Oceania Football Center

Tommy Semmy ready for another big season in New Zealand

After finishing fifth last season, Hamilton Wanderers want more this time. The good news for the team coached by Kale Herbert is that key players like Derek Tieku and Tommy Semmy, who were selected for ‘2019-20 ISPS Handa Permiership’s Team of the Season’, remained in the squad for 2020-21.

Since 2017 at the club, Semmy is going to play his fourth ISPS Handa Premiership’s season for Wanderers. The 26-year-old winger from Papua New Guinea, who scored four goals in 2019-20, will have the mission to score a good amount of goals and help his team finish in the top four for the first time ever.

Semmy is ready for one more season in New Zealand

Since his arrival in New Zealand, Semmy has scored 21 goals in 47 games at the ISPS Handa Premiership, making him the Papua New Guinean with the most goals scored in the competition’s history.

Semmy has already proven his quality in New Zealand and Kale Herbert does count on him. Their first challenge of the season will be against Hawke’s Bay United this Sunday. You can check the full schedule of 2020-21 ISPS Handa Premiership by clicking here.

Sam Burfoot determined to bring Waitakere United back to the top in New Zealand

Waitakere United is one of the most important football clubs from New Zealand. Champions of the OFC Champions League in 2007 and 2008, they are currently living a title drought, as their last title was in 2013, when legendary Roy Krishna led the team to the national title.

After some dark seasons, Waitakere United finally managed to bounce back with a surprising campaign at 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership as they were in third when the league was cancelled: “I was really proud of what we achieved last season. We had a very young and inexperienced squad compared to the rest of the league and so finishing third has exceeded my expectations,” revealed Waitakere’s captain Sam Burfoot.

Waitakere’s surprising season was interrupted by the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 which forced New Zealand Football to call off the season: “They made the right decision to call off the season. Although it was very hard to take and left us thinking of how far we could have gone,” stated the 26-year-old midfelder – “I have really enjoyed my time at the club and I want to help the club improve and take them back to their glory days,” he added.

As captain of the team, Burfoot has seen young teammates becoming key players in the team, such as Alex Connor-McClean, Dane Schnell and Jake Porter: “It is pleasing to know that last season helped put some of our players on the radar for New Zealand Football. And for the club itself it is a step in the right direction to taking us back to where we belong,” he pointed.

Burfoot and his teammates played a friendly against Auckland City last weekend – the last one before their debut at 2020-21 ISPS Handa Premiership against Canterbury United. You can check the full league schedule by clicking here.

Vanuatu: 2020-21 PVFA Premier League kicks-off this week

Galaxy FC will face Mauwia in the first matchweek of the season – *Galaxy FC Media*

The 2019-20 PVFA Premier League finished last month, but the new season is already on the horizon. Port Vila Football Association (PVFA) announced that the new season is set to kick-off this week in Vanuatu as five games are going to be contested in the first matchweek of 2020-21 PVFA Premier League.

As it was previously reported, ten teams are going to fight for the title this season as North Efate United and Seveners United were promoted to Premier League and will join the eight teams that competed in the league last season.

The opening match of the season will be contested between Tafea FC – one of the most important teams from Vanuatu – and newly promoted side Seveners United at Port Vila Stadium this Thursday. The other four clashes are going to take place on Saturday: two at Port Vila Stadium and two at Korman Stadium.

Current national champions Galaxy FC are going to debut against Mauwia while 2019-20 PVFA Premier League champions Ifira Black Bird are going to face Yatel. You can check the full schedule of the first matchweek of the season by clicking here.

Henry Fa’arodo: the voice of experience at Hamilton Wanderers

Four days to go! Football fans from New Zealand just need to wait four more days to watch the kick-off of 2020-21 ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership. Meanwhile, the eight teams that are going to take part in the league are announcing their squads for the season.

One of the country’s most traditional teams, Hamilton Wanderers will be joined by many of the players who were in the squad last season, including veteran player Henry Fa’arodo, who joined the team in February.

Fa’arodo is one of the most important players from the Solomon Islands. The 38-year-old midfielder was a regular starter at 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s, one of the most important regional leagues in New Zealand, before it was cancelled due to restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Henry Fa’arodo playing for Hamilton Wanderers

This may be the last chance for football fans to see him acting as a player, because it is possible that he will announce his retirement after this season to become a coach. The legendary midfielder has already proven his quality as a head coach when he led Solomon Warriors to the glory in 2019-20 Telekom S-League before joining Hamilton Wanderers.

