From Kurukuru champion to U-19 captain: Jayroll Patty stands one win from Solomon Islands history

Jayroll Patty is only 19, but the past year has already taken him through senior international futsal, professional football and now to the captaincy of a Solomon Islands side standing on the verge of history. The young midfielder has emerged as one of the outstanding players of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa, and on Friday he will lead his country against Tahiti with a place at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup at stake.

Patty’s influence on the Solomon Islands campaign has been remarkable. Franco Ne’e’s side finished Group A with a perfect nine points after victories over Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Samoa, scoring six goals and conceding only once. Patty has been directly involved in every one of those six goals. He supplied the pass for Wilkenson Siosi to score the winner in the 1-0 opening victory over Papua New Guinea, then took over the scoring himself with a hat-trick in the 3-1 win against New Caledonia and both goals in the 2-0 victory over Samoa. With five goals, the Solomon Islands captain finished the group stage as the tournament’s leading scorer.

There is also a much longer story behind what Patty is doing in Samoa. Two years ago, he was the youngest member of the Solomon Islands squad at the 2024 edition of the same tournament. The Junior Bonitos came agonisingly close to qualification, leading New Caledonia in the semi-final before eventually losing 3-2 after extra time. New Caledonia went on to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, while Solomon Islands had to settle for third place. Patty has returned to the competition no longer as one of the youngest players learning from the group, but as the man wearing the captain’s armband.

Before travelling to Samoa, Patty described the opportunity to lead his country as something he had always wanted. “This is really a dream come true for me as a player,” he told Solomon Star, adding that he wanted to make the Solomon Islands people proud. His performances since then have given considerable weight to those words.

His rise has not been restricted to eleven-a-side football. In September 2025, at only 18, Patty broke into the senior Solomon Islands futsal team and immediately made an impact at the OFC Futsal Men’s Cup in Fiji. Playing as a winger for the Kurukuru, he scored against Fiji, Vanuatu and Tuvalu as Solomon Islands won the regional title. Patty was also named Man of the Match in the decisive game against Tuvalu and later collected the 2025 SIFF Super Futsal League Player of the Year award after helping Dawn FC win the domestic championship.

The following months brought another step forward. Patty became part of Solomon Kings for the inaugural OFC Pro League, giving him exposure to professional football against clubs from around the Pacific and Australia. In March, still only 18, he also made his senior football debut for Solomon Islands during the FIFA Series in Indonesia against Bulgaria. By the time the U-19 Championship arrived, Patty had therefore accumulated experiences across youth football, senior international football, professional club football and international futsal that very few players of his age in the Pacific can match.

Now comes the match that could turn an impressive individual rise into a historic national achievement. Solomon Islands will face Tahiti at Samoa Football HQ on Friday, 11 September. Tahiti recovered from an 8-0 defeat to New Zealand in their opening match to draw 1-1 with Vanuatu and defeat Fiji 2-1, finishing second in Group B and earning their place in the semi-finals. The winner will not simply advance to Monday’s final: both finalists qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027 in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

For Solomon Islands, that would mean something never achieved before. The country has never appeared at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the painful near-miss of 2024 remains recent enough for several members of the current generation to remember exactly what was lost. Patty was there then. Two years later, he has returned as captain, leading scorer and the player involved in every goal his team has scored so far.

The story of the tournament is ultimately about a Solomon Islands team that has been organised, difficult to break down and perfect through three matches, rather than one player alone. Yet Patty has become its defining figure. Less than a year after helping the Kurukuru become Oceania futsal champions, the 19-year-old now has the opportunity to captain Solomon Islands into a FIFA football World Cup for the first time at U-20 level. One victory against Tahiti would complete that breakthrough.

Away from the spotlight: Yagi Yasasa and Emmanuel Simon continue Australian journey with Bendigo City

When Yagi Yasasa and Emmanuel Simon left Papua New Guinea for Australia in March 2025, their move to Bendigo City attracted attention back home. More than a year later, however, the two Kapuls internationals have largely disappeared from the regional football headlines. Their Australian journey did not end after a short spell: both remained in Victoria and have now completed a second season with Bendigo City.

The pair arrived in Australia in March last year after an opportunity organised through former Papua New Guinea international George Slefendorfas and his Playerpin Management pathway. At the time, the move represented another important step for two players with considerable experience in PNG football, giving them the opportunity to test themselves in a different football environment while continuing their respective careers abroad.

Their involvement with Bendigo started almost immediately. Both players completed 90 minutes in an early friendly as they settled into their new surroundings, before featuring in competitive football only days later. Simon started Bendigo City’s Dockerty Cup meeting with Whittlesea United, while Yasasa was introduced from the bench against opposition playing higher in the Victorian football pyramid.

The league campaign soon provided further evidence that the Papua New Guinean duo were not simply peripheral additions. Both started Bendigo City’s emphatic 8-0 victory over Footscray Rangers in March 2025, with Simon scoring late in the contest. It was one of the earliest tangible contributions from the midfielder following his move from PNG football to Australia.

