The Kurukuru, as the Solomon Islands national futsal team is known, is certainly the most successful national futsal team in Oceania; Solomon Islands will be competing in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the fourth consecutive year in 2021, having qualified for the world tournament after winning the OFC Futsal Nations Cup in 2019 afterContinue reading “Kurukuru’s debut at World Stage”
Author Archives: Rafael Saltori
Cook Islands: five years without competitive football
The lack of competition has been a problem for most Oceania national football teams for several years; the Cook Islands are at the top of the list when it comes to the inactivity of their men’s senior national team – without proper exposure, football can not develop anywhere. The last time Cook Islands national teamContinue reading “Cook Islands: five years without competitive football”
Phoenix fans want Roy Krishna back
Wellington Phoenix is enjoying a very good season so far in the Australian top-tier Hyundai A-League, the New Zealand-based club is ranked 3rd in the standings in one of their best campaigns in the league history. If COVID-19 did not hit the world and forced many sports even to be put on hold, the A-LeagueContinue reading “Phoenix fans want Roy Krishna back”
Brazil and Oceania: a Football connection
🇧🇷 Português Brazil is the place where football happens; Brazilians call their country “the home of football” – and that could really be true. Five times in history, Brazil has won the most important football tournament in the world, the FIFA World Cup. The same country that produced players such as Pelé, Zico, Ronaldo andContinue reading “Brazil and Oceania: a Football connection”
New Zealand: winter football season ready to kick-off
Football is slowly returning to normality in Oceania; New Zealand, one of the countries that has responded best to the COVID 19 pandemic, has already allowed teams to start training with some restrictions. After speculation, New Zealand football – in agreement with the New Zealand government – announced that the winter football league could startContinue reading “New Zealand: winter football season ready to kick-off”
PNG National Soccer League: Tusbab Stallions to restart trainings in Madang
One of the good surprises of the season in Papua New Guinea’s top league, the Madang-based Tusbab Stallions, are slowly returning to normality after the forced suspension of competition in the country due to COVID-19 concerns. After much speculation, the national league is expected to return to action this July, giving clubs a month toContinue reading “PNG National Soccer League: Tusbab Stallions to restart trainings in Madang”
Brian Kaltak: ready for a chance outside Oceania
Vanuatu has always produced very talented players throughout its footballing history; players such as Richard Iwai, Moise Poida and Etienne Mermer have helped Vanuatu achieve various successes in the past – as their win against New Zealand at 2004 OFC Nations Cup. The three former players mentioned above are still active in football today, butContinue reading “Brian Kaltak: ready for a chance outside Oceania”
Maro Bonsu-Maro: Cook Islands national team is still a possibility
Cook Islands football continues to strive for development in football; counting on various players currently based in New Zealand – such as Harlem Simiona and Ishaq Nazeem who repersent the men’s national team – the 17,000 people self-governing island country hopes for better results in the sport. The Cook Islands are well known because ofContinue reading “Maro Bonsu-Maro: Cook Islands national team is still a possibility”
Hekari United: 10 years of a great memory
Ten years ago, one of the most important moments in oceanic football took place when Papua New Guinea was brought to the top of Oceania by Hekari United. The Port Moresby-based side became the first non-Australian or New Zealander side ever to win the OFC Champions League trophy. Led by Jerry Allen, the team countedContinue reading “Hekari United: 10 years of a great memory”
Solomon Islands need a new futsal court
Oceania’s most successful national futsal team does not have a sports arena to call home. The Kurukuru, as the Solomon Islands’ national futsal team is known, enjoyed the region’s greatest fame after defeating New Zealand in the grand final of last year’s OFC Futsal Nations Cup. Success in the regional competition qualified Solomon Islands forContinue reading “Solomon Islands need a new futsal court”
Oceania Football Center 