This week is not a good one for Lautoka fans as they are still feeling the bitter taste of the defeat to Labasa in the Inter-District Championship final. Currently in the fifth position at Vodafone Premier League, the Bluez have no chance of being league champions this year.
Lautoka started the season on fire by winning two matches by 6-0 against Nasinu and Nadi. However, the team failed to maintain the level and the season of the Bluez is being nothing more than average in Fiji. This raises a big question: will Lautoka finish their second consecutive season without a national title?
Lautoka’s starting eleven at 2020 Inter-District Championship’s final – Fiji FA Media
The Bluezwon the Pacific Cup last year, but this is not a national or official tournament. Lautoka’s last national trophies were lifted in 2018, when they won Vodafone Premier League and Inter-District Championship.
The team coached by Ravinesh Kumar still has one last chance to try to win a title this year as FIJI Fact will be contested later this year – a glimmer of hope for them.
The current football season is coming to an end in Fiji as the national leagues are just a few games away from being completed. Meanwhile, many players have written their names in the history of Fijian football and many more will do so until the end of the year.
One of the players that must be highlighted is Mohammed Zaid. Despite playing at Vodafone Senior League – the national second division – he is having a wonderful season by scoring many goals to help Bua to reach the final of Senior League’s Inter-District Championship. He is also the current top scorer of Vodafone Senior League with eleven goals in ten matches.
Mohammed Zaid is the current top scorer of Vodafone Senior League
Zaid scored 15 goals in 15 matches in 2020 – no other player has scored more goals than him this season. However, the 24-year-old forward has a greater mission than winning the Golden Boot Award: to take Bua to Vodafone Premier League.
Bua will face Nadroga in a two-legged playoff to decide which team will be promoted to 2021 Vodafone Premier League. Both matches are scheduled to be contested next month. You can check more information about the current Vodafone Senior League season by clicking here.
One of the best footballers from Fiji in the 2000s, Osea Vakatalesau spent seventeen months suspended from football. His suspension was lifted in July and then he joined Nadroga to play Vodafone Senior League – the second tier league from Fiji.
His decision surprised many people as the legendary 34-year-old forward is still good enough to play for bigger teams like Ba and Lautoka. But the reason why he chose Nadroga is special: his mother. Vakatalesau’s mother was born in Korotogo, Located in Nadroga-Navosa Province.
Vakatalesau (right) playing for Nadroga – Fiji FA Media
The legendary forward is playing an important role in the team by scoring six goals in eight matches this season to help his team win the Senior Division Inter-District Championship. However, his mission is not over yet, as they are still one step away from being promoted to Vodafone Premier League: “My mother asked me to come and help Nadroga qualify and play in the Premier Division next year,” said Vakatalesau to Fiji Sun.
Nadroga will face Bua in a two-legged playoff to decide which team will be promoted to 2021 Vodafone Premier League. Both matches are scheduled to be contested next month. You can check more information about the current Vodafone Senior League season by clicking here.
Vanuatu National Team’s new kit was launched. The announcement was made by KPI Sports – the new kit supplier of Vanautu National Team – on their Facebook account.
KPI Sports is a company based in Australia that has been creating custom teamwear, sports uniforms, equipment and accessories for high performing teams and clubs. They recently secured a partnership with Cook Islands Football Association for the next three years.
Vanuatu National Team’s new jersey – KPI Sports
As you can see in the picture above, yellow and black remain as the main colours of the National Team. This kit is already on sale and you can order your jersey by clicking here.
After facing difficulties in the first half, Henderson Eels got back on track in the second half to beat Real Kakamora by 4-0 at Lawson Tama Stadium in the tenth matchweek of Telekom S-League – the national football league from Solomon Islands.
Eels’ forward Tutizama Tanito had a good opportunity to open the scoreboard in the twelfth minute but Kakamora’s veteran goalkeeper Zantas Kabini saved it. A few minutes later, Tanito crossed from the left wing and Arnold Maeluma pushed the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed because Maeluma was in an offside position.
Real Kakamora had a chance to score in the 41st minute in a free kick but Bartholomew Talakoro sent it over the crossbar. The first half finished at a nil-nil draw, a result that was not making Eels’ head coach Eddie Marahare happy: “We needed to make some changes as we need to keep the ball and then try to penetrate towards into the spaces,” he said in a post-match interview.
For the second half, Derrick Taebo replaced left back Robert Laua while Augustine Waita came from the bench to replace Arnold Maeluma. Despite having been Laua’s replacement, Taebo played on the right side as Sedrick Doliasi was moved to the left side.
Waita started the second half as a left winger while youngster Raphael Le’ai – who played as a left winger in the first half – was moved to the right wing and it worked perfectly. Joses Nawo opened the scoreboard for Henderson Eels in the first minute of the second half after a great cross from the right wing by Raphael Le’ai.
Henderson Eels’ players celebrating a goal – Telekom S-League Media
In the 54th minute, Le’ai was fouled inside the box by Joachim Rande. However, the referees said it was outside the box. The referee’s mistake was not a problem for Joses Nawo who extended Eels’ lead with a powerful free kick. A few minutes later, Le’ai passed by two defenders before giving the ball to Augustine Waita who pushed it into the net to score Eels’ third goal.