Bendigo went on to enjoy an impressive 2025 State League 5 campaign. The club finished second in its division after collecting 49 points from 20 matches, winning 16 times and losing only three. Their attacking numbers were particularly remarkable, with Bendigo scoring 111 goals across the league season as they finished narrowly behind champions Newport Storm.

For Yasasa and Simon, however, perhaps the most significant detail is what happened afterwards. Neither returned permanently to Papua New Guinea after the campaign. Both remained with Bendigo City for 2026, turning what initially could have been viewed as another short Pacific football opportunity in Australia into a longer overseas chapter.

The two players arrived in Bendigo at very different stages of their careers. Yasasa, now in his mid-20s, had already accumulated experience with several prominent PNG clubs before moving overseas, including Besta PNG United, Vitiaz United, Lae City, Hekari United and Port Moresby Strikers. His career has also included involvement with the Papua New Guinea national team, establishing him among a generation of players trying to gain greater exposure beyond the domestic competition.

Simon brought considerably more experience. The midfielder spent a substantial part of his career with Lae City and later featured for Gulf Komara, helping the club reach a national grand final before making the move to Australia. Already an established international, his presence in Victoria provided another example of an experienced Pacific player continuing his career within Australia’s extensive state-league system.

The 2026 season was less successful for Bendigo than the previous campaign. Competing in State League 5 North-West, the club was unable to reproduce its 2025 title challenge and finished further down the standings. Nevertheless, Yasasa and Simon remaining part of the Bendigo setup throughout another full campaign is significant in itself.

For Pacific players, Australian football opportunities are often followed closely when a transfer is announced but can quickly disappear from wider regional attention once the player moves outside the professional leagues. Below the A-League, Australia’s state competitions contain a large number of clubs and divisions, making the careers of Oceanian players considerably harder to track despite them continuing to play regularly in competitive environments.

Yasasa and Simon are examples of exactly that situation. Their move was covered when they arrived, but their names have subsequently been much less visible despite both continuing their careers in Victoria. In a region where many footballers balance the ambition of playing abroad with the realities of semi-professional football, their continued presence in Australia represents a meaningful chapter of their careers.

They also remain names with relevance to Papua New Guinea football. Both have previously represented the Kapuls and were part of the wider national-team picture after moving to Bendigo. With another international cycle developing and competition for places continuing, maintaining regular football abroad can only keep both players within consideration whenever future national-team selections are made.

There may be no A-League spotlight around Bendigo City and very little international coverage of the Victorian lower divisions, but Yasasa and Simon have quietly continued doing what many Pacific footballers attempt to achieve: establish themselves overseas, adapt to a different football culture and remain there beyond a single season.

More than 18 months after leaving Papua New Guinea, their Australian story is still continuing. For two Kapuls who have largely slipped out of the regional radar, that journey deserves to be noticed again.

Labasa turn to Jerry Sam as Alvin Chand steps down after BOG elimination

Labasa FC have made a major change to their technical leadership only days after the Babasiga Lions were eliminated from the 2026 Battle of the Giants, with Alvin Chand stepping down as head coach and experienced Solomon Islands coach Jerry Sam taking over the position.

The Labasa Football Association officially announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that Chand had left the role due to personal reasons and ongoing work commitments. The association thanked the coach for his dedication and service before confirming Sam as his replacement.

The change comes at the end of a significant period for Chand, who was appointed to the senior position in March 2025 after spending several years working within the Labasa football system, including at youth level. His impact was immediate, as the Babasiga Lions enjoyed an impressive 2025 campaign under his command.

Chand guided Labasa to the 2025 Fiji FACT title after a dramatic final against Rewa, with the Northern side prevailing on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Only two months later, Labasa again defeated Rewa, this time 2-1 at Subrail Park, to lift the Battle of the Giants trophy in front of their home supporters.

The attempt to defend the BOG crown in 2026, however, ended in the group stage. Labasa collected six points from three matches, defeating Nasinu 1-0 and Navua 2-1 but suffering a costly 3-0 defeat against Suva. Suva, Nasinu and Labasa all finished on six points, with the Babasiga Lions eventually missing the semi-finals on the tiebreaking criteria.

Sam’s promotion is particularly notable because he had only recently joined Labasa’s technical staff. The Solomon Islander was brought in ahead of the BOG as a technical advisor, working alongside Chand during the team’s preparations for the tournament. Less than two weeks later, he has now been handed responsibility for the senior side.

The new Labasa coach brings considerable experience from different parts of Oceania. Sam has previously worked with Fiji’s national futsal and beach soccer programmes and has been involved with the Solomon Islands’ highly regarded futsal setup. His club experience also includes work with Marist FC and Papua New Guinea powerhouse Hekari United, including exposure to OFC Champions League football.

His familiarity with Fiji football should also make the transition considerably smoother. Sam previously served as Fiji’s national futsal coach and had already been directly involved in Labasa’s training sessions before the BOG, meaning he takes charge of a squad and environment he has recently been working with.

