New Oceania soccer competition hopes to raise level of the sport in the Pacific region

Soccer officials in Oceania hope a new western Pacific-based competition might enable the region to better compete on the global stage and establish a blueprint for others to follow.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on Friday announced eight preferred clubs that will participate in its first ever OFC Professional League in January if they successfully complete the final stages of the licensing and compliance process.

New Zealand, the premier power in the confederation, has two: Auckland FC and Christchurch United. Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are represented respectively by Bula Boys, Solomon Kings and Hekari United.

There is also Vanuatu FC and Tahiti United. South Melbourne joins from Australia, although the nation left the OFC in 2006 to join the Asian Footb