This is a pretty big deal for the country, for the city and for … me. I was designated to coordinate coverage, so it’s been just about all I’ve thought about for a couple of weeks now.

For the Tuesday paper, we have six slugs and three briefs.

Good stuff.

Here are the links:

A really nice piece by our sports columnist Chuck Culpepper (yes, that Chuck Culpepper, formerly of Newsday and the Los Angeles Times) on the team mom for Hekari United of Papua New Guinea.

Something I did on how difficult it is for some of these clubs to get any clear idea of what their opponents are going to do. It’s not as if African teams pay attention to North American club soccer, etc.

Something I did on how TP Mazembe of the Congo (Zaire edition) actually had the worst Club World Cup a year ago, and what they intend to do about that — minus their best player, who has been suspended for a year by Fifa for attacking a referee.

A profile by colleague Amith Passela on Fernando Baiano, a Brazilian who is the key source of offense for the local/host club, Al Wahda of Abu Dhabi.

An interesting piece from a reporter in Port Moresby, Henry Morabang, on Kema Jack, the fisherman/footballer from a little village in Papua New Guinea … the guy who is Hekari United’s best player.

An “inside football” piece from Amith on the Al Wahda goalkeeping situation. If it seems late in the process to be settling on your No. 1 keeper … you’re right.

Have a look if this event interests you.

Internacional of Brazil scheduled to arrive on Thursday, and Inter Milan on Friday.