OPENING the 2025 OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League tournament, Waikato Rapids took on a spirited Gulf Komara FC team at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
This was an historical clash for both teams. The Waikato Rapids were representing New Zealand for the first time with Gulf Komara FC debuting for Papua New Guinea.
Casey Sharplin quickly recognised the open space in the box and neatly placed a long ball for Maxwell Ericksen to score for Waikato just 20 seconds into the game.
Sharplin was Waikato’s mastermind and orchestrated his team’s attacking shapes and moves.
Hemi Hines hammered in Waikato’s second goal. They led 2 nil at half time.
In the second half, Gulf Komara FC finally scored. Captain Troy Dobbin was brilliantly sneaked one in behind the defence.
Ericksen weaved around the PNG defenders to score his double of the match. Waikato now led 3 – 1.
Gulf Komara watched the game inch away as they scored an own goal and things began to fall apart.
Cooper Wink, George Dixon, Keena Howard and Davis Vhavha also added their names onto the scorer’s list for Waikato.
Komara’s keeper, Willie Gerega, bravely stopped a number of significant attempted goals before Waikato found their rhythm and dominated the game.
At full time, Waikato Rapids thrashed Gulf Komara FC 8-1.