Wanderers will debut in the season against Hawke’s Bay United on Sunday. You can check the full schedule of 2020-21 ISPS Handa Premiership season by clicking here.

Tupapa Maraerenga win Cook Islands’ Vans Premiership

Tupapa Maraerenga won Vans Premiership, the Cook Islands’ football league, for the fourth year in a row. The black and white team were crowned the league champions with two games in advance after a 2-2 draw against Nikao Sokattak.

The team managed by Grover Harmon has created a dynasty over the years, winning 9 of the last 11 championships. With this title, Tupapa became the 15th confirmed team in the next edition of the OFC Champions League.

Nikao Sokattak and Puaikura tried to prevent Tupapa from winning the league again, however, their attempts were in vain. Now, Tupapa have two more games until the end of the current league season, against Titikaveka and Puaikura, which might be a good opportunity to give game time to young players that did not have many chances to play. You can check the list of local champions by clicking here.

Welcome back to OFC Champions League, Rewa!

2020 is being a special year for Rewa. The Delta Tigers won the Battle of the Giants and finished second in the Vodafone Premier League, the top tier league from Fiji, with the same number of points as league champions Suva.

Rewa have secured a spot in the next OFC Champions League for finishing second in the Vodafone Premier League, which means that the Delta Tigers will participate in the continental competition for the first time since 2017.

On that occasion, Rewa were in Group D along with AS Tefana (Tahiti), Erakor Golden Star (Vanuatu) and Marist FC (Solomon Islands). Their performance was not very good, and the team finished the group stage in the fourth and last position with three points.

Rewa’s starting eleven in a 2017 OFC Champions League match – OFC Media

After participating in the 2017 OFC Champions League, Rewa went into decline, and the Delta Tigers were almost relegated to the second division of Fijian football in 2019, finishing the league in seventh place with the same number of points as bottom-placed side Tavua that were relegated.

Rewa currently count on seven players who were present in the team’s last OFC Champions League appearance: Josateki Tamudu, Koalasito Posiano, Manasa Waqavou, Peniame Drova, Simione Tamanisau, Tevita Waranaivalu and Usaia Tadau. Marika Rodu, who coached Rewa in 2017, returned to the team this year and showed his quality by taking the Delta Tigers back to Champions League.

Rewa are back to continental stage in Oceania – *Fiji FA Media*

Their great campaign in 2020 was only possible thanks to the serious work of team’s board, coaching staff and players, who worked hard to make Rewa win the national league’s title for the first time in history. Although they were not crowned league champions, they deservedly managed to get a place in the next OFC Champions League.

Led by President Nazeel Buksh, who is a young, committed and serious person, Rewa can finally dream big on continental scene again as Nazeel aims to make Rewa a powerful team in Oceania. You can check more details about 2021 OFC Champions League by clicking here.

Kensi Tangis: ruling the Pacific Islands

The 2019-20 football season came to an end in Vanuatu last weekend when Galaxy FC beat Malampa Revivors 5-0 to win lift the national league’s trophy for the first time ever. And, once again, Kensi Tangis was the man of the match for Galaxy by scoring a hat-trick.

The 30-year-old player is one of the most prolifc strikers from Oceania and he keeps proving himself in local leagues. He finished 2020 VFF National Super League with five goals in four matches, but it is only a small part of everything he has done in recent years.

Tangis joined Galaxy last year after scoring 23 goals in 13 matches for Solomon Warriors in 2018 Telekom S-League – the top tier league from the Solomon Islands – and his goal average stayed high in his new team.

He was the top scorer of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League with 16 goals in 13 matches, including the two matches of the PVFA Top Four that was contested after the regular season. Considering that he scored one goal in this year’s OFC Champions League, Kensi Tangis finished the 2019-20 season with 22 goals in 20 official matches.

Over the course of his career, he has scored 12 games in 28 matches in the OFC Champions League. He is, along with Fenedy Masauvakalo, the Vanuatu-born player with the most goals in the history of the competition.

