Soccer: Pritchett eyeing another prize

Auckland City defender James Pritchett believes he's ready for the OFC Champions League decider on Sunday. Photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland City defender James Pritchett believes he's ready for the OFC Champions League decider on Sunday as the lure of another Fifa Club World Cup beckons.

Pritchett has won the lot with Auckland, claiming a record haul of winners medals and international caps in a career with the club that spans 10 years.

The veteran has recently been plagued by injuries yet his hunger to be part of a match worth US$500,000 burns brightly.

"I've been struggling with little niggles here and there this season maybe due to not having a proper rest in the last two years," he said. "But I trained at full capacity last night and felt good.

"Sunday's game is do or die. It's the total sum of the last eight months of hard work put to the test and winning the Oceania title is our main focus."

Now 31, Pritchett is arguably at the pinnacle of his physical and mental powers with a track record that speaks for itself: Five ASB Premiership winners medals, five OFC Champions League winners medals, a pair of ASB Charity Cup victories and a handful of All Whites caps.

His club record 200 appearances is impressive and he also became the first player in OFC Champions League history to notch 50 competition appearances. The key to Pritchett's longevity, he believes, is an insatiable desire to win.

"I love winning, even if it's five-a-side at training. Players can go their whole career and not win anything so to be in such gifted teams and play for a club that wants to win everything has helped me achieve my goals."

And while his pride in pulling on the Auckland jersey shows no sign of dimming, Pritchett is only too aware that Amicale pose the greatest threat to his side's hopes of retaining the championship.

"Amicale have pace and power all over the pitch," he said, "But we need to stick to our own ideas that have got us in this position and put in a good confident performance."

With the tie poised at 1-1 after last weekend's first leg in Vanuatu, the second leg kicks off at Kiwitea St at 2pm on Sunday.