For Labasa, the appointment brings an immediate new direction following a disappointing end to their BOG title defence, while Chand departs after a short but highly productive spell in charge. The Babasiga Lions now move from a coach who rose through their own system to one of the more experienced Solomon Islands coaches working around the Pacific.

Jerry Sam’s brief assignment as technical advisor has therefore quickly developed into something much bigger: responsibility for leading one of Fiji’s most prominent football districts into its next chapter.

Still great: Gagame Feni proves his goals have not gone anywhere at 34

There are players whose influence begins to fade quietly as a new generation takes centre stage. Gagame Feni continues to resist that process. At 34, the Solomon Islands international has once again placed himself among the main protagonists of a major tournament in Fiji, scoring four goals during the group stage of the 2026 Battle of the Giants and helping Suva secure a place in the semifinals.

Feni entered the BOG only a couple of weeks after celebrating his 34th birthday, but there was little indication of age slowing him down when Suva opened their campaign against Navua at Govind Park. With the Whites trailing 1-0 at half-time, the experienced attacker completely transformed the match after the break, scoring all three goals in a 3-1 comeback victory.

It was not simply a veteran adding another goal to an already long career. Feni produced the first hat-trick of the tournament and immediately became one of its central figures. Suva followed that result with an impressive 3-0 victory over defending champions Labasa, securing qualification before their final group match.

Even when Suva eventually suffered their first defeat, losing 2-1 to Nasinu on Sunday, Feni was there again. Paul Francis had put Nasinu ahead before Feni responded with an excellent equaliser, his fourth goal in only three BOG appearances. Billy Afi eventually scored the winner for Nasinu, but Suva still finished top of Group A on goal difference and advanced to the semifinals.

For followers of Solomon Islands football, there is something particularly familiar about seeing Feni among the goals. His career has now stretched across more than a decade and several countries, yet scoring has remained the constant.

Feni was already playing senior football in New Zealand with Canterbury United in 2010, later representing Waitakere United before establishing himself as one of the most recognisable attackers in Solomon Islands football. His career has subsequently taken him through clubs such as Solomon Warriors, Western United, Kossa, Hekari United, ABM Galaxy and Suva, giving him experience across New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and his homeland.

Some of his most remarkable numbers came back in the Solomon Islands. Feni scored 26 league goals for Solomon Warriors during the 2020/21 campaign and later produced an extraordinary 34-goal season with Kossa in 2022/23. Those figures belong to an earlier stage of his career, but what has happened in Fiji demonstrates that the ability to decide matches has not disappeared.

His relationship with Suva has also become an important chapter of that journey. Feni had already represented the Capital City side in 2019 before returning years later. During the 2025 Fiji Premier League season, he scored eight goals in only 11 league appearances, finishing as Suva’s leading scorer despite playing considerably fewer matches than many of the competition’s other leading forwards.

That form earned another opportunity at professional level. At the beginning of 2026, Feni left Suva after signing with Solomon Kings for the inaugural OFC Professional League, appearing for the Solomon Islands representative side during their campaign. His stay away from Fiji, however, did not last long. Suva announced his return during the June transfer window, bringing an experienced and already proven attacking option back into their squad for the second half of the season.

Only a few months later, the decision is producing very visible results.

There is also a wider context to Feni’s latest performances. Solomon Islands football is currently watching another generation of attacking talent emerge, with players such as Raphael Lea’i and Paul Francis increasingly attracting attention at home and elsewhere in the Pacific. Feni belongs to the generation before them, but the BOG has provided another reminder that the country’s established stars have not simply stepped aside.

His longevity is perhaps what makes this tournament particularly notable. Feni has represented Solomon Islands at senior international level since 2012 and has experienced several different eras of the national team. More than 14 years after beginning his international journey, he remains capable of producing the kind of individual performance that can take over an important regional match.

The next opportunity comes with even greater stakes. Suva will face hosts Ba in the BOG semifinal on Saturday at Govind Park, with a place in Sunday’s final on the line. The Whites will meet a Ba side that recovered from a difficult group-stage defeat to qualify and will have home support behind them.

For Suva, however, the evidence from the opening weekend is clear. When a goal is required, one of the oldest attacking names in Solomon Islands football remains one of their most dangerous options.

Gagame Feni has been scoring around the Pacific for a long time. At 34, he is still doing it.

Tahiti complete remarkable recovery as New Zealand cruise through perfect group stage at OFC U-19 Championship

The group stage of the 2026 OFC U-19 Men’s Championship came to an end in Apia with Tahiti producing one of the tournament’s biggest turnarounds to eliminate Fiji, while defending champions New Zealand completed a perfect first phase with a dominant 6-0 victory over Vanuatu.

Tuesday’s results completed the semi-final lineup, with Solomon Islands set to face Tahiti, while New Zealand meet New Caledonia in the other last-four encounter.

For all four nations, the stakes now become even higher: the two semi-final winners will qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Tahiti entered the final Group B matchday in a difficult position.

