Oceania Football Center

Tafea’s Waiwo Kalmet suffers from ankle injuries

The twelfth matchweek of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League was not a good one for Tafea FC – one of the most important football teams from Vanuatu. Currently in the third position, the team coached by Robert Yalou is not having a good moment in the league.

Last weekend’s draw against Galaxy FC was not a good result for Tafea as they are now five points behind league leaders Ifira Black Bird with two matches until the end of the regular season, which means that Yalou’s team does not have many chances to clinch the league title.

The final score was not the only bad news for Tafea as Waiwo Kalmet got his ankle injured in this game. According to reliable sources, the 21-year-old winger is facing many ankle problems as this was not his first ankle injury of the season.

Kalmet (in the middle) got his ankle injured against Galaxy FC – *Vanuatu Sports News*

It is not known if Kalmet will be available for next weekend’s clash against Tupuji Imere. Anyway his absence might be a problem for Tafea, specially in the Top Four that will be contested after the regular season. You can check the current PVFA Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Telekom S-League: Henderson Eels beats Kossa to extend their lead at the top of the table

The round was great for Henderson Eels; the current top-tabled side of the Solomon Islands’ Telekom S-League saw their direct opponent for the title Solomon Warriors falling against Laugu United yesterday and today they confirmed their favouritism against the Kossa’s good team.

This Sunday on Lawson Tama Stadium we had more two matches for the eighth week of the Telekom S-League; Marist played against Isabel United in the first game of the day. Both sides come from good performances in the past weeks, but at the end of the match both sides were tied up in a 1-1 draw. The talented Dalton Saeni scored for Marist while Thomas Amasia was the goalscorer for the Gideon Omokirio’s coached-side Isabel United.

The big match of the day saw Henderson Eels surpass Kossa – the first goal of the day was scored by the experienced Joses Nawo after dribbling the keeper and scoring through the legs of a defender. But the leadership of Eels did not take long; the young talented forward Barrie Limoki had an opportunity from the penaly spot and made no mistake to equalise the encounter.

Still into the first 45 minutes of the match Eels managed to score twice – all goals counted on the help of Kossa’s gloveman John Telengea. The first goal was scored through a free-kick taken by Timothy Bakale, the midfelder crossed to the area but unfortunately for Kossa their goalkeeper mishandled the ball that ended up at the back of the net. Already in the final minutes of the first half it was time for the first goal of the season for Kukuruku‘s member Arnold Maeluma – the player finished from long range and the goalkeeper was not in time to stop an weak shot that put Eels two goals ahead.

Henderson Eels extended their lead to five points at the top of TSL’s table – *TSL Media*

In the second part of the game Eels still managed to score one more time, this time the captain Boni Pride headed it home at the 85th minute of play to confirm his side win after a very good corner taken by the prodigy Raphael Lea’i.

With the win, Eels is now five points ahead the second-placed side Laugu United. The black and white side took the second place from Solomon Warriors after beating them yesterday by 2-0. You can check the updated standings, top scorers and full results of the season so far by visiting our session of the Telekom-S League.

All Whites’ youngster Liberato Cacace officially debuts in European football

One of the most promising players from New Zealand, Liberato Cacace is living a special moment in his career as the young left back made his official debut in European football on this Saturday – one day before his 20th birthday.

Cacace was in Sint-Truidense’s starting eleven against KV Mechelen in the seventh matchweek of 2020-21 Jupiler Pro League – the top-tier league from Belgium. Despite all efforts, Cacace and his teammates lost by 2-0.

Liberato Cacace made his official debut for Sint-Truidense – *Sint-Truidense Media*

Aster Vranckx opened the scoreboard for KV Mechelen in the 60th minute. Four minutes later, Cacace tried to make a clearence inside the box but the ball fell into Vranckx’ feet to score his second goal of the day. Sint-Truidense are currently in the 16th position in the league with five points in seven matches. You can check the current Jupiler Pro League standings by clicking here.

Cashmere Technical one step away from an invincible season in New Zealand

The Mainland Premier League (MPL) is one of the winter football leagues from New Zealand. With seven teams from Christchurch and one from Nelson, MPL is the strongest football league in the country’s South Island.

This league is dominated by Cashmere Technical – a team that was formed in early 2012 from the merger of two local teams, Cashmere Wanderers and Woolston Technical – which won the league six times between 2013 and 2019. Despite having already clinched 2020 season’s title, the team coached by Deane Hutchinson still has something to fight for as they are one match away from finishing the current league season unbeaten.

With nineteen wins and a draw in twenty matches, Cashmere Technical’s last meeting of 2020 MPL season will be an interesting challenge against Nomads United AFC that are currently in the third position in the league. You can check the current MPL standings by clicking here.

Fiji: Bua and Nadroga to fight for a spot in 2021 Vodafone Premier League

The current Fijian football season is slowly coming to its end as the national leagues are just a few matches away from being finished. While Nasinu and Navua are fighting against relegation to second division there are two other teams that are one step away from being promoted to the Premier League.

Eleven teams are playing in Vodafone Senior League – the second-tier of Fijian football. These teams were split in two zones: Vanua Levu Zone (six teams) and Viti Levu Zone (five teams). The champions of each zone are already known: Bua (Vanua Levu) and Nadroga (Viti Levu). Both teams are going to clash in a final play-off to decide which club will be in the first division next year.

Bua (left) and Nadroga (right) are the finalists of 2020 Vodafone Senior League

Nadroga surely have the strongest squad of the tournament with lots of talented and well-known players like legendary Osea Vakatalesau. On the other hand, Bua is one of the smallest teams from Fijian league system. Despite all financial problems, the team keeps pounding and now they are one step away from being promoted to the Premier League: “We have proved our critics that a young team of players and officials can achieve the best if the heart and the mind is willing […] We will do our best to achieve more,” stated Bua on social media.

