Labasa beat Lautoka to stay in Vodafone Premier League

Labasa and Lautoka clashed at Subrail Park in the twelfth matchweek of Vodafone Premier League – the top tier league from Fiji. It was a very important match for both sides as a victory would mean staying in the league for next year. Also, this match could be Lautoka’s chance to get even after losing to Labasa in the Inter-District Championship final, but it was not.

This match was a delicate one for Lautoka, as head coach Ravinesh Kumar resigned from his position on Wednesday and Anginesh Prasad was the head coach in this match. Furthermore, goalkeeper Joela Biuvanua is still injured so Viliame Tabucala was Lautoka’s goalkeeper this match.

After winning Inter-District Championship’s Golden Boot earlier this month, Ilisoni Lolaivalu kept the good moment and opened the scoreboard for Labasa in the 18th minute while Akeimi Ralulu extended the lead in the second half. At the final whistle, the score was 2-0 in favour of Labasa.

Labasa won Lautoka by 2-0 – Fiji FA Media

The Babasiga Lions are now in the fifth position with sixteen points in twelve matches, three points ahead Lautoka. You can check the current Vodafone Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Galaxy FC win PVFA Top Four and qualify for VFF National Super League

The eighth participant in the 2020 VFF National Super League has finally been known as Galaxy FC have beaten Ifira Black Bird at PVFA Top Four’s final to seal a spot in the national tournament.

Jonathan Spokeyjack opened the scoreboard for Ifira in the first minutes of the game while Brazilian defender Diego headed the ball into the net to equalize in the 35th minute. The tie remained until the 76th minute when defender Joseph Iaruel scored to put Galaxy ahead while forward Kensi Tangis found the net in the final minutes to seal the 3-1 win for his team.

Galaxy FC players and staff celebrating the title – Vanuatu Sports News

Galaxy are drawn in the Group B of VFF National Super League alongside Iwoka FC and LL Echo. The blue team from Port Vila has clear goals for this season: to qualify for the 2021 OFC Champions League and to be national champions. You can check more information about 2020 VFF National Super League by clicking here.

Samoa: Lupe o le Soaga qualifies for 2021 OFC Champions League

Samoa’s representative in 2021 OFC Champions League is defined as Lupe o le Soaga clinched the title of Premier Men’s first stage with one game in advance. The team coached by Paul Ualesi will play the continental tournament for the second straight year.

With the OFC Champions League spot secured, they now have the mission to win the Top Eight, a knock-out tournament with the top eight teams from the regular season: “Our team has a good quality and a combination of experienced and young players who have some level of exposure, as we played the OFC Champions League this year. In fact, our team had most of the experienced players who played for Lupe in the 2018 OFC Champions League,” said Lupe’s midfielder Ken Kerewi.

Lupe o le Soaga’s squad – Lupe o le Soaga Media

Lupe has 30 points in ten matches, which means that Kerewi and his teammates are still unbeaten in the season: “Winning ten matches in a row is not an easy task […] We had tough games to get here, having to play and win against teams like Vaivase-Tai, Vaitele-Uta, Kiwi and Vaipuna. These games tested the quality of our team,” stated Kerewi.

The Samoan team is the tenth side to secure a spot at 2021 OFC Champions League. You can check the list with all qualified teams by clicking here.

Royals Academy’s stint in England is over as players return to Solomon Islands

The footballing relationship between the Solomon Islands and England seems to have come to an end as Royals Academy’s players are ready to go back home after staying in the European country for over a year.

This partnership has brought good things to the Oceanian nation, as young athletes from the Solomon Islands had the opportunity to train and play for English clubs during their time in Europe like Ali Mekawir and Ian Kula, who were key players at Langney Wanderers: “We wish you both well in your future and your footballing progression and hopefully, our paths will cross again in the future,” stated Wanderers on their website.

Two other players have joined the Wanderers, but they did not have the opportunity to debut: Don Keana and Jackson Wale. Another player that was linked to an English club was Absolom Wawane, who recently joined Hollington United FC.

