. We want more of that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Bula FC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a middling start for Bula FC, who arrive in Port Moresby with a solitary point from their opening two games. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0shown some good things through the first two games, but we still\u00a0have to\u00a0work on a few details,\u201d says head coach Stephane Auvray.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Bula FC\u00a0open\u00a0against Solomon Kings FC on Sunday, before facing South Melbourne FC and Tahiti United later in the week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJust like the other teams, we are still building and trying to collect as many points as we can during the second round of the circuit series.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Tahiti United\u00a0<\/p>\n Tahiti United showed plenty of defensive steel during the opening round and will want to further improve in Papua New Guinea after picking up a single point from their two fixtures in Auckland.<\/p>\n Travel issues meant they only arrived in Port Moresby two days before their first game on Saturday though, changing their preparation schedule. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, we had a delay and our first training session in PNG is today.\u00a0But we are prepared, and we are here to compete,\u201d says head coach Samuel Garcia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Tahiti United begin the second round against Vanuatu United FC and also play Auckland FC and Bula FC in Papua New Guinea. \u00a0<\/p>\n Vanuatu United FC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n With coach Lars Hopp now confirmed to stay on for the\u00a0remainder\u00a0of the competition, Vanuatu United FC are keen to build on the promising performances\u00a0they\u00a0delivered\u00a0in Auckland,\u00a0as they still look for an elusive win.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0a good mixture of confidence and humility within the squad. We must draw on our performances from the first round,\u201d\u00a0says\u00a0Hopp.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hopp and his team have had a recent taste of success in Papua New Guinea already with the Vanuatu men\u2019s\u00a0 national team, winning the MSG Prime Minister\u2019s Cup last October \u2013 the nation\u2019s first title since 1990. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe players still have the good feeling from when they were here last time. We know this is a new tournament though, and you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0win anything with old trophies. We\u00a0must\u00a0keep working hard and delivering.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss a minute of the action as Round 2 kicks off this weekend.<\/p>\n Click HERE<\/a> for details on how to watch.<\/p>\n Click HERE<\/a> to buy your tickets.<\/p>\n Check out the full match schedule for Round 2 below<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/260130PT029-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>South Melboune FC\u2019s coach Sinisa Cohadzic. OFC Pro League 2026, Press Conference ahead of match day 1 of the 2nd round, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Friday 30 January 2026. Photo: Shane Wenzlick \/ www.phototek.nz<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/260130PT019-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>South Island United\u2019s coach Rob Sherman. OFC Pro League 2026, Press Conference ahead of match day 1 of the 2nd round, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Friday 30 January 2026. Photo: Shane Wenzlick \/ www.phototek.nz<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/260130PT015-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>Tahiti United\u2019s coach Samuel Garcia. OFC Pro League 2026, Press Conference ahead of match day 1 of the 2nd round, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Friday 30 January 2026. Photo: Shane Wenzlick \/ www.phototek.nz<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Circ-5-OFCPL26-Match-Schedule-Round-2.jpg\")
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