Labasa fans celebrate IDC title in Auckland

It has been six days since Labasa won the 2020 Inter-District Championship (IDC), but the team’s supporters cannot stop celebrating this title – the second in a row – won after a 2-1 victory against Lautoka at ANZ Stadium.

Dozens of Labasa fans gathered at Allenby Park in Auckland, New Zealand, to celebrate the title. This celebration was organized by NZ Labasa Fan Club which is led by Daud Rahman – a passionate fan of the Babasiga Lions.

Dozens of people went to Allenby Park to celebrate 2020 IDC title – Daud Rahman

Labasa had a strong connection with New Zealand at 2020 Inter-District Championship as the Babasiga Lions were sponsored by SSS Building, a company from Auckland. It was Labasa’s sixth title in the history of the tournament.

The next challenge of the team coached by Ronil Lal will be against Lautoka at Subrail Park next weekend in the twelfth matchweek of Vodafone Premier League – the top tier league from Fiji. You can check more the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

It is time for Ba to step up and go for the title in Vodafone Premier League

The present year is not being so good to Ba. The Men in Black made a vexing campaign in the OFC Champions League and they failed to reach the final of Battle of the Giants and Inter-District Championship by being eliminated in the semi-finals of both tournaments.

In addition, many players have left the club – including legendary midfielder Avinesh Suwamy who joined Nadi – while Manasa Nawakula and Saula Waqa were suspended after failing a drug test in August. However, this horror movie script may still have a happy ending as the team coached by Ronil Kumar is still alive in Vodafone Premier League’s title race.

Ba’s starting eleven in an Inter-District Championship’s match – Fiji FA Media

Currently in the third position in Vodafone Premier League – the top tier league from Fiji – the Men in Black are three points behind current leaders Rewa with only three rounds to go. The team coached by Ronil Kumar still has the chance to win the national league for the second straight year (and for the fourteenth time in twenty years).

Despite being used to lifting trophies year in and year out, winning the national league this year will be something special as Ba’s current squad is very young. Head coach Ronil Kumar and experienced players like Abbu Zahid, Ilimotama Jese and Samuela Drudru need more than ever to take the reins of the team for Men in Black to win the title.

Their next challenge is going to be next week against Nadi at Fiji FA Academy – the first of the three battles until the end of the league. You can check the full schedule of the remaining matches of 2020 Vodafone Premier League by clicking here.

Mitch Cooper: my dream is to see Vanuatu playing a FIFA World Cup at senior level

It has been 15 months since Vanuatu National Team played their last match: an 11-0 win against Samoa at Pacific Games last year. Since then, football fans have not had the opportunity to see Vanuatu in action.

The 2019 Pacific Games was not very good for Vanuatu. Coached by Paul Munster, they did not advance to the semi-finals of the tournament as they finished third in Group A with seven points in four games – behind New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. However, it was a very special tournament for Mitch Cooper.

Cooper played for Australia at 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and since then he has never played for a national team. He made his debut for Vanuatu one month before the Pacific Games in a 2-0 win over Tahiti: “It was an unbelievable and surreal experience! That day i will never forget,” he stated.

Although he debuted for Vanuatu last year, his desire to represent the country where he was born started some years earlier: “I saw Vanuatu going to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and not just taking part, but making a statement there against Germany and Mexico. That is not an easy thing to do and it made me so proud,” he said.

SEE ALSO
Jared Clark eager to represent Vanuatu National Team;
Mitch Cooper: a great surprise for Vanuatu

Mitch Cooper

The 26-year-old midfielder has a lot of experience compared to his compatriots as he played at Australian A-League for some seasons, and he knows that it is something big for a player born in Vanuatu: “I was not just born in Vanuatu but I was raised there so I understand the magnitude and impact of a footballer playing outside the country could make,” stated Cooper – “I hope our next generation of footballers can see that they can travel the world playing football, that they can become professional players. My dream is to see Vanuatu playing a FIFA World Cup at senior level. Why not?“ he added.

Cooper played six matches for Vanuatu and scored five goals. He was part of the provisional squad for 2020 OFC Nations Cup but the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemics. Anyway, we must see him in the national team for many years if he wants to.

New schedule of 2020 Women’s IDC released in Fiji

After two weeks, the new schedule of 2020 Women’s Inter-District Championship was finally released. The tournament was supposed to be contested earlier this month but the competition was postponed due to weather conditions.

Eight teams are going to fight for the title: Ba, Labasa, Nadi, Nadroga, Nasinu, Suva, Rewa and Tailevu Naitasiri. They are split in two groups of four teams each and the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.