Their campaign had begun with a crushing 8-0 defeat against New Zealand before a late Nathan Scavazza equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw against Vanuatu.

That left Tahiti needing to defeat Fiji to keep their hopes alive.

Fiji, meanwhile, had started the tournament with an impressive 7-2 victory over Vanuatu before losing 2-0 to New Zealand. With three points already on the board, a draw against Tahiti would have been enough to put the Junior Bula Boys in a strong position to advance.

The opening exchanges reflected those different circumstances.

Fiji created much of the early pressure and Jovesa Uqe had a good opportunity after being released by Ryan Naresh, but dragged his shot beyond the far post.

Naresh later tried his luck from distance but was unable to test Tahiti goalkeeper Titouan Courtois.

Tahiti struggled to create clear chances for much of the first half, but they found the breakthrough deep into stoppage time.

Keahinui Brown played a well-weighted pass through the Fiji defence and Elias Jamet reached it before goalkeeper Usaia Tamaniqio, poking the ball beyond him to give Tahiti a crucial 1-0 advantage.

Fiji responded strongly after the interval.

Ibraheem Afazal had an excellent opportunity to equalise but was denied by Courtois, before Maikah Dau sent another attempt narrowly wide.

Dau later forced another save from a long-range free-kick as Fiji increased the pressure on the Tahitian defence.

Tahiti, however, continued to resist.

With Fiji pushing increasingly high in search of the goal that would change the qualification picture, Tahiti eventually found space on the counterattack.

Nathan Scavazza drove into the penalty area before being brought down, giving Tahiti the opportunity to put one foot in the semi-finals.

Captain Tauhiki Bohl took responsibility from the spot and calmly converted in the 86th minute to make it 2-0.

The closing stages became heated.

Fiji’s Semi Natinavou and Tahiti’s Nathan Scavazza were both sent off following a confrontation between the players, leaving each side with ten men.

Fiji refused to give up and Abdullah Khairati scored an excellent goal deep into stoppage time, but it came too late to rescue their campaign.

Tahiti held on for a 2-1 victory, moving onto four points.

Their qualification was not yet completely secure, however. Vanuatu still had the possibility of reaching four points themselves if they could produce a major upset against New Zealand in the final match of the group stage.

That possibility did not last long.

New Zealand entered the match already assured of their semi-final place but showed little interest in slowing down.

José Figueira named a strong side that included several players connected with the OFC Pro League, including Eli Jones, Van Fitzharris and Dejaun Naidoo.

Vanuatu, in contrast, knew only a victory would keep their tournament alive.

The early stages were more competitive than the eventual scoreline suggested.

Vanuatu threatened on the counterattack and forced New Zealand to remain alert, while Oliver Grosso had an early goal ruled out for offside.

Vanuatu goalkeeper Jesse Thomas also produced a good save to deny Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues.

New Zealand finally broke through in the 35th minute.

Grosso escaped down the right and delivered a low cross into the penalty area, where Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues arrived to finish from close range.

The second followed just before half-time.

Bailey Ferguson combined with Van Fitzharris and Sloane-Rodrigues during a flowing New Zealand move before the ball was squared across goal for Oliver Grosso to tap into an empty net.

At 2-0, Vanuatu’s qualification hopes were already fading.

After the restart, they disappeared completely.

An attempt to build from the back presented the ball to Bailey Ferguson, who finished first-time to score New Zealand’s third in the 50th minute.

Only six minutes later Ferguson struck again.

The substitute had entered during the first half following an injury to Waisea Henry and rapidly became the central figure of the contest.

Harley Hill added the fifth in the 71st minute, running onto a headed pass from Dejaun Naidoo before finishing emphatically.

Hill then became provider.

Five minutes later, his delivery found Ferguson, who completed his hat-trick and New Zealand’s scoring for the afternoon.

The final whistle confirmed a 6-0 victory and an imposing conclusion to the defending champions’ group-stage campaign.

New Zealand finish Group B with a perfect record of three victories from three matches, 16 goals scored and none conceded.

Their performances have made them the statistical standout of the tournament so far, although their next challenge represents a considerable step up.

They will face New Caledonia, who recovered from their defeat against Solomon Islands by demolishing Papua New Guinea 7-0 to secure second place in Group A.

Tahiti’s reward for their dramatic recovery is a semi-final against Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands were themselves perfect during the group stage, winning all three matches and conceding only once.

That matchup provides one of the most intriguing stories of the competition.

Tahiti looked in serious trouble after conceding eight goals to New Zealand in their opening match. Less than a week later, they have recovered to reach the semi-finals and are now only one victory away from qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Fiji, meanwhile, are left to reflect on a frustrating elimination.

Their seven-goal opening victory over Vanuatu had put them in a strong position, but consecutive defeats against New Zealand and Tahiti ultimately ended their hopes of reaching the world stage.

Vanuatu finish bottom of Group B with one point, earned through their draw against Tahiti.

