Ifira Black Bird and Tupuji Imere clashed at Port Vila Stadium on this Friday in the twelfth matchweek of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League – the top-tier league from Port Vila League System. Despite the favouritism, Ifira had to work the extra mile to beat their opponents by 1-0.
Forward Tonly Kalotang played a major role in the game as the he scored Ifira’s winning goal for the second straight match. The 23-year-old forward is living a special moment in his career and his quality deserves to be recognized by local football fans.
Ifira are currently leading the league with 27 points in twelve matches. The team coached by Eaka Philemon is getting closer from winning PVFA Premier League but players cannot take it easy as their next two matches are going to be against second-placed Galaxy FC and third-placed Tafea. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Led by young and talented players, Central Coast smashed Southern United on this Wednesday at Lawson Tama Stadium in seventh matchweek of Telekom S-League – the major football league from the Solomon Islands.
Philip Ropa and Densly Geseni scored once each to put Central Coast ahead by 2-0 in the first half. Ropa still managed to score again in the 70th minute while Hudson Oreinima scored Central’s fourth and last goal. Southern’s goal was netted by Stinja Houara but it was not more than a consolation goal.
Geseni (left) and Ropa (right) shone in Central Coast’s win – Telekom S-League Media
Despite being very young, Ropa and Geseni are proving themselves in the most important football league of the country. Both players travelled to Brazil last year to represent the Solomon Islands in FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Central Coast are currently in the fourth position in the league with eleven points in six matches. You can check 2020 Telekom S-League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Lautoka and Ba clashed at Fiji FA Academy on last Sunday and the final score as a nil-nil draw in Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier league from Fiji. Despite the final score, Lautoka surely have something to celebrate as goalkeeper Joela Biuvanua had a key role in the game to save his side from losing.
Biuvanua started the match on fire by saving Darold Kakasi‘s shot from the penalty spot in the fifth minute (you can check this save by clicking here). Besides that, the young goalkeeper made some other importante saves to prevent Ba from scoring.
Lautoka are currently in the fifth position in the league with thirteen points in eleven matches. You can check Vodafone Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Hekari United’s squad is strengthened for the last matchweek of 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League’s regular season as Nathan James is back to training with the team after missing some weeks due to personal reasons.
The 25-year-old midfielder had to travel home to attend his grandmother’s funeral earlier this month. James made his first training session with the team on this Wednesday which means that his presence in Saturday’s match against Tusbab Stallions depends on his physical condition.
Nathan James is back to training with Hekari United
The team coached by Eric Komeng are currently in the second position in the league with 39 points in seventeen matches. You can check 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
One of the most promising players from Solomon Islands, Alden Suri is beginning to show his talent abroad playing for Scots College from New Zealand as the 16-year-old left winger led his side to clinch Trevor Rigbsy Cup 2020 earlier this week.
Suri scored one goal and delivered an assist in Scots’ 3-2 win over St Patrick’s College in the tournament’s final. He was one of the top scorers of the tournament with ten goals but he received the Silver Boot Award because he delivered four assists – one less than the Golden Boot winner.
Suri was one of the best players of the tournament
Alden is in New Zealand on a scholarship so he divides his time between studying and training. Scots College is a traditional college in football as they hold a partnership with Wellington Phoenix Academy – one of the most important football academies from Oceania.
He also got good news for his future as Scots college decided to extend his scholarship for two more years which means that he is going to have more time to develop as a footballer and person in New Zealand: “Apart from playing soccer, my education is mostly equally important. If I can perform well in football I also want to prove myself academically. I also believe that elite footballers have a wealthy education background which completes a player,” said Suri to Sun Sport.
The young midfielder is son of legendary Batram Suri – one of the Solomon Islands’ greatest footballers ever. Alden also represented his country at FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Brazil last year. Oceania Football Center congratulate him for this accomplishment.
Current Telekom S-League champions Solomon Warriors have good news for their next league clash against Laugu United as Tigi Molea is back after missing Warriors’ first six matches of the season due to suspension.
He was suspended for assaulting Henderson Eels’ full back Derrick Taebo in a clash between both clubs last season. His return is surely a major boost for the team as head coach William Omokirio will have the opportunity to count on him. Tigi Molea is expected to make his debut in the season against Laugu United on this Saturday.
