The Ni-Vanuatu football powerhouse Galaxy FC is even stronger now. The team coached by football legend Moise Poida confirmed the signing of two players coming from the second-most important league of Vanuatu: Luganville Premier League.
Andre Batick turned himself into a hero in Luganville after scoring a hattrick against Papua New Guinea’s Lae City in the last edition of the OFC Champions League, helping his team to qualify for the first time ever for the knock-out stage of the regional tournament.
The major football league from New Zealand is the ISPS Handa Premiership that used to be contested by ten clubs. However it is going to change as only eight teams are confirmed for the next ISPS Handa Premiership season as Tasman United and Southern United merged with Canterbury for the next season. The news that only eight teams will compete next season was not so good, but football fans are waiting for new clubs to join the championship, and one of this teams can be Manukau United.
It was reported by Manukau United’s official media that the club has applied for a National League license with the aim of participating in New Zealand’s major football league: “After a lot of tireless work over many years by a lot of wonderful people we’re pleased to announce that Manukau United Football Club has applied for a NZF National League license with the view of competing in the top tier of club football in Aotearoa,” stated the club on social media.
Manukau United logo
Manukau United were formed through a merger of Manukau City and Mangere United in 2018 and they play Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s – one of the most important leagues from winter football season in the country. The team owned by Hone Fowler counts on many players from smaller nations like Kishan Sami and Rahul Naresh from Fiji: “Excited about Manukau United applying for a National League licence in New Zealand. I was given my first opportunity to play in Auckland through the New Zealand National Football League and I am sure more doors will open for Pacific Island youngsters through this. Well done Manukau United Football Club,” said Fijian legend Roy Krishna.
No new teams have entered the league since 2016. At the time, Eastern Suburbs, Hamilton Wanderers and Tasman United joined the Premiership as part of a league expansion project. Oceania Football Center wish good luck to Manukau United in the process.
The young forward remains on fire as he found the net again. He scored Wanderers’ goal in the 6-1 loss to Pagham on Saturday while his countrymen Ian Kula was also in the starting eleven in this league match.
Ali Mekawir – Langney Wanderers’ Media
Langney Wanderers are currently in the 16th position at 2020–21 Southern Combination Football Premier League – one of the leagues that compose English 9th tier – with one point in two matches. Oceania Football Center congratulate Mekawir and Kula for being in the starting eleven last weekend.
Lautoka is not having a very good second part of the season in Fiji, the team was knocked-out in the group stage of the 2020 edition of Battle of Giants despite being the hosts and currently sits only 5th in the standings of the Vodafone Premier League with 11 points.
But now the team commanded by Ravinesh Kumar has something to celebrate: the midfielderShazil Ali is back to training after suffering a very serious injury in June. The last game of Ali for Lautoka was in March – the player is still the top-scorer of Lautoka in the season with four goals.
Shazil Ali – OFC Media
Ali is not expected to play this weekend for Lautoka in Vodafone Premier League, the player is still not totally fit for football, but the decision is totally on the team staff. The midfielder reintroduction to the Blues might be the turning point in the season by the current runners-up of the Fiji’s top-tier league.
It is confirmed! New Zealand will be travelling to Europe for one more round of friendly matches – this time, they will be playing against some of the best national teams worldwide. As recently reported, New Zealand will be playing Belgium in October and now the NZF announced a new opponent for one more historical clash: England.
The English Team will host the All Whites in one of the most important football stadiums worldwide: Wembley. The match is scheduled to be played at 12th November. This is certainly going to be a huge test for the team coached by Danny Hay, but also certainly a momemt to remember for entire New Zealand’s squad.
Harry Kane and Chris Wood
The likes of Sarpreet Singh and Liberato Cacace will have the opportunity to rub shoulders alongside some of the best football players in the world, such as Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Liverpool’s Trent-Alexander Arnold.
This is an important moment not only for New Zealand football but also for the entire Oceania football community.
Now, if the fans want to rewatch the disallowed goal that caused all the problems they will not be able to if they go to PNG Football Association official account in Facebook. The livestream was deleted – all others games of PNG National Soccer League previously streamed by the page are still there, only missing the clash between Morobe United and Star Mountain. But this is not a problem: Star Mountain’s disallowed goal against Morobe United is available for the viewers through Oceania Football Center – see here.
Fans were not happy with the decision of the entity to delete the footage of the match. The question is: why did PNGFA Media delete Morobe United-Star Mountain livestream from social media? Recently, Oceania Football Center also denounced a possible attempt of external interference in the match by the PNGFA Media team – something not allowed by football rules once the league does not adopt the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
No statements were issued by the PNGFA nor the NSL Board regarding the match; almost one week later, no updates were given by the official organisors. At the moment, both Morobe United and Star Mountain prepare their teams for the 16th round of the national league, but everything can change suddenly in their campaign as their last game’s outcome continue to be a mystery.
It is nothing new the Babasiga Lions are living a nightmare – probrably, their worse moment in the past few years. The current Inter-District Championship title holders were not expecting nothing similar to what is currently happening in the 2020 season.