The tournament now moves into its decisive stage.

Solomon Islands face Tahiti in the first semi-final on Friday, followed by New Zealand against New Caledonia.

There will be no second chance.

The winners will advance to the OFC U-19 Championship final — and, more importantly, secure Oceania’s two places at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

After six days of group-stage football, four teams remain: two unbeaten regional powers, a New Caledonian side looking to return to the world stage, and a Tahitian team that has already recovered from one of the heaviest defeats of the tournament to keep its World Cup dream alive.

Fiji FA unveils six-team professional league plan to extend pathway beyond Bula FC

Fiji Football Association has revealed plans for a new six-team professional franchise league that could begin in late 2027, in what would represent one of the most significant changes to the structure of domestic football in the country. The proposed competition would introduce privately owned franchises, professional coaching structures and televised matches, creating a new professional level alongside Fiji’s traditional district football system.

Fiji FA chief executive Mohammed Yusuf said the association intends to launch the competition after the 2027 Inter District Championship. Under the current proposal, six franchises would be distributed geographically across the country, with three representing the Western Division, two based in the South and one in the North. Interested groups would be required to bid for a Fiji FA licence to operate one of the franchises.

The model would be considerably different from the structure that has historically shaped senior football in Fiji. The franchises are expected to be privately owned, while their operators would be responsible for appointing professional coaches, establishing their own team structures and developing merchandising operations. Yusuf also said matches would be fully televised, adding a commercial and media dimension that remains limited in the existing domestic game.

According to the preliminary plan, the professional competition would run from the conclusion of the IDC until around Christmas or New Year, with matches scheduled for Wednesdays and weekends. The six teams would play against each other before the two leading sides advance to a final to decide the champion. The proposal is not yet formally approved, with Fiji FA expected to table it before its Council in November 2026 for discussion and approval.

One of the most important aspects of the project is its connection with Bula FC. Fiji entered the professional era at regional level in 2026 through Bula FC, the country’s first professional football club and Fiji’s representative in the inaugural OFC Pro League. That development created full-time opportunities for a selected group of leading Fijian players, but it also highlighted the considerable gap between those involved in the professional franchise and players continuing in the traditional domestic system.

Yusuf specifically identified that gap when discussing the purpose of the proposed league. He said players leaving Bula FC would be able to continue playing professionally in Fiji rather than immediately returning to the country’s amateur environment.

“Boys coming out of Bula FC can have continuity to play in the local professional league in a highly competitive manner,” Yusuf said.

That point gives the project significance beyond the creation of six new teams. Bula FC can accommodate only a limited number of footballers at any given time, while players can move in and out of its squad according to form, recruitment and the requirements of the OFC Pro League. A domestic professional competition would potentially provide another destination for those players while also widening the number of Fijians able to make football a more substantial part of their working lives.

The announcement also comes at a particularly relevant moment for the domestic game. Nasinu striker Bruce Hughes recently spoke publicly about the financial reality faced by footballers in Fiji, stating that “football is not a career in Fiji” because of the level of compensation received by players. Hughes, despite being one of the productive forwards in the Fiji Premier League this season and a former Battle of the Giants final match-winner, has continued to combine football with work away from the game. His comments illustrated a reality familiar to many leading players in the country: competing at Fiji’s highest domestic level does not necessarily provide the income required to live exclusively as a footballer.

Fiji’s traditional district system remains one of the strongest elements of the country’s football culture, particularly through competitions such as the Premier League, Battle of the Giants, Fiji FACT and Inter District Championship. The proposed professional league, however, would introduce a different model based on franchises, private investment and professional employment rather than the district associations that have historically dominated the domestic game.

It would also represent another stage in a rapid period of structural change for Fijian football. The establishment of Bula FC already placed Fiji inside the OFC Pro League and created the country’s first professional club environment. The proposed six-team competition would take that process much further by attempting to establish professional football within Fiji itself rather than concentrating it in a single team competing at regional level.

There are still major questions to be answered before that becomes reality. The identities and exact locations of the franchises, ownership requirements, financial regulations, player contracts and the relationship between professional teams and existing districts have yet to be detailed publicly. Much will also depend on whether sufficient private investment can be attracted to sustain six professional organisations rather than simply launch them.

For now, the November Fiji FA Council meeting represents the next major step. If approved and successfully implemented, the project could substantially change the pathway available to Fijian footballers: from district football, through a domestic professional competition and potentially into Bula FC and the wider OFC Pro League.

For a country where some of its leading domestic players still have to balance football with another profession, the significance of that transition could extend well beyond the creation of six new teams.

From Real Kakamora to Nasinu: Paul Francis fuels another underdog run

Paul Francis has found himself at the centre of another football story few would have predicted. Two years after becoming one of the main figures in Real Kakamora’s extraordinary rise in the Solomon Islands S-League, the attacker is now helping Nasinu challenge the established order in Fiji, with the Giant Killers reaching the Battle of the Giants semifinals for the first time in seven years.

