Thomas Dunn: Navua’s young star aims to shine at international level

Thomas Dunn is surely one of the most promising players from Fiji. The 17-year-old midfielder is performing in a very high level in the season and he is being a key player for Navua in Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier league from Fiji.

In an interview with New Zealand Fiji Football Incorporated (NZFFI), he revealed that his passion for football started when he was very young: “My inspiration came from playing with my brothers and uncles since very young,” he said.

Dunn began to shine two years ago when he represented Fiji in 2018 OFC U16 Championship and helped his side to reach the semi-finals of the tournament: “Representing Fiji National Team is always close to heart,” he revealed.

Born in Navua, he revealed that representing his hometown’s team is an honour to him. One of the biggest moments of his short career was surely he won the Senior League Inter District Championship’s Best Young Player Award last year.

Dunn receiving 2019 Senior League Inter District Championship’s Best Young Player Award – Fiji FA Media

His talent was also noticed by Flemming Serritslev – the head coach of Fiji National Team. Serritslev called 30 players to attend a national team camp last month and Dunn was one of the selected players to attend this camp. Despite that, he keeps his feet on the ground: “My focus now is Navua, but also to study […] I hope one day I can play in a professional league,” he stated.

Navua are currently in the eighth and last position in Vodafone Premier League with seven points in nine matches. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

North Efate United close to glory in Vanuatu

The 2019-20 season is reaching its end in Vanuatu. Galaxy, Ifira Black Bird and Tafea are fighting for PVFA Premier League’s title while Mauwia, Sia-Raga, Tupuji Imere and Yatel are fighting against relegation to PVFA First Division – the second tier of Port Vila’s football league system.

It is not known which teams are going to be relegated but there is one club that is very close to be promoted to the Premier League: North Efate United. The team coached by Morrison Bule is leading the league with 30 points in thirteen matches and they just need to draw against Pango Green Bird in the last matchweek of the season to clinch a spot in 2020-21 Premier League.

North Efate United just need a positive result to be promoted to PVFA Premier League – Capitol FM 107

North Efate United are living a huge moment as they also won two other tournaments this season: Mix First and Second Division’s Independence Cup and First Division’s Opening Cup. A promotion to Premier League would be the icing on the cake for them to crown a marvelous season.

Two other teams are also fighting for promotion: Seveners United and Mauriki. Seveners are currently in the second position with 27 points in thirteen matches – three points behind league leaders North Efate – while Mauriki have 22 points in twelve games.

Mauriki still have two matches to play in the league which means that they can finish the season with 28 points, so they still have the possibility to finish in the second position if they win both games and Seveners United lose their last match.

It is important to remember that only the First Division champions are directly promoted to PVFA Premier League while the second placed team needs to face Premier League’s seventh placed team in a play-off match. You can check the current PVFA First Division standings by clicking here.

Telekom S-League franchisees receive their share of ticket sales for league matches

Football in the Solomon Islands continues to march on the right track as Telekom S-League’s franchises received heir share of the gate taking at Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) headquarter in Honiara – the capital of the country.

According to Telekom S-League’s media, they had an income of $254.368 Solomon Islands Dollars (local currency) with tickets in the first four weeks of the season. It was reported that 60% of this amount was shared between the eleven franchises, which means that each team received $13.801 Solomon Islands Dollars. The remaining 40% stays with Telekom S-League’s board for the administration cost of the league.

All eleven franchises received $13.801 Solomon Islands Dollars from Telekom S-League’s board – Telekom S-League Media


All league matches are being played at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara and a limited number of 2.500 tickets sold per match day due to the state of public emergency.

Oceania Football Center congratulate SIFF and Telekom S-League’s board for the transparency. Despite not being a professional league, all parts are doing a great job to promote the league across the country. The near future seems to be bright for Solomon Islands’ football.


Cook Islands: Puaikura beat Nikao and reach Tupapa on top of Vans Premiership’s table

The fourth matchweek of 2020 Vans Premiership was contested this weekend in the Cook Islands and the league has now two teams tied on top.

Avatiu and Matavera remain on bottom of the table as the clash between them was an 1-1 draw. Both teams have not won in the season yet and fans must expect another tough season for them. Avatiu are in the sixth position with only one point while Matavera is in fifth with two points.

Current league champions Tupapa Maraerenga fought hard but they did not manage to beat Titikaveka. Apii Graham opened the scoreboard for Tupapa in the first half but Jedrick Engu equalized. At the final whistle the score was an 1-1 draw.

Cook Islands Football Association’s logo

Tupapa’s draw was amazing for Puaikura that have beaten Nikao Sokattak by 2-1 at Raemaru Park. Campbell Best and Dwayne Tiputoa scored once each to keep Puaikura’s unbeaten run in the current league season.

Puaikura and Tupapa Maraerenga are now sharing the lead with ten points each. You can check the current Vans Premiership standings and results by clicking here.

Did PNGFA try to interfere in the match between Star Mountain and Morobe United?

The fifteenth matchweek of 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League had lots of controversies. However, the biggest one was surely in the clash between Star Mountain and Morobe United at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.

As it was previously reported, Star Mountain walked off pitch after a disallowed goal by the referee controversialy. This situation brought lots of discussion among football fans in the country but there is a important thing that must be remembered.