Eight teams will fight for 2020 Women’s IDC title – Fiji FA Media

The tournament is set to kick-off on October 28 at ANZ Stadium in Suva – the capital of Fiji. The opening match will be contested between hosts Suva and Nasinu. You can check the full schedule of the tournament by clicking here.

Nasinu or Navua: which side will escape from relegation in Fiji?

The 2020 Vodafone Premier League season is getting closer to its end in Fiji, but there is nothing decided in the championship. While Rewa, Suva and Ba are fighting for the national title, two other teams still have to fight in order to avoid relegation: Nasinu and Navua.

Currently in the seventh position with eight points, Nasinu’s last victory in the league was against Ba three monts ago. Since then, The Giant Killers played five league matches, one draw and four losses – a very bad record for the team coached by Tagi Vonolagi.

It is known that Atkin Kaua and Jared Rongosulia are not with the team anymore as they are currently playing the Telekom S-League in Solomon Islands because they could not return to Fiji due to border restrictions caused by COVID-19 pandemics. However, Vonolagi still relies on Isikeli Ratucava, Jasnit Vikash and Marlon Nonone to lead the team inside the pitch to avoid relegation.

Despite being in the last position with only seven points, Navua is still breathing. The team coached by Mohammed Shafil won two of their last five league matches. With the help of great players like veteran striker Apisai Smith and youngster Thomas Dunn, Navua fans can dream of staying in the Vodafone Premier League next season.

Nasinu (left) and Navua (right) are fighting against relegation to Senior League – Fiji FA Media

Depending on the results of the next two matchweeks, the decision on which team will be relegated to Senior League can be left to the fourteenth and final matchweek when Nasinu and Navua will clash at Uprising Resort Ground. By the way, it would be a thrilling end for this marvelous season. You can check the schedule of the last matchweeks of 2020 Vodafone Premier League by clicking here.

AS Magenta and Hienghène Sport ready for a huge clash in New Caledonia Cup

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AS Magenta and Hienghène Sport: two of the biggest football teams from New Caledonia. The clash between these two teams always brings lots of expectations to football fans in the French territory as both sides recently clashed in the 2019 OFC Champions League final.

These teams will be face to face again this weekend at Stade Numa Daly to fight for a spot in 2020 New Caledonia Cup’s final. Hienghène Sport are the current champions while AS Magenta is the most successful team in the tournament with eleven titles.

Hienghène Sport and AS Magenta will meet at 2020 New Caledonia Cup semi-final – OFC Media

According to reliable sources, Hienghène Sport might not count on forward Antoine Roine who got injured in the quarter-finals clash against AS Qanono three weeks ago. However Bertrand Kaï, Miguel Kayara and Rocky Nyikeine are ready to lead Hienghène in the clash: “I have total confidence in the group, everyone is involved and concentrated. I am not worried, we will be ready for the big day,” said Nyikeine to Foot-NC.

The last match between both teams was contested on July 25 and Magenta won by 3-2. However, Magenta’s players and coaching staff know that it means nothing for this weekend’s clash: “We’re going to face an opponent we know well […] We’ve just come out of two weeks without official matches but we tried to prepare ourselves as best we could,” said the 24-year-old midfielder Didier Simane.

This huge clash is going to be livestreamed on Facebook. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 4pm (local time) on Saturday. Oceania Football Center wish good luck to both teams!

Kossa’s youngster Barrie Limoki back from injury in Solomon Islands

One of the most promising players from Solomon Islands, Kossa’s youngster Barrie Limoki is back to training after getting injured in Kossa’s 4-1 loss to Henderson Eels three weeks ago in the eighth matchweek of 2020 Telekom S-League.

The 16-year-old forward returned to training last weekend and e is expected to be in Kossa’s starting eleven against Central Coast FC on Sunday: “We want to make sure he is 100% but he shows commitment and hunger for football,” said team’s technical analyst, Alex Waimora.

SEE ALSO
Hiromana and Teleda to join Kossa FC for Telekom S-League’s second round;
Referees step up in Solomon Islands

Limoki is back from injury – Telekom S-League Media

Having Limoki back is a major boost for Kossa as he is one of the top scorers of his team in the league with six goals in seven matches. You can check more information about the current Telekom S-League season by clicking here.

VFF National Super League kicks-off in Vanuatu

The VFF National Super League started on this Thursday in Vanuatu as two matches were contested at Soccer City Stadium in Luganville – the second largest city in the country. Eight teams are fighting for the national title while the top two teams qualify for 2021 OFC Champions League.

The eight teams are split in two groups, but in a not very conventional way: five teams are in Group A while Group B will have three teams. The matches played this Thursday are from Group A. Current national champions Malampa Revivors from Luganville faced RueRue from Penama in the opening match of the tournament.