Nasinu were hardly mentioned among the main contenders before the tournament began. The side entered the BOG without a major sponsor and with considerably less expectation than teams such as Rewa, Ba, Suva and defending champions Labasa. An opening 1-0 defeat to Labasa appeared to reinforce that status, but Nasinu responded by defeating Navua 1-0 before producing their biggest result of the competition so far against Suva.

Francis provided the breakthrough in the decisive 2-1 victory over the Capital City side. The Solomon Islands attacker opened the scoring in the 18th minute, beating goalkeeper Jason Rokovucake before fellow Solomon Islander Gagame Feni quickly equalised for Suva. Nasinu captain Billy Afi, another Solomon Islands player, eventually scored the winner, leaving Nasinu on six points and forcing Labasa to chase a sizeable winning margin against Navua that the defending champions could not achieve.

For Francis, there is something familiar about the circumstances. His emergence at Real Kakamora came during one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent Solomon Islands football. Kakamora had lost every one of their 22 S-League matches in 2023, conceding 116 goals, before rebuilding almost their entire squad for the following campaign. Francis became one of the faces of the new team, scoring twice on his debut against Solomon Warriors and playing an important part as Kakamora went from the bottom of the league to an unprecedented third-place finish. (Oceania Football Center)

His numbers reflected how important he became. Francis scored 17 goals in 20 S-League appearances during the 2024 season, finishing among the leading scorers in the country as Kakamora developed a huge online following and became one of the most talked-about clubs in Pacific football. His performances also earned him involvement with the Solomon Islands national setup as his reputation grew beyond the domestic competition.

The Kakamora story then changed abruptly. At the beginning of 2025, the club was denied a renewed S-League licence and was left outside the competition despite its third-place finish the previous year. Francis was among the players forced to continue his career elsewhere, and his next destination was Nasinu. Fiji FA records show him already appearing for the club during the opening stages of the 2025 Premier League season. (Oceania Football Center)

The move did not stop his scoring. Francis finished his first Fijian league campaign with 10 goals, giving him the third-highest scoring total in the 2025 Fiji Premier League behind only John Orobulu and France Catarogo. It was an impressive return for a Nasinu side that eventually finished ninth in the ten-team competition, with Francis providing a significant portion of their attacking output. Among his standout performances was a hat-trick against Nadi, while he also scored twice when Nasinu defeated the same opposition later in the season.

His 2026 Premier League campaign has been quieter in terms of goals, with Fiji FA listing Francis with two during the season. The BOG, however, has offered another stage for him to make an impact, and his goal against Suva carried considerably more weight than an ordinary league strike. It came in the match that ultimately pushed Nasinu beyond defending champions Labasa and into the final four.

There is also a wider Solomon Islands influence behind Nasinu’s success. Afi has been particularly decisive, scoring the only goal against Navua before producing the winner against Suva, while Francis supplied the other goal in the match that sealed qualification. Their contributions form part of an increasingly visible Solomon Islands presence in Fijian football, with players such as Feni and Orobulu also making major contributions during this year’s BOG.

Nasinu now face perhaps their greatest challenge of the tournament. Rewa, one of Fiji’s strongest sides in recent seasons, await in Saturday’s semifinal at Govind Park. Nasinu have never won the Battle of the Giants, finishing runners-up in 1989 and 1991, and their previous semifinal appearance came in 2019, when Labasa eventually defeated them in extra time.

That leaves the Giant Killers once again entering a major match without carrying the weight of favouritism. It is also exactly the sort of setting in which Francis first built his reputation. At Real Kakamora, he became a central figure in a team that went from losing every match to challenging near the top of the Solomon Islands. After being forced to leave that project behind, he has taken his goals to Fiji and now finds himself involved in another unlikely run.

From Kakamora to Nasinu, the surroundings have changed. The pattern has not: Paul Francis is once again helping an underdog make people pay attention.

Ba tunnel controversy adds to turbulent BOG as semifinals loom

The 2026 Battle of the Giants is heading into its decisive weekend with four teams still in contention for the title, but events away from the pitch have increasingly become part of the story. Hosts Ba secured the final semifinal place with a 3-1 victory over Lautoka, only for their qualification to be followed by tense scenes around the tunnel at Govind Park and growing calls for the incident to be investigated.

The semifinal picture will see Suva face Ba, while Rewa take on Nasinu, with both matches to be played at Four R Stadium at Govind Park. The final follows on Sunday, and one thing is already certain: there will be a new BOG champion after defending winners Labasa failed to progress from the group stage.

Ba arrive at this stage carrying perhaps the greatest pressure of the four remaining teams. The Men in Black are playing the tournament on their home ground and entered the BOG after already winning both the Fiji FACT and the Extra Premier League in 2026. Another trophy would complete an outstanding domestic campaign, although their path through the group stage was far from straightforward.

They opened with a 1-0 victory over Nadi through Solomon Islands striker John Orobulu before suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat against Rewa. That left Ba needing victory against Lautoka in their final group match, while the Blues required only a draw to advance.

