Arguably the most important football player from Vanuatu currently is Auckland City’s defender Brian Kaltak – and he’s proving it every single match. This weekend he will be lining up for the Navy Blues in a key clash against Team Wellington, but he had shown his quality in the previous match of his against Hawke’s Bay setting up the winner in the final minute of the game.
The central defender is being the leader of Auckland City defense in the first matches of the ISPS Handa Premiership this season. The quality and importance of the player is proven as he was selected among the best players of the month – the ‘Team of the Month‘ award of the New Zealand’s premiership.
Brian Kaltak – ACFC Media
Currently, Auckland City won two of their three matches of the season – against Eastern Suburbs and Hawke’s Bay – and they are ranked 4th in the process. You can check the full standings of the season so far by clicking here.
Kaltak is set to turn the first Ni-Vanuatu to play at FIFA Clubs World Cup as Auckland City will represent Oceania Football Confederation in 2021 at the competition.
‘Hail Lord Krishna’! The fantastic start of season of the Fijian wonderman Roy Krishna was recognised recently by Indian Super League. The League awarded the former Wellington Phoenix star the ‘Hero of the Month’ award – the prize given to the best player of the month in the Indian Super League.
ATK-Mohun Bagan striker receives his award – ISL Media
The Fijian scored three of the four goals of his team in the process – he’s also the team captain. The striker recently gave the win for ATK-MB against Odisha with a late goal and also turned into the first player ever to score in the clash East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan played at Indian Super League – this is one of the most decorated football rivalries of Asia.
Tafea and Tupuji Imere clashed at PV Stadium – Port Vila Football Association
The fourth matchweek of 2020-21 PVFA Vodafone Premier League finished this Saturday as four matches were contested in Port Vila, the capital of the Vanuatu. Tafea and Tupuji are still unbeaten in the league, while Erakor Golden Star and Yatel defeated their opponents this weekend.
Tafea and Tupuji Imere shared the spoils in the most important match of the day. Micah Tommy opened the scoreboard for Tafea, but Azariah Soromon equalized for Tupuji. With the 1-1 draw, both teams remain unbeaten in the league, as they are sharing the second position with ten points each. Ifira Black Bird and Mauwia also shared the spoils in a nil-nil draw.
After a bad start in the season, Yatel won their second straight match, as they beat Sia-Raga by 2-0. They now have six points, the same number of points as Erakor Golden Star, that defeated North Efate United dby 1-0 with a goal scored by Dodon Wanemut. You can check the current PVFA Vodafone Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
The second matchday of Mobil Super Ligue’s final stage was contested this Saturday at Stade Numa Daly in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia. It was a perfect day for Tiga Sport, as they defeated their opponents to take the lead of the tournament.
In the first match of the day, Tiga Sport defeated Horizon Patho by 2-0 and they are now on top of the table with one match to go. The upcoming clash was contested between current league champions Hienghène Sport and AS Magenta. Gwenael Poulawa scored a brace for Hienghène but it was not enough, as Jeremy Jeno and Martin Makam scored once each. At the final whistle, the score was a 2-2 draw.
The final matchday of the season will be contested next weekend. Tiga Sport will face AS Magenta while Hienghène Sport will meet Horizon Patho. A draw is enough for Tiga to secure a spot in the 2021 OFC Champions League. However, they want to win to be crowned league champions. You can check more information about 2020 Mobil Super Ligue by clicking here.
Makira Ulawa clinched the first position in Solomon Cup’s Group B – SIFF Media
Makira Ulawa confirm their favouritism and secured a spot in Solomon Cup’s semi-finals by beating Honiara Warriors, while Isabel Frigates smashed Central Shields to be one step away from the next stage of the tournament.
Isabel Frigates defeated Central Shields by 5-0 to remain in the second position in the Group B with seven points in four matches. Isabel will only be out of the semi-finals if Renbel Ibis beat Honiara Warriors by eight or more goals difference in the last matchday of Group B.