Before tasting glory in 2019 led by the likes of Antonio Tuivuna and Siotame Kubu in two major tournaments, Labasa is not being able to repeat the performances of the last season. The team recently was defeated by Navua in the national league and sits only 7th in the standings – tied in points with the bottom-ranking side.
Recently, head coach Ronil Lal gave voice to his frustration about his players – problems seem to be everywhere for Labasa. During this turmoil that does not seem to be ending soon, who can come in rescue of the Babasiga Lions? The answer might be returning to action very soon…
Sahayam is one of the higly praised players from Labasa that is currently in the final stages of his recovery from a very serious knee injury sustained last year. The now 30-year-old player has still a lot to offer Labasa and can be turning point for the team in the five remaining matches of the Vodafone Premier League.
Sahayam is known for scoring very beautiful goals in his time in Labasa; the attacker is expected to return to action next month, in time to take part in another two major tournaments of the year – Fiji FACT and Inter-District Championship – and save Labasa from this nightmare: the unexpected battle against relegation.
Despite suffering an unexpected defeat in the last weekeed for Honiara City, Henderson Eels continue at the top of the table with 12 points after five matches played. The good campaign so far in the season proves Eels are coming once again to contest for the title, especially big wins such as the 7-0 over Laugu United and 10-0 against Southern United state the real expectations of the team coached by Eddie Marahare.
The attack force of the team is led by two players from different generations: the experienced international Joses Nawo and the wonderkid Raphael Lea’i. Combined the duo scored 15 goals for Henderson Eels in the season after just five matches – Nawo is the leader of the ‘Golden Boot’ race with eight goals scored so far, while the 17-year-old Lea’i scored seven. Raphael Lea’i finally received the 2019/20 Telekom S-League’s Golden Boot Award this week after scoring 24 goals in only seven matches played in the last season of the Solomon Islands’ national league.
Lea’i and Nawo – OFC Media/TSL Media
The duo will have to be in their best if they want to win their next game in the Telekom S-League as Henderson Eels will take on the current national league champions Solomon Warriors that is still to record a defeat in the current season.
Hekari United needed to battle hard to surpass Gulf Komara in the last weekend of football in Port Moresby – the Reds continue five points away Lae City at the top of the table, but their 2-0 win keep them alive in the contest for the minor premiership in PNG National Soccer League.
Eric Komeng decided to give the first start of the season for the defender Rodger Saking as the usual starter Carlos Onne was injured for the clash. Saking played as left-back and played an important role in the game. The 25-year-old player was solid in defense, not allowing space for Gulf Komara forwards in his corner of the pitch, and combined well upfront with the likes of Nigel Dabinyaba and Kolu Kepo.
Rodger Saking
The former Besta PNG man also fired some long-range shots that impressed the fans during the clash – a sign of confidence for a player that was usually sidelined by head coaches Jerry Allen and now Eric Komeng.
Hekari has been suffering with lack of options at the back; many members of Red Army fan club were wondering why players such as Saking were not receiving opportunities in the start eleven. Even the striker Vito Laloata was played as central defender in a crucial match against Lae City – something that proved to be a major mistake – putting under the spotlight the biggest problem of Hekari’s squad.
With the good debut of Saking against a team that is doing well in this part of the season proves the defender can add quality to Komeng’s team and also help in the process to resolve the issues at the back of the current third-placed side of the national league.
The tenth matchweek of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League kicks-off on this Friday at Port Vila Stadium. Four matches will be contested during this weekend to mark the league’s resumption after nine months.
Current league leaders Tafea will face bottom-placed Mauwia in the opening match. It is already known that Micah Tommy will not be available to play in the league because his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) is not with Tafea’s management. However the leaders still have some important players like defender Junior Felix, midfielder Bob Jeffery and forward Allista Kalip that will have the mission to guide the team in this contest.
Midfielder Eddison Stephens is also available to play for Tafea after representing Galaxy FC in OFC Champions League earlier this year. On the other hand, Mauwia need to win if the team really wants to avoid relegation. It is a very tough mission for them as the team did not show any improvement in the PVFA Independence Cup.
Kalip (left) and Felix (right) are key players for Tafea FC – Vanuatu Sports NEws
Another three matches will be contested on Saturday: Yatel vs Tupuji Imere, Sia-Raga vs Ifira Black Bird and Galaxy vs Erakor Golden Star.
After losing PVFA Independence Cup’s final against Galaxy, Ifira Black Bird turn their attention to the league in order to keep fighting for the title as they have Loic Boulet back to the team after playing OFC Champions League’s group stage for Malampa Revivors. Beating Sia-Raga is what fans expect from Ifira on this weekend.
The most exciting match of this matchweek is surely the clash between Erakor Golden Star and Galaxy. Both teams clashed twice in the last PVFA Independence Cup and it must be a very tough contest. Currently in the third position with seventeen points, Galaxy FC can take the lead if Tafea and Ifira lose this weekend. On the other hand, fourth-placed Erakor want to grab three more points to get closer to the leaders.
You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers of 2019-20 PVFAPremier League by clicking here.