Ba responded when their tournament was on the line. Etonia Dogalau, returning after missing the opening two games through suspension, headed them ahead after only five minutes from Praneel Naidu’s delivery. Rusiate Doidoi added the second before Nabil Begg converted from the penalty spot, giving the hosts a commanding 3-0 halftime advantage. Luciano Castro scored for Lautoka in added time, but the 3-1 victory was enough to put Ba through as Group B runners-up behind Rewa.

The atmosphere following qualification, however, quickly changed.

Fiji Sun reported a tense situation at the Govind Park tunnel involving Ba FA officials, supporters and security personnel. According to the report, Fiji FA had instructed security staff to allow only people carrying authorised identification through the tunnel entrance. Some Ba supporters subsequently attempted to enter through the restricted area, while others were moving towards the team’s changing room, prompting security personnel to intervene.

Images and video from the scene showed an animated exchange taking place around a security guard near the entrance. Fiji Sun initially characterised the episode as a misunderstanding, but subsequent reaction has placed greater attention on the treatment of the security worker and whether the conduct of those involved should be reviewed.

Sheikh Sahib was among those publicly calling for the incident to be properly investigated. In his reaction, he stressed that the security guard appeared to have simply been carrying out instructions and should not have been subjected to disrespect for doing his job. He also raised concern over allegations of verbal abuse and questioned whether the worker had received sufficient support from management during the confrontation.

At this stage, there has been no verified suggestion of physical assault in the incident, and the available information does not justify describing it as such. The controversy instead centres on access restrictions, the behaviour towards security personnel and the circumstances that allowed a routine post-match control measure to develop into a heated confrontation.

The episode nevertheless comes during a BOG already facing considerable off-field discussion.

Drug testing and player eligibility have also generated controversy during the tournament after Fiji FA’s disciplinary committee allowed players with unresolved drug-related cases to resume playing while their proceedings remain pending. Labasa’s France Catarogo was among those affected, receiving clearance only hours before the defending champions’ opening match, while Lautoka’s Veleni Rasorewa and Epeli Leiroti were also permitted to compete with their cases still unresolved.

At the same time, Fiji FA continued drug testing during the BOG itself, with two positive results recorded among the first group of players tested. The association has since indicated that its social drug policy will be reviewed, with stronger measures potentially introduced in the future.

The combination has created an unusual backdrop to what has otherwise been a highly competitive tournament. Suva impressed during the group stage before losing 2-1 to Nasinu, while Nasinu recovered from an opening defeat to Labasa to earn a semifinal place. Rewa produced arguably the most convincing result of the first phase when they defeated Ba 3-0, although they later lost 1-0 to Nadi after qualification was already within reach.

Now the focus returns to Govind Park.

For Ba, Saturday’s semifinal against Suva carries significance beyond simply reaching another final. The hosts remain in position to complete a remarkable three-title season, but they also enter the decisive weekend with increased attention surrounding the events that followed their victory over Lautoka.

What happened in the tunnel should not overshadow the football entirely, but neither should it simply disappear once the tournament resumes. With calls for an investigation already emerging, the response from Ba and Fiji FA could become another important part of the story as the Battle of the Giants moves towards its conclusion.

Central Coast Mariners bring A-League pedigree to Port Vila for Vanuatu United series

Vanuatu football is set for a major occasion this week as Central Coast Mariners prepare to face Vanuatu United in a two-match series at Freshwater Stadium, bringing one of Australia’s most established professional clubs to Port Vila.

The Mariners arrived in Vanuatu ahead of the opening fixture scheduled for Wednesday, 9 September, with the first match set to kick off at 3pm. Their visit gives Vanuatu United an unusual opportunity to test themselves against A-League opposition while also offering local supporters the chance to watch a professional Australian side in action on Vanuatu soil.

Central Coast have travelled with considerable international experience in their group. Australian internationals Andrew Redmayne and Trent Sainsbury, alongside New Zealand defender Storm Roux, were among the players who took part in the Mariners’ first training session at Freshwater Stadium after arriving in Port Vila. Their presence adds further profile to a series that already represents an important occasion for the local game.

The significance, however, goes beyond individual names. Vanuatu United have been working toward these matches as part of their continued development, and facing opposition accustomed to the professional demands of the A-League provides a very different challenge from domestic football. The fixtures should offer an important indication of how the Vanuatu side can compete against a team operating at a higher professional level.

For Central Coast, the trip also brings them into an environment rarely visited by Australian professional clubs. While football connections between Vanuatu and Australia have grown over the years through players, coaches and competitions, matches of this profile remain uncommon in Port Vila. That gives the series added value not only competitively, but also for the visibility of football in the country.

Freshwater Stadium is therefore set to host more than simply a friendly encounter. For Vanuatu United, it is a chance to measure themselves against established professional opposition; for Central Coast Mariners, an opportunity to continue their preparations in a different footballing environment; and for local supporters, a rare chance to see A-League and international-level players competing in Port Vila.