The match was being livestreamed on Papua New Guinea Football Association’s Facebook page so people watched everything live. However, the stream was deleted by PNGFA for unknown reasons. Anyway, it is known that the local federation had a very strange behaviour amid the whole situation.

PNGFA posted in match’s official livestream that the footage should be given to match officials but the replay could not be used by referees as PNG National Soccer League does not have Video Assistant Referee (VAR). You can check the federation’s comments by clicking here.

PNGFA logo

The outcome of this whole situation is still unclear. Oceania Football Center got in touch with Star Mountain’s management and it was reported that they are going to appeal against the referee’s decision. Regardless the final decision about this case, this kind of thing should never have happened in the country’s top football league

Kurukuru ready to resume training in Solomon Islands

After some months, Solomon Islands National Futsal Team is ready to resume training. Kurukuru‘s first training session after COVID-19 pandemics is scheduled to take place on Friday at Multi-Purpose Hall in Honiara – the capital of the Solomon Islands.

According to local federation (SIFF), twenty players are called to attend the training sessions led by assistant coach Francis Lafai, trainer Nelson Kabitana and SIFF Futsal Development Officer, Dickson Kadau. You can check the 20-men list by clicking here.

Kurukuru’s squad in 2019 OFC Futsal Nations Cup

Solomon Islands are the current OFC Futsal Nations Cup champions and they are qualified for the upcoming FIFA Futsal World Cup that is scheduled to take in Lithuania next year after being postponed due to COVID-19 pandemics.

Nasinu’s head coach Tagi Vonolagi pleased with the commitment of the players

Currently in the sixth position in Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier league from Fiji – Nasinu are not having a bright season. The Giant Killers won just two league matches this year and they must fight against relegation until the end of the season.

Despite having lots of things that must be improved, Nasinu’s head coach Tagi Vonolagi recognises that the players are working the extra mile every single match: “We do not have incentives like other big teams but we play with lots of pride wearing this jersey,” he stated on social media.

Nasinu’s head coach Tagi Vonolagi – Fiji FA Media

Nasinu’s last win in Vodafone Premier League was a 2-0 victory over Ba back in July. Since then, they lost to Navua and Rewa and tied a match against Lautoka. The Giant Killers need to have better results if they really want to stay in the first division of Fijian football and Saturday’s clash against Labasa at Subrail Park will be decisive clash for both teams in the season. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Raphael Le’ai finally receives 2019-20 Telekom S-League’s Golden Boot Award

After a long wait, the 2019-20 Telekom S-League’s Golden Boot Award winner is finally announced and youngster Raphael Le’ai from Henderson Eels was crowned as last season’s top scorer of the major football league from the Solomon Islands.

Le’ai performed in an outstanding level by scoring 24 goals in seven matches – including a 11-goal match in a 19-0 win over Real Kakamora in the last matchweek of the season. This result has been under investigation by Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) committee to check the possibility of a match fixing.

Le’ai (left) was the top scorer of 2019-20 Telekom S-League – Telekom S-League Media

The 16-year-old forward is one of the top prospects from Oceania and it is known that clubs from Australian A-League are already scouting him. He is already fighting to win another Golden Boot as he has already scored seven goals in five matches this season.

Wira Wama scores first goal for Hekari United since his return to Papua New Guinea

Hekari United enjoyed a very important win over Gulf Komara last Saturday at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby – Nigel Dabinyaba opened the scoreline for his side and the experienced Wira Wama finished the account for the Reds. This was the first goal of Wama since the midfielder returned to Papua New Guinea, Wama was studying and playing in United States – he played for Maranatha Baptist University Sabercats while in North America.

Wama scored through a header in the injury time of the game to confirm Hekari’s win over the fourth-placed side Gulf Komara. Since head coach Jerry Allen’s departure to Solomon Islands before the lockdown in Port Moresby, Wama is also taking an assistant role for the now coach Eric Komeng.

Wira Wama (with the ball) – PNGFA Media

Wama is a historical player for Hekari United, representing the club for a number of seasons – including OFC Champions League campaigns. Wama represented Papua New Guinea internationally already for three times and is good adition for Hekari as the team is set to battle for the title of the PNG National Soccer League this season.

Referee shows lack of knowledge of football rules in Lae City-Wawens clash

The fifteenth matchweek of 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League was full of controversies and one of the biggest polemics took place in the clash between Lae City FC and Morobe Wawens at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.

Lae City were ahead by 1-0 when the referee awarded a penalty to them. Emmanuel Simon scored from to extend Lae’s lead, but the referee disallowed the goal because the ball was not correctly placed in the penalty spot.

It should never have happened as the referee must check if the ball is correctly positioned before the kick. The referee disallowed the goal and awarded a free kick to Morobe Wawens. You can check this terrible mistake by clicking here.

SEE ALSO
Referee changes decision after being assaulted in Hekari-Komara clash;
Star Mountain FC walk off pitch after disallowed goal against Morobe United

Referee showed lack of knowledge of football rules in Lae City-Wawens clash – Lae City FC Media

It is known that football is not professional in Papua New Guinea but this kind of mistake is completely unnaceptable. The fifteenth matchweek of PNG National Soccer League showed that the local Football Association should provide better training for the referees.

Despite this huge problem, Lae City have beaten Wawens by 2-0 to remain on top of the table with 35 points in fifteen matches. You can check the current league standings, results an top scorers by clicking here.