Tangis is one of the best strikers from Oceania – *Vanuatu Sports News*

On top of all this, he is just seven games away from equalling Etienne Mermer as the player who played most for Vanuatu’s national football team. Considering that he is a regular starter in the National Team, it is expected that he will overtake Mermer to become the owner of this record.

With these great numbers, the 30-year-old striker is on his way to become a legend in local football, and we should be grateful to have the opportunity to follow his career.

Sairusi Nalaubu: the top scorer of 2020 Vodafone Premier League

The 2020 Vodafone Premier League came to an end this weekend when the fourteenth and last matchweek was contested in Fiji. As it was previously reported, Suva were crowned the league champions after a nil-nil draw against Nadi to end a six-year title drought.

Winning this title was very special because, for most of the players in the current squad, it was the first title won with Suva, including Sairusi Nalaubu who was the top scorer of 2020 Vodafone Premier League with nine goals.

SEE ALSO
2020 Vodafone Premier League’s final table;
Osea Vakatalesau makes his mother’s dream come true

Nalaubu (in white) playing against Nasinu – *Fiji FA Media*

Nalaubu wins over teammate Christopher Wasasala and Nadi’s lethal striker Rusiate Matarerega to finish the season on top of Golden Boot Race. It is not the first time that Nalaubu is the top scorer of a tournament – he was also the top scorer of 2019 Battle of the Giants when Suva were defeated by Lautoka in the semifinals.

The 24-year-old forward is living an amazing moment in his career: he scored 14 goals in 18 official matches this year, including Vodafone Premier League, Battle of the Giants and Inter-District Championship. With this excellent record, Sairusi needs to be closely followed by Fiji National Team’s head coach Flemming Serritslev.

Osea Vakatalesau makes his mother’s dream come true

Nadroga’s marvelous season is over and the Stallions are back to Vodafone Premier League after spending four years in Senior League, the second tier league from Fiji. With a powerful squad led by head coach Johnny Williams, football fans must expect a competitive side in the next Premier League season.

Being promoted to Premier League was pretty special for a specific player: Osea Vakatalesau. The 34-year-old legendary forward joined Nadroga in July after spending seventeen months away from football due to suspension.

He decided to play for Nadroga because of his mother was born in Korotogo, a place located in Nadroga-Navosa Province: “My mother asked me to come and help Nadroga qualify and play in the Premier Division next year,” said Vakatalesau to Fiji Sun last month.

Vakatalesau (right) playing for Nadroga – *Fiji FA Media*

Now that his mother’s dream came true, Ozzy will certainly attract interest from other clubs competing in the Vodafone Premier League. Let’s see if the legendary striker is interested in leaving Nadroga or if he wants to stay in the team for the next years to make his mother even happier.

Chan Kat and Mathon shine as Pirae beat Vénus in a thrilling clash at Ligue 1 VINI

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AS Pirae and AS Vénus, two of the best football teams from Tahiti, were face to face at Stade Pater this Saturday in the fifth matchweek of Ligue 1 VINI, the local top tier league. Expectations for this clash were high, and the eight goals scored in the match were a gift to those who watched the match.

The fans barely settled into the chair and were already watching Gervais Chan-Kat head the ball into the back of the net to open the scoreboard for AS Pirae. Chan-Kat was on fire and he scored two more goals to put his side ahead by 3-0 with a hat-trick.

AS Pirae players celebrating a goal – Christophe Fotozz

The first goal from AS Vénus was the result of a grotesque defensive mistake by AS Pirae in the first half: Alvin Tehau passed the ball to goalkeeper Quentin Baulier who tried to kick it but it ended up going into his own net.

AS Pirae was on fire, and forward Benoit Mathon scored two goals in a row in the beginning of the second half to put the orange team ahead by 5-1. Teaonui Tehau and Heinui Amau still scored once each in the second half, but it was not enough. At the final whistle, AS Pirae defeated their opponents by 5-3. You can check the highlights of the match by clicking here.

This result helped AS Pirae to stay on top of the table with eighteen points. However, the orange side is still sharing the lead with AS Dragon that smashed AS Arue by 5-1. Two other matches were contested on this Saturday: AS Tefana 5-0 AS Excelsior and AS Tiare Tahiti 8-1 AS Mataiea. You can check the current Ligue 1 standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.