The two matches of the final play-offs are scheduled to take place in November which means that both sides will have plenty of time to get ready for the fight. You can check the current Vodafone Senior League standings by clicking here.

Gagame Feni shines as Laugu United reach the second position in Telekom S-League

Solomon Warriors and Laugu United clashed at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara in the eighth matchweek of Telekom S-League – the major football league from the Solomon Islands. It was a key game for both sides as it was a direct fight for the second position in the league.

The good news for Warriors is that Tigi Molea was finally back to the team after missing the beginning of the current season due to a suspension. Despite counting on him, Warriors were not able to find the net. Gagame Feni opened the scoreboard for Laugu United in a successful counter-attack play. A few minutes later, Feni was fouled in the midfield. The free kick was taken and Jeffery Bule extended Laugu’s lead by heading the ball into Warriors’ net.

Feni was a crucial player for Laugu United against Solomon Warriors – *Telekom S-League Media*

Feni is one of the top scorers of the season with seven goals. Only Raphael Le’ai and Joses Nawo from Henderson Eels scored more goals than him. Laugu United are now in the second position in the table with sixteen points in seven matches. You can check the current Telekom S-League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Three draws mark PVFA Premier League’s weekend in Vanuatu

The twelfth matchweek of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League finished on this Saturday as three matches were contested at Port Vila Stadium in Vanuatu. It was a terrible week for Galaxy FC and Tafea that saw Ifira Black Bird extending their lead on top of the table.

Tafea and Galaxy FC came to the pitch in a very important clash as both teams were still alive in the title race. The nil-nil draw was not a big deal for Tafea as they are now five points behind league leaders Ifira Black Bird with only two rounds to go. The final score was not the only bad news for them as youngster Waiwo Kalmet got injured in this match.

Despite the nil-nil draw, Galaxy FC are still alive in the title race as they are just three points behind Ifira and both teams will clash next weekend in a decisive contest.

After terrible performances in the beginning of the season, Mauwia have shown some improvement in the league. The 1-1 draw against Erakor Golden Star showed that the newly promoted side is still alive in the fight against relegation. On the other hand, Erakor missed a huge opportunity to seal their spot in the Top Four.

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Erakor Golden Star (yellow) did not manage to beat Mauwia – *Vanuatu Sports News*

The most dramatic match was contested between Yatel and Sia-Raga – two teams that are fighting against relegation. The 2-2 draw was not a bad result for both teams as they are still tied in the table with ten points each.

The upcoming matchweeks will surely be breathtaking with decisive clashes to decide the champions and the relegated teams. You can check the current PVFA Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

National U-19 training camp underway in Fiji

Fiji National U-19 training camp is underway at Fiji FA Academy in Ba. More than 30 players are having training sessions under the guidance of National Team’s head coach Flemming Serritslev alongside U-19 National Team’s head coach Shalen Lal.

This camp is an important opportunity for these players as the National Team’s staff is watching them closely in order to build a strong squad for the upcoming OFC U-20 Championship that will be contested next year in Samoa.

U-19 players at National U-19 training camp in Fiji – *Fiji FA Media*

There are some important names in this camplike Inoke Turagalailai and Epeli Valevou from Rewa; Isikeli Sevanaia and Mitieli Naiviro from Ba and Navua’s midfielder Thomas Dunn. The biggest absence in this camp is surely Rewa’s youngster Josaia Sela who is currently injured with a broken leg. You can check the list with all players by clicking here.

Roy Krishna begins his journey to India to rejoin ATK Mohun Bagan

After spending some months in Fiji, legendary Roy Krishna began his journey to rejoin ATK Mohun Bagan from India. The 33-year-old forward departed from his homeland earlier this week and he is currently in New Zealand.

Krishna will be quarantined for two weeks in New Zealand before being allowed to travel to India: “My long journey back to India begins almost a month before preseason with the team,” he stated on social media.

It is going to be Krishna’s second season in India. The talented Fijian was one of the best players in 2019-20 Indian Super League season and he played an important role to help his side to clinch the national title.

He is expected to join his teammates next month to start the preparation for the upcoming season that will kick-off in November.

Kunié and Ne Drehu to clash as Olympique want to make history in New Caledonia Cup

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The quarter-finals of New Caledonia Cup is going to take place this weekend. While AS Magenta and Hienghène Sport are the favourites to win their clashes against AS Qanono and RC Poindimié respectively.

the clash between AS Kunié and SC Ne Drehu is the only match that will be contested between two teams from Mobil Super Ligue. Both teams recently clashed in the league and the final score was an 1-1 draw.

SC Ne Drehu will face AS Kunié in 2020 New Caledonia Cup

There is also another team that want to make history in the tournament: Olympique Nouméa. They will face AS Mont-Dore that are not living a good moment in Mobil Super Ligue – the top-tier league from New Caledonia – which might be an advantage for them: “We will have to be careful for sure, because they are favourites and an injured beast is always much more dangerous.” stated Olympique’s head coach Kevin Menielle.

Currently playing in the second tier of New Caledonian football, Olympique still have a strong tradition as they won the local cup twice in 1962 and 1963: “Of course it’s been a long time since the club had reached this level in the Caledonian Cup. The feeling that prevails is a lot of excitement and the desire to be there on Sunday for the whole group,” said Menielle.

Oceania Football Center wish good luck to all eight teams that are going to play in the quarter-finals of the tournament. You can check more information about 2020 New Caledonia Cup by clicking here.