The most exciting match of the day was contested by Makira Ulawa and Honiara Warriors, and veteran forward Nicholas Muri played a crucial role in this match by scoring two goals for Makira Ulawa, including the winning goal in the final minutes of the contest. Warriors’ goal was netted by Laurrie Raramo, who came from the bench in the second half. At the final whistle, the score was 2-1 in favour o Makira Ulawa
With this result, Makira Ulawa clinched the first position in Solomon Cup’s Group B. They still have one match to play in the group stage, and they will probably give some rest to their key players in this upcoming contest. You can check more details about 2020 Solomon Cup by clicking here.
Suva is going to meet Nadi this Sunday at Subrail Park in Labasa as they surpassed the hosts by 3-1 in the second semi-final match of the day. The Capital City Boys had to deal with the pressure of playing away from home and against the current Inter-District Champions and also with the terrible pitch conditions of Subrail Park, but they ended up victorious in the final whistle of the game.
The first half ended goalless, but not because of lack of goalscoring chances: both goalkeepers had to use their abilities to prevent suffering any goals, especially Labasa’s Akuila Mateisuva that ended made at least three key stops in the first 45 minutes of play. The bad pitch conditions forced the teams to use free-kicks and corners as their main attacking options.
Unfortuantely for the hosts, minutes later of the restart of the game in the second half, the powerful striker Christopher Wasasala found the nets after a acrobatic cross to the area, the ball ended up close to the goal line and the Wasasala just need a simple touch to put the ball in. But the lead of Suva did not take long as minutes later Ilisoni Logaivau took his chance to find the nets in the 6-yard box. The game was tied and the fans were on fire at Subrail Park.
Beniamino Mateinaqara was called to action several times after the equaliser; first making an impressive stop in a finish from Ratu Anare and later after a good run and shot of the wing-back Lekima Gonerau. While Labasa had the control of the game and most of the ball in the attacking third of the current national champions, a counter-attack changed the destiny of the game: the ball presented itself to the top-scorer of the year, Sairusi Nalaubu, that made no mistake in front of Mateisuva to score his 5th in the Fiji FACT and second for his in the game.
Suva is going to play the grand final of Fiji FACT – Fiji FA Media
Labasa’s head coach Ronil Lal introduced the newly married Ashnil Raju into the game, but the technical midfielder could not have impact: the ground was not proper for his passing-game style and forced Labasa to desperately keep going for big balls to the box. The Babasiga Lions continued their pressure upfront backed by their fans, but at the 80th minute of play the speedster Shahil Dave finished with quality in the right down corner of Mateisuva to score the third of Suva and confirm their spot in the final.
Labasa tried all they could in the final moments of the game, but certainly not enough to grant them another grand final game of a major tournament. The year is over for the Babasiga Lions, while Suva is going for their second final of major tournament in Fiji this year and will hope to forget their defeat for Rewa at Battle of Giants and remember the glory of the Vodafone Premier League to inspire their players against Nadi this Sunday at 1pm.
After many polemics, Fiji FA decided to keep the games of Fiji FACT semi-finals at Subrail Park. The pitch was really not at good conditions, but the players bravely entered to the pitch to defend their districts. The first semi-final saw Rewa taking on Nadi – a match that had a really big half-time as its first 45 minutes were played one week ago. The goal scored by Vuniuci Tikomaimereke was the difference between both sides.
Rewa started the second half attacking, expecting to find an early equaliser. The team coached by Marika Rodu saw the introduction of Bruce Hughes and Anish Khem – and they worked for the Delta Tigers: at the 72th minute of play, Bruce Hughes crossed the ball to the box from a free-kick, the defender Peniame Drova flicked the ball and Gabriele Matanisiga chested the ball home to equalise the game.
Unfortuantely for Rewa, at the 89th minute of play a very well-taken corner by Avinesh Suwamy found the head of Ame Votoniu, the veteran put the ball in the back of the nets to give Nadi a late lead. That was already too late for Rewa to react.
