Oceania Football Center

Fiji: Shazil Ali returns to football after six months

Lautoka is not having a very good season so far; the team coached by Ravinesh Kumar has a lot to improve if they want to battle for something bigger in the season. Only more four matches to be played in the national league, but another two major tournaments are still to be played in Fiji: Inter-District Championship and the Fiji FACT.

In the last weekend, Lautoka visited Suva and once again was unable to win – but the 1-1 draw for the Blues was not a so bad result as Suva is battling at the top of the table at the moment. One good sign for the Sugar City Boys is that the experienced Shazil Ali returned from injury in this match. The midfielder had a very good start of season scoring four goals in the national league, but since then he was unable to defend Lautoka’s colours.

Before being introduced in the second half against Suva, the midfielder last played a football match in March. The COVID-19 pandemics stopped football in Fiji, but Ali was unable to be part of Lautoka’s campaign since the resumption of Vodafone Premier League and also did not take part of the last major tournament Battle of Giants.

Ali had returned to training in the last week after suffering a very harsh injury – a broken leg – last June. Ali was not expected to play with just one week of training, but coach Kumar decided to field the player in the final part of the game against Suva; situation that proves the importance of the midfielder for team. Certainly, with Shazil Ali the Blues are now a stronger team and their fans expect better results in the upcoming matches.

New Caledonia’s midfielder Mickaël Partodikromo training with Indonesian club

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Football is slowly resuming in Southeast Asia after COVID-19 pandemics and local clubs are now looking for new players to strengthen their squads for the upcoming challenges. One of these teams is Madura United from Indonesia that might be signing with Mickaël Partodikromo soon.

Partodikromo is a 24-year-old midfielder from New Caledonia who last played in England. He represented his nation at youth level and now he has the opportunity to train with a team from Indonesia: country where his father was born.

Partodikromo spending some years playing in Europe

The manager of Madura United, Rahmad Darmawan, said that Mickaël was only limited to training with the team. However, the midfielder from New Caledonia might stay with the team depending on his performance in the training sessions.

Madura United are currently in the eighth position in Liga 1 – the first tier of Indonesian football – with four points in three matches. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.

Fiji: Nadroga one step closer from Vodafone Premier League

Nadroga are living a wonderful season in Vodafone Senior League – the second tier of Fijian football – as they are still unbeaten in the season with five wins and one draw in six matches. The team led by powerful players like Osea Vakatalesau and Paulo Buke is focused on being promoted to Premier League.

The 2-1 win over Tavua this Sunday was very important for Nadroga as they virtually clinched a spot in Senior League’s final. Currently leading the Viti Levu Zone with sixteen points, only a disaster could take them away from this final.

Nadroga still have to play two more matches until the end of the regular season against Rakiraki and Tailevu Naitasiri. You can check the current Vodafone Senior League standings and results by clicking here.

Telekom S-League: Raphael Le’ai brace gives win for Eels against Warriors as Real Kakamora beats Marist

The Sunday of football in Solomon Islands was thrilling for the local fans – the Lawson Tama Stadium was full of supporters for the most important match so far of the Telekom S-League season and a very interesting clash between Real Kakamora and Marist – but certainly, the fans were eager to see the clash of titants between Henderson Eels and the current national champions Solomon Warriors.

Adrian Mara continued his amazing goalscoring for Real Kakamora as the striker scored the winner for his side in the second half against Marist. But Kakamora had to fight as Bobby Lesley opened the scoreline for Marist in the first half, but still before the half time break Paul Hiri equalised for Kakamora. With this important win Kakamora jumped to the sixth place leaving Marist just behind at the seventh.

In the most important match of the day the bright of the 17-year-old diamond Raphael Le’ai had shone even brigther as the striker scored both goals in the very important win of his Henderson Eels against Solomon Warriors.

Le’ai opened the account in the first minutes of the match to give an early lead for Eels, but still in the first half Warriors managed to equalise through a well-taken penalty kick by the experienced Judd Molea – unfortunately for Eels and the midfielder Arnold Maeluma that tried to clear a ball inside the penalty box with a bicycle kick but the ball ended up touching his arm to gift Warriors a clear penalty opportunity.

But in the second half Eels managed to find a winner; this time Warriors gifted a penalty for their opponents after a clear foul inside the box. Raphael Le’ai stepped up and made no mistake with a strong kick giving no chances for Warriors’ stopper Abraham Bird.

Eels managed to control the game until the final whistle to confirm a very important win in the process. Now the men commanded by Eddie Marahare are five points ahead Warriors in the table – continuing as the first-placed side in the run. Warriors played five matches in the season so far while Eels played six, giving the current champions a great chance to reduce the point difference to Eels if they are able to win their match that is still to be played.

You can see the current table, results and top scorers for the Telekom S-League 2020 season by visiting the competition’s session in our site.

Sairusi Nalaubu: the new Vodafone Premier League top scorer

Sairusi Nalaubu is being a key man for the Capital City Boys in their run at the Fijian Vodafone Premier League. All the last seven goals scored by Suva in the national league were scored by the same man: Nalaubu – he is the man of the moment of Fijian football.

Nalaubu is not playing well only for his side at the Vodafone Premier League, the striker was also Suva’s top goalscorer in the recent Battle of Giants tournament held in Lautoka where his side ended up beaten by Rewa in the grand final match.

The only 23-year-old player is now the top scorer of the Vodafone Premier League as he scored in Suva’s latest match against Lautoka. Despite his goal, Suva was not able to win Lautoka at ANZ Stadium, but the team returned to the second-place in the national league with the point earned from this match – but now they are four points away the top-tabled Rewa.