Molea is ready to make his debut in 2020 Telekom S-League – Telekom S-League Media
Warriors are currently in the second position in the league with thirteen points – seven points behind league leaders Henderson Eels. You can check Telekom S-League’s standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
The weekend of football in New Caledonia’s top-tier football league had some surprises; AS Lössi could hold AS Magenta to a draw – two rounds in a row Magenta is unable to win at Mobil Super Ligue – and the then leaders Tiga Sport also failled to capitalise on SC Ne Drehu at Stade Numa Daly. The round was very good for Hienghène Sport that retook the top of the table as they surpassed JS Baco at Stade de Hienghène; Horizon Patho is now third in the process tied in points with the two top-tabled Hienghène and Tiga.
AS Wetr collected a very important win over AS Mont-Dore that continues their bad moment in the national league. The impressive 4-0 win of Wetr put them now at the fifth place in the standings with the same number of points of SC Ne Drehu. Germain Haewegene scored his goal of number nine in the league in this clash – the top scorer of the league so far.
Jeremy Jeno scored for AS Magenta first in the second match of the Saturday, but Anthony Timoteo was able to find an equaliser for AS Lössi. In Maré, at the Stade de la Roche, also on Saturday Horizon Patho continued their impressive season winning AS Kunié by 3-0; goals scored by Paul Ngaiohny, Yoan Bearuné and Luc Andre Washetine. To complete the matches of the Saturday, Hienghène confirmed their favouritism in the derby of the north against Koné-based side JS Baco by winning the visitors by 3-1.
AS Magenta was unable to beat AS Lössi – MSL Media
On Sunday at Stade Numa Daly, Richard Sele‘s goal was not enough for Tiga Sport as they suffered an equaliser from Lifou’s SC Ne Drehu. With the 1-1 draw, Tiga lost their first place in the run, but they continued tied in poits with the first placed Hienghène Sport – and also with Horizon Patho that is now ranked third.
The sixth matchweek of Vans Premiership – the football league from the Cook Islands – was contested this weekend in the island and it was a very important week for Puaikura as they have beaten Titikaveka to reach the second position in the table.
Current league leaders Tupapa Maraerenga smashed Matavera by 4-0 with goals scored by Mii Joseph, Paavo Mustonen, Geoffrey Strickland and Teariki Tuteru to remain on top of the table with sixteen points in six games while Nikao Sokattak reached the fourth position by beating Avatiu by 3-0.
Tupapa Maraerenga (black and white) have beaten Matavera by 4-0 – Tupapa Maraerenga Media
The other match of the weekend was contested between Puaikura and Titikaveka and Puaikura won by 3-1. You can check the current Vans Premiership standings and results by clicking here.
It is already known that young players from Solomon Islands are currently in England as they went to Europe as part of former Solomon Islands National Football Team player Joel Konofilia’s project called Royals Academy.
Some of these young players are already having opportunities in local clubs like Ian Kula. The young right back is currently playing for Langney Wanderers alongside with his countrymen Ali Mekawir. While Mekawir is scoring a good amount of goals this season, Kula is proving himself as a reliable defender.
Kula had an impressive performance in Wanderers’ last match against Eastbourne United in the First Round of FA Vase – a national cup for teams that are playing in 9th, 10th or 11th tier of English football. The young right back received the “Man of the Match Award” handed by Langney Wanderers’ sponsors.
Ian Kula (left) playing for Langney Wanderers
Kula and Mekawir are performing in a very good level in 2020-21 season and it would not be a surprise if they are called-up for Solomon Islands National Football Team soon.
The Fiji Football Association Cup Tournament – also known as Fiji FACT – is a traditional tournament held annually in Fiji since 1991. This year’s edition is going to be contested in November by all Vodafone Premier League’s eight teams.
It was initially announced that only six teams would play this year’s edition: the top five teams in the Vodafone Premier League standings plus Labasa. However, Fiji Football Association decided in a meeting held on this Saturday that all eight teams are going to play the tournament.
Current Fiji FACT champions Nadi will have the chance to defend their title – Fiji FA Media
Nadi are the current Fiji FACT champions as they have beaten Suva in the final clash by 2-1. You can check more information about last year’s edition by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 