After delivering two assists, youngster Raphael Le’ai scored an amazing free kick goal from the left wing to put his side ahead by four goals – A great goal to crown his great performance. Applauded, he was replaced by Hudson Felani in the 80th minute.
Both teams worked hard to find the net in the final minutes of the clash, but the score did not change in the last ten minutes and Henderson Eels defeated Real Kakamora by 4-0: “We came up with the objective to get the maximum points from this game and I’m very happy that we achieved that today,” stated Eddie Marahare.
Eels remain on top of the table with 27 points in ten matches while Real Kakamora is currently in the eighth position in the league. You can check 2020 Telekom S-League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
The 2020-21 ISPS Handa Premiership is scheduled to kick-off next month and the participating teams are starting to release their squads for the upcoming season. The first team to make official statements about players’ signing was Hawke’s Bay United that start to announce their squad. The biggest news is that youngster Jesse Randall has joined the team for the upcoming season.
Randall is going to play his first season with Hawke’s Bay United after scoring 18 goals at 2020 Ultra Football Central League – one of the most important regional leagues from New Zealand. The 18-year-old forward is one of the most promising players from his country and this will be his second ISPS Handa Premiership season as he played for Tasman United in 2019-20.
Jesse Randall
Hawke’s Bay United will face Hamilton Wanderers at Bluewater Stadium on November 15 in the first matchweek of 2020-21 ISPS Handa Premiership. You can check the full schedule of the season by clicking here.
Telekom S-League’s mid-season transfer window has not opened yet but teams are already trying to bring new players to strengthen their squads for the second round of the major football league from Solomon Islands.
Currently in the seventh position with twelve points in nine matches, Kossa’s season is worse than expected. Despite counting on great forwards like Barrie Limoki, Harrison Mala, James Naka and Lore Fonaota in the squad, the team coached by Fred Osifelo faces defensive problems that prevented the team from getting better results in the season.
Kossa’s defense must receive a big boost for the second round of the season as Richard Hiromana is set to rejoin the team in the mid-season transfer window, which will open on October 26. Hiromana is a 23-year-old defender who has played eleven matches for Solomon Islands National Football Team.
Richard Hiromana
Another player who is expected to strengthen Kossa’s squad for the remainder of the season is former international Himson Teleda. He is a 28-year-old winger and he represented Solomon Islands at 2012 OFC Nations Cup.
According to team’s media, both players will have their first training session with the team this week: “They are here and ready to train. Both Teleda and Hiromana will join the team,” said team manager Mark Danny. Kossa’s next match will be against Central Coast FC on Sunday. You can check Telekom S-League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
The current Telekom S-League season is already being historic as the number of league teams has increased to eleven. After many years, the major football league from the Solomon Islands is finally being livestreamed.
Football in Solomon Islands continues to develop on and off the field. One of the things that has developed most in local football is refereeing – and local fans recognize it. The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has been working hard for the development of the sport in the country, especially with regard to referees and coaches.
SIFF recently announced that an electronic board and communication kits have been purchased, which means that referees now have better working conditions at Telekom S-League and Solrais Women’s Premier League.
Referees testing the eletronic board at Lawson Tama Stadium – SIFF Media
Despite some minor mistakes, referees have been performing in a very good level at Telekom S-League. Referees’ good performance helps to increase the level of the league as they are responsible to run the football matches.
It is very good to see the development of the sport in the Solomon Islands. Oceania Football Center congratulate Solomon Islands Football Federation and Telekom S-League Board for all efforts to promote the sport in the country.
After a breathtaking final match, the 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League came to an end in Papua New Guinea. It was a very interesting season as Vitiaz United almost broke Lae City’s hegemony in the championship, while FC Bougainville, Gulf Komara and Tusbab Stallions starred an incredible fight for a spot in the semi-finals.
It was Vitiaz’s first ever season at the National Soccer League. However, the team coached by Nathan Vincent surprised bigger teams with a powerful midfield led by Eliud Fugre and Yagi Yasasa. Vitiaz became even stronger in the second half of the season when forwards Jonathan Allen and Mathew David joined the team to build a great quartet alongside Fugre and Yasasa.
Yagi Yasasa was one of the best players in the season as he had a wonderful season playing for Vitiaz United. He finished the season with five goals scored, but the size of his quality cannot be measured by the number of goals as he is not a striker.
Yasasa (right) was one of the best players at 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League – PNGFA Media
He impressed the fans with his quality and skills during the whole season. His talent was already known in the country as he represented Papua New Guinea at youth level, but now local fans are demanding that Yasasa be called up to the National Team – and he deserves it.
Yasasa used to be one of the most promising players from Papua New Guinea, but now he is a reality. We cannot wait to see his quality again in the next National Soccer League – whether by Vitiaz United or not.
Currently leading the league with 24 points in nine matches, Eels have the chance to open a huge advantage on top of the table. The team coached by Eddie Marahare can open a seven-point lead if they win today’s clash against Real Kakamora.
Henderson Eels are currently leading 2020 Telekom S-League – Telekom S-League Media
Eels’ morale is very high after smashing Malaita Kingz by 15-0 last weekend. On the other hand, Real Kakamora is returning from a bye week which means that they had two weeks to get ready for today’s match. Let’s see how Peter Konata prepared for this clash as his side will face the most powerful attack in the league.
This match will be livestreamed by Telekom S-League on Facebook. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