Going back home means that these players will have the opportunity to take part of Telekom S-League, the national league from Solomon Islands, as the mid-season transfer window is set to open on next Monday.



Malampa Revivors and RueRue advance to VFF National Super League’s semi-finals

The Group A of VFF National Super League has come to an end as the last two matches were played this Friday at Soccer City Stadium in Luganville, Vanuatu. While Malampa Revivors had already qualified for the semi-finals, RueRue and Waterfall came face to face in a game whose winner would advance to the next round.

After a nil-nil draw in the first half, RueRue’s captain Ajay Bule opened the scoreboard in the 66th minute to put his side ahead. This result would be enough for them to advance to the semi-finals, but the team coached by Partrick Gaji still had time to score two more goals. Current VFF National Super League’s top scorer Melkyzedeck Gasi and Oliver Vira scored once each to seal the 3-0 win.

Malampa Revivors (left) and RueRue (right) advanced to 2020 VFF National Super League’s semi-finals

Already qualified for the semi-finals, Malampa Revivors were defeated by Patvuti in the last match of Group A. With an alternative team, Revivors lost by 4-2. However, the current national champions remained on top of the table with nine points in four matches.

Malampa Revivors and RueRue are now waiting for their opponents as the Group B has not started yet. You can check 2020 VFF National Super League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Lewis and McGarry set to join Wellington Phoenix

The next Hyundai A-League season will start in December, but Wellington Phoenix are already looking for new footballers to strengthen their squad for 2020-21 – and there are two young players that are set to join the team for the next season: Clayton Lewis and James McGarry.

According to Stuff, both players are understood to have agreed terms with the franchise. Lewis and McGarry have already represented New Zealand at senior level and they would be huge additions for the team coached by Ufuk Talay.

SEE ALSO
Clayton Lewis targets Tokyo Olympics as he explains his return to New Zealand;
James McGarry sees a return to Wellington Phoenix as a real possibility

Lewis (left) and McGarry (right)

Lewis is a talented 23-year-old midfielder who last played for Auckland United at Lotto NRFL Men’s Premier League while McGarry is a full back who had his last experience as a footballer in Netherlands by playing for Willem II from 2018 to 2020.

The 2020-21 Hyundai A-League season is scheduled to kick-off on December 27. Twelve teams are going to fight for the title this year as Macarthur FC will be making their A-League debut this season.

Ravinesh Kumar leaves Lautoka

After losing 2020 Inter-District Championship’s final earlier this month, Lautoka will have to look for a new head coach, as Ravinesh Kumar informed Lautoka Football Association that he resigned from his position on this Wednesday.

Kumar was appointed as Lautoka’s head coach in July and his debut was in a 2-1 loss to Ba. He coached Lautoka in fifteen matches: three wins, five draws and seven losses: “I’m not joining any other association but yes this is part and partial of football. I will say that this is a professional reason and I will not continue on with Lautoka,“ he said to FBC Sports.

Ravinesh Kumar stepped down from his position – Fiji FA Media

Despite the good campaign at 2020 Inter-District Championship, Kumar’s stint as Lautoka’s head coach will surely be marked by a poor record at Vodafone Premier League – the top tier league from Fiji. The Bluez have won just six points in seven games coached by Kumar.

Lautoka’s next match will be this weekend against Labasa at Subrail Park in the twelfth matchweek of Premier League. You can check the current Vodafone Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Warriors beat Honiara City as Telekom S-League’s first round comes to an end

Solomon Warriors and Honiara City clashed at Lawson Tama Stadium in the eleventh matchweek of Telekom S-League – the national football league from the Solomon Islands. It was the last match of the first round and now teams will have a break as the mid-season transfer window opens next Monday.

Honiara City just needed 35 seconds to open the scoreboard. Junior Annie passed by a defender and crossed from the left to Cleophas Oriana who pushed the ball into the net. Sixteen minutes later, Tigi Molea was fouled inside the box by Prince Pue and Dennis Ifunaoa scored from the penalty spot to equalize.