Nadi is qualified for the Fiji FACT finals – Fiji FA Media
Avinesh Suwamy displayed a very good game and was always dangerous to Rewa defense with his dead balls; as the pitch conditions were very bad – puddles and muddy – the free-kicks and corners were the best option to attack and having a specialist in dead balls as Suwamy was key for Nadi side.
This is going to be the first final of a major tournament Nadi achieves this year, they are the current title holders of Fiji FACT and will be looking to retake the glory this Sunday in Labasa. They wait to find out whether Suva or the hosts Labasa will be their opponents in the grand final.
The decisive top-four of the Mobil Super Ligue is set to continue this Saturday at Stade Numa-Daly with two more thrilling matches a tthe decisive phase of the season in New Caledonia’s premier league.
As all matches were tied in the last weekend, any winners of this round will be very close to the title and also a spot in the OFC Champions League. The first match of the day will see Tiga Sport taking on Horizon Patho; both sides came from behind against Hienghène and AS Magenta respectively and were able to grant equalisers in their matches.
Mobil Super Ligue is on its decisive moments – MSL Media
The key match of the Saturday will have the biggest clash of New Caledonia currently – Hienghène Sport against AS Magenta. The teams coached by Félix Tagawa and Alain Moizan are being fierce rivals in the past seasons – even playing a final match of OFC Champions League in 2019 – and they know a win against their archirivals will mean very much for them in this part of the season.
In the regular season the match at Stade Numa-Daly saw AS Magenta overcome Hienghène by 3-2, but the situation of this Saturday can turn anywhere – a real national clash to decide the fate of both teams in 2020.
The very good moment of the former Hekari United man Tommy Semmywas recognised in New Zealand as the striker as selected in the ‘Team of the Month‘ of the ISPS Handa Premiership, the top-tier of football in New Zealand.
Wanderers, the current top-placed side at ISPS Handa Premiership, will be taking on Wellington Phoenix Reservers this Sunday at Porritt Stadium, Hamilton expecting to continue their unbeaten run in the national league.
As the 2020/21 Women’s National Soccer League heads to its first matchday this weekend in Papua New Guinea, one traditional football family in the country expects the best from the revamped national league that is exciting the fans all over the country; the Gunembas are involved with their local regional club in Lae, Poro FC. “It’s good to develop up more young up coming players plus improve the standard of the current players“, says the decorated Raymond Gunemba, that is Poro’s assistant coach.
Alongside Raymond in the coaching staff, his younger brother, Troy Gunemba, holding OFC license coaching badge is the heading coach of the team that expects to impress at the PNGWNSL this new season. But not only the Gunembas are involved in Poro, but as well another important names of Papua New Guinean football: PNG Kapuls star Nigel Dabinyaba is one of the team trainers alongside Lae City’s goalkeeper Matheson Nasa, the goalkeeper coach of the team.
Troy, Meagan and Raymond Gunemba are part of Poro FC
But the family is not only at the sidelines: one of the most important footballers of the country – and sister of Troy and Raymond – is the team captain of Poro: Meagan Gunemba. The striker was responsible for a series of important appearances of PNG Women’s Football at regional level, including the recent gold medal won at 2019 Pacific Games held in Samoa.
“I believe 2023 PNG Women’s team will be playing to qualify for the world cup – PNG women’s are the top in the Pacific – so it is good to build the team and try to beat New Zealand and make it through to the World Cup. Women’s entry in the World Cup is easier and our girls have a big opportunities to make it“, said Raymond Gunemba to Oceania Football Center, expecting the best for women’s football in Papua New Guinea.
When thinking about the competition that is ahead, Raymond is positive about his team: “Preperation is going well. Two months of training and the team is looking good so far – just some small areas we need to improve“. When is asked about the chances of Poro of lifting the trophy at PNGWNSL, the assistant coach is cautios: “well it’s too early to predict that, the season didn’t start yet, so we have to play our games firsta and see our performance and the performances of the other teams“.
Poro’s first challenge in the Women’s National Soccer League will be this weekend against Rainy Lae.
Oceania Football Center 