The second weekend of football in Honiara for the Telekom S-League