The opening match will be played on Wednesday afternoon at Freshwater Stadium, with the second fixture to follow as part of the Mariners’ visit to Vanuatu.

PNGFA still owes coach behind Kapuls’ historic OFC Nations Cup run nine years later

Almost a decade after guiding Papua New Guinea to one of the greatest achievements in the country’s football history, former Kapuls head coach Flemming Serritslev says an old chapter remains unresolved. The Danish coach, who took PNG to the final of the 2016 OFC Nations Cup, has told Oceania Football Center that he is still waiting for the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) to settle an outstanding debt dating back to the end of his tenure.

Serritslev decided to speak again about the case amid renewed debate over unpaid financial commitments in Papua New Guinea football. PNGFA recently threatened to withhold the Kapuls and Bilums from the 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup until outstanding allowances and other commitments from previous editions of the tournament were addressed. Those particular payments involve commitments from government institutions and should not be confused with Serritslev’s contractual dispute with PNGFA, but the signs that old football debts were finally being discussed gave the former national team coach new hope.

Commenting publicly on the situation, Serritslev wrote: “I am happy to hear, that PNGFA has started to pay their debts. It gives me hope, that they will also pay me.” He then contacted Oceania Football Center directly to explain the background of a dispute which has followed him since leaving Papua New Guinea.

“At the beginning of 2017 PNGFA stopped paying me,” Serritslev told OFCe. “In August 2017 we made a mutual agreement, that I should stop 31.08.2017, and PNGFA would pay me the outstanding amount. I left, and PNGFA never paid me their debt.”

The documentary record provides a detailed picture of what followed. Court of Arbitration for Sport documents show that in September 2017 PNGFA and Serritslev calculated USD 150,000 in outstanding obligations. After payments totalling USD 45,636 were made over a short period that month, the remaining amount was recorded as USD 104,364. A mutual agreement signed on 12 September stated that Serritslev’s contract would be terminated and that PNGFA would settle the USD 104,364 balance by 1 December 2017. Further costs connected to his return travel were subsequently added to his claim.

When the agreed deadline passed, Serritslev’s representatives formally demanded payment. In January 2018, according to the CAS record, PNGFA acknowledged the amounts owed and attributed the delay to difficulties obtaining funds from FIFA, proposing monthly payments. Six payments of PGK 15,000 were subsequently made between February and June 2018, meaning Serritslev did receive partial repayment after leaving PNG. However, the full amount was never cleared according to the subsequent proceedings.

Serritslev says he continued contacting PNGFA for years, repeatedly being told that payment would come when funding became available. “I was on mail with them month after month, and every time the answer was ‘next month, when we get funding from FIFA, we will pay our outstandings to you’,” he said. “I was stupid enough to believe them.”

The Danish coach eventually turned to FIFA. In June 2020, he lodged a claim seeking USD 82,004 plus interest, representing what he maintained remained outstanding under the 2017 agreement. FIFA declined to deal with the claim after concluding that it had been submitted outside the two-year limitation period applicable to the dispute. Serritslev argued that the relevant date should have been the final partial payment in June 2018 rather than the original December 2017 payment deadline.

The case later went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Serritslev again received no ruling on the substance of the debt. CAS found his appeal against FIFA’s decision inadmissible because it had been filed outside the 21-day appeal period. The tribunal concluded that FIFA’s June 2020 decision had been successfully delivered to his lawyer’s email address, even though Serritslev’s side maintained that it had not become aware of it until September.

The result was that neither FIFA nor CAS ultimately determined the merits of whether the remaining amount claimed by Serritslev should be paid. The proceedings ended on procedural grounds rather than with a definitive ruling over the substance of the outstanding debt.

For Serritslev, that outcome carries additional weight because of what preceded the financial dispute. Appointed in late 2015, he led a Papua New Guinea side that produced a memorable campaign on home soil at the 2016 OFC Nations Cup. The Kapuls reached the final for the first time and held New Zealand to a goalless draw over 120 minutes before losing the title on penalties. It remains one of the defining performances in PNG men’s international football.

Oceania Football Center first reported Serritslev’s outstanding-payment complaint in 2020, when the former Kapuls coach was still attempting to recover the money. Six years later, and nine years after the settlement with PNGFA was signed, the issue has again returned to the surface.

Despite everything that happened, Serritslev says he has not completely abandoned the expectation that PNGFA might eventually honour what he believes remains outstanding. His reaction to the recent debate over payments to Papua New Guinea players was therefore not simply criticism, but renewed hope.

“Every normal FA has the pride not to cheat on anyone, so I still believe PNGFA will pay me what they owe me. That’s why I got happy when they started to pay their debt to players and staff,” he told OFCe.

For the coach who came within a penalty shootout of delivering Papua New Guinea its first OFC Nations Cup title, the wait continues.

“No normal FA will award the coach, who made the best result ever for PNG, by not paying him!” Serritslev said. “So, I am still optimistic.”