Ifunaoa was having a great day and he found the net for the second time to put Warriors ahead in the 36th minute while Vanuatu international John Alick headed the ball into the net after a corner kick to extend the lead in the final minutes of the first half. The final goal of the contest was scored by Norman Winford in the beginning of the second half. At the final whistle, the score was 4-1 in favour of the Warriors.

Solomon Warriors’ players celebrating a goal – SIFF Media

Solomon Warriors finished Telekom S-League’s first round with nineteen points in ten matches. They are currently eight points behind league leaders Henderson Eels, which means that the team coached by William Omokirio will have a lot of work in the second round of the season.

On the other hand, newcomers Honiara City finished the first round in the sixth position with thirteen points – a solid campaign for a debutant. You can check 2020 Telekom S-League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Vanuatu: Galaxy and Ifira to clash for a spot in VFF National Super League

Erakor Golden Star and Galaxy FC clashed at Port Vila Stadium on this Wednesday to decide which team would advance to PVFA Top Four final. After a draw in the first 45 minutes, Galaxy FC scored four goals in the second half to stay alive in the tournament.

Kaltfer Kaltack opened the scoreboard for Erakor Golden Star in the 13th minute. However, they did not have much time to celebrate as Kensi Tangis equalized two minutes later. In the second half, Bong Kalo scored an early goal to put Galaxy ahead: 2-1.

Erakor Golden Star worked hard to fight against their opponents, but they did not manage to hold Galaxy’s powerful attack in the final minutes: Bong Kalo, Kensi Tangis and Brazilian star Roberson scored once each after the 80th minute. At the final whistle, the final score was 5-1 in favour of Galaxy FC.

Galaxy’s starting eleven against Erakor Golden Star – Vanuatu Sports News

Despite the heavy loss, Erakor’s staff is happy with their performance in the season as they reached the Top Four with a very young squad: “Our development goals have been achieved so far through our young players,” stated Erakor’s head coach Kalo Noel Benjamin after the match

Galaxy will face Ifira Black Bird at PVFA Top Four final. The winner of this match will advance to VFF National Super League to fight for the national title and a spot in 2021 OFC Champions League. You can check more information about 2020 VFF National Super League by clicking here.

Kalotang: a surname to watch in Vanuatu football

Throughout the history of football, we have seen some families and surnames that have gained notoriety in the sport. The Maldini are one of the greatest examples: Cesare and Paolo have made history playing for Milan, each in their own time.

Another great example are the brothers Jerome and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who play for different National Teams and played against each other in the 2014 World Cup. Another notable case is the Tehau family, who had four of their number representing Tahiti in the Confederations Cup in 2013.

In Vanuatu it is no different either as Brian Kaltak, Jean Kaltack and Tony Kaltack are relatives and represented their nation internationally. However, there is a new surname that is calling the attention in the country: Kalotang.

Keiben Kalotang, Massing Kalotang and Tonly Kalotang: three young players that are starting to shine in Vanuatu. They are nephews of Noel Kalotang, former goalkeeper and current Erakor Golden Star’s goalkeepers coach. Keiben and Massing are brothers while Tonly is their cousin. All of them have passed through the Erakor Golden Star’s youth system.

Tonly (left), Kieben (middle) and Massing (right)

Tonly Kalotang left Erakor Golden Star and joined Ifira Black Bird last year. The 23-year-old forward became one of Ifira’s most important players this season, scoring important goals and helping the team win the 2019-20 PVFA Premier League title.

Massing Kalotang recently lived the best moment of his career by coming from the bench to save three penalty kicks to help Erakor Golden Star Tafea on shoot-out in the first round of PVFA Top Four. His elder brother, Keiben, is one of the most talented players to come from Erakor’s youth system in the past seasons.

None of the three have played for National Team at youth level. However, it would not be a surprise if we see the surname Kalotang in the next call-ups, both at senior level and at youth level.