With his goal Nalaubu surpassed Avinesh Suwamy in the ‘Golden Boot’ race with only more four games remaining in the season. If the striker can continue his fantastic the golden boot will be consequence – and certainly getting the attention of Fiji national team Flemming Serritslev for a possible call up in a near future.

Rewa extends lead at the top of Vodafone Premier League as they beat Nadi

The Delta Tigers fans can feel a little bit more closer to their first ever national league title as they surpassed Nadi at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori by 2-1. Rewa is now four points up in the table ahead of second-placed Suva and third-placed side Ba.

The game started well for the team coached by Marika Rodu – Tevita Waranaivalu opened the account for Rewa with a goal in the first half. Nadi was able to find an equaliser still in the first 45 minutes of the match through a goal scored by the veteran midfielder Ame Votoniu.

Rewa and Nadi clashed at Ratu Cakobau Park – *Fiji FA Media*

The first half ended in an 1-1 draw, but Rewa found their winner still in the early stages of the final part of the match thanks to a goal of the Fijian international Peniame Drova. Nadi, captained by the legend Avinesh Suwamy, tried their best to find another equaliser in the late stages of the game, but Rewa’s defensive system managed to keep the danger out of the target. As Suwamy was unable to score today and Suva’s striker Sairusi Nalaubu scored his side goal in the 1-1 draw against Lautoka, the Nadi’s midfielder lost the first place in the ‘Golden Boot’ race – Nalaubu now needs with seven goals while Suwamy has six.

Nalaubu and Cavuilagi score as Suva and Lautoka draw at ANZ Stadium

Lautoka was able to hold Suva at ANZ Stadium, the Blues do not win for a while in the Vodafone Premier League, but the particular outcome of this match seems a good recovery start for the team coached by Ravinesh Kumar as they draw 1-1 with one of the best teams so far in the season.

All goals of the game came in the second half: at the 48th minute of play the forward Sairusi Nalaubu proved to continue his fantastic goalscoring form opening the account for the Capital City Boys with a close range finish. With this goal, Nalaubu is now the top scorer of the season in the Vodafone Premier League.

Nalaubu and Cavuilagi scored in the draw between Suva and Lautoka – *Suva FA Media/Fiji FA Media*

Lautoka equalised the clash at the 57th minute of the match through former Ba midfielder Sitiveni Cavuilagi; the new Lautoka signing is being very efficient for the Sugar City Boys as he scored one more goal for his new team – Cavuilagi combined well at the edge of the box and give no chance to Suva’s goalkeeper to level the scoreline.

Both sides were unable to score a winner being the 1-1 result the final outcome of the clash. The draw is not a good result for Suva as they allow Rewa a chance to increase their advantage at the top of the table, but the point earned is enough for Suva to retake the second-place in the table from Ba as they have a better goal difference.

Ilisoni Logaivou double against Nasinu puts an end to Labasa’s nightmare

Labasa fans can breath in relief; finally, after so long, their team can celebrate a win – and the fans were very important for this achivement as the Babasiga Lions surpassed Nasinu in their homeground, Subrail Park. The valuable three points earned in Vanua Levu today put Labasa with 10 now in the Vodafone Premier League table, three points away the bottom-ranked Navua.

The responsible for the win is the experienced midfielder Ilisoni Logaivau – the player started the party for Labasa in the first half with a goal in early stages of the game. Nasinu was dangerous especially through the flanks with Marlon Nonone, but the defensive system led by Akuila Mateisuva was able to keep away the danger.

Labasa through to the Fiji FACT Final after defeating Nadi — Ilisoni Logaivau – *Fijivillage*

Logaivou sealed the win for Labasa in the final part of the clash as he added another to his tally to confirm the three points for the team coached by Ronil Lal. The Giant Killers were unable to pressure Labasa to pursue a goal in the late stages of the game – a result that also worry the fans of Nasinu as the team is now only one point ahead Navua in the eighth and last place in the rankings.

Despite the win, Labasa is certainly not having the season the fans expected, but the three points collected them today give the Lions a relief in the table and allow them to leave the stress out for their next four matches in this national league season.

Vanuatu: North Efate United promoted to PVFA Premier League

Good stories usually have a happy ending and that is what happened to North Efate United in Vanuatu. After winning Mix First and Second Division’s Independence Cup and First Division’s Opening Cup, the team coached by Morrison Bule clinched PVFA First Division title to book a spot in 2020-21 PVFA Premier League – the major football league from Port Vila football league system.

North Efate United clinched the title before playing their last match as Seveners United lost to Shepherds United by 7-0 earlier this week which means that the orange team has already entered the field this weekend as league champion. Anyway they have beaten Pango Green Bird by 3-0 at Amicale Field to end the season with flourish.

North Efate United promoted to PVFA Premier League – *Vanuatu Sports News*

The team coached by Morrison Bule finished the 2019-20 PVFA First Division with ten wins in fourteen matches. You can check the league standings by clicking here.

New Caledonia Cup: Hienghène and Magenta advance to quarter-finals

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Another round is over in 2020 New Caledonia Cup as eight matches were contested in New Caledonia on this Saturday to decide which teams would advance to the next round of this tournament in the French territory.

Hienghène Sport have beaten current Mobil Super Ligue leaders Tiga Sport by 3-0 while AS Magenta smashed CA Saint-Louis by 3-1. AS Kunié, AS Mont-Dore and SC Ne Drehu are the three other teams from Mobil Super Ligue that advanced to the quarter-finals. The three other teams that are still alive in the cup are AS Qanono, Olympique and RC Poindimié.

Hienghène Sport advanced to quarter-finals – *Hienghène Sport Media*

It was reported by local federation that quarter-finals’ draw will be released on this Monday. You can check all Round of 16 results by clicking here.