Edwin Bai opened the scoreboard for Malampa Revivors in the beginning of the second half while Melkyzedeck Gasi equalized. However, RueRue did not have much time to celebrate as youngster Armando Ravo scored to put Revivors ahead again.

Melkyzedeck was on fire and he scored his first goal in the game to tie the match in the 79th minute. Revivors’ midfielder Jean-Claude Batick still had time to score the winning goal in the stoppage time. At the final whistle, the title holders defeated RueRue by 3-2.

Malampa Revivors are the current national champions – OFC Media

The second game of the day was a breathtaking clash between Police from Malampa and Patuvuti from Sanma. In a very interesting match, Police have beaten their opponents by 4-3. You can check more details about 2020 VFF National Super League by clicking here.


Clayton Lewis targets Tokyo Olympics as he explains his return to New Zealand

Clayton Lewis is one of New Zealand’s most important players. The 23-year-old midfielder has already represented his country fourteen times and guided the OlyWhites to a spot in the men’s football tournament of Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The former Scunthorpe United footballer recently played for Auckland United in the NRFL Premier League before the league was called off due to COVID-19 restrictions. Lewis also won the ISPS Handa Premiership last season as one of Auckland City’s most important players.

The midfielder talked to Oceania Football Center about some topics regarding his career, football in New Zealand, and his future goals. You can check the full interview below:

After a few seasons in European football, you decided to return to Auckland City FC. Why did you decide to move back to the Navy Blues?

It was tough in England because I was not getting many opportunities to play. We were losing games and I would always ask why I was not playing. I always got given the excuse of “we want to go with experienced players for this game” so it was hard to take for two years. Coming back to Auckland City was a chance to play games for seven months before the Olympic Games. But with Covid-19, that has pushed the Olympics back a year, so that was a shame for me.

Despite the Covid-19 situation, you will be able to play for the Olywhites next year in Tokyo. Was it a relief for you?

Yes, definitely. I was very worried that another chance at the Olympics was going to be taken from me. I cannot wait to get as fit as I can, and hopefully I get selected by the coach.

Since you returned to New Zealand, you captained the U-23 National Team which sealed their spot in Tokyo, you qualified for the OCL knockout stage, and you lifted the ISPS Handa Premiership trophy. Good start isn’t it?

Yes, it’s a good start, but I want more now. Hopefully options will open up elsewhere.

How was being part of this new project at Auckland United?

It was amazing. The club’s goals and expectations from the start have been very high and professional, and the group we have I think could achieve so much if the season were not called off. The youth academy has a lot of prospects I can see playing for the first team and moving overseas as well.

How has this new lockdown affected you as a footballer?

It has been tough: I had nine matches where I played the full 90 minutes, so my match fitness was good, I knew I could run all game; whereas now, there is no football, no training, so I am having to do things myself, for example, go for runs, set up running drills, speed drills etc., to try keep up the fitness. But nothing compares to match fitness.

New Zealand is having a boom in football currently. Many young players are departing to Europe, while the league itself is receiving more interest and investment. Why is this?

I think New Zealand has always had the talent, but no one ever looked or scouted here. Now they are starting to, and you can see so many young Kiwis growing into true professionals and making a name for themselves in the game. Hopefully someone will come in for me soon, too.

Clayton Lewis is still young and will certainly have many opportunities in his career. We thank him for the interview and wish him luck in his next steps as a footballer.







Lupe o le Soaga: the team to be beaten in Samoa

The ninth week of the 2020 Premier Men’s games is coming to an end in Samoa as Sogi and Vaipuna keep fighting for the second position in the league. And this should be the biggest fight of the season, since Lupe o le Soaga are leading the league comfortably.

Lupe o le Soaga still have a perfect campaign in the league: nine wins in nine matches. The team coached by Paul Ualesi is performing in a high level with 54 goals scored and only four goals conceded: “We are work hard to remain unbeaten beacuse all the teams in the league want to beat us. Our first mission is to be the champions of Samoa and then to represent the country in the next OFC Champions League,” said Ualesi.

Lupe o le Soaga’s starting eleven in a league match – Lupe o le Soaga Media

With a powerful squad led by veteran Andrew Setefano, Lupe o le Soaga also count on Oscar Anto and Vaa Taualai, two young players that are performing well in the season by scoring a good amount of goals.

This year is being very special for Lupe as they had their best ever campaign at OFC Champions League and now they are marching to win the national title for the second year in a row. However, Ualesi knows that players need to keep their feet on the ground: “We have that mindset to keep low profile and do a lot of work. One other challenge this year, all the teams from other clubs is really good and well organised,” he said.

Lupe’s latest match was contested on this Wednesday and they defeated Vaitele-Uta by 2-0. You can check the current league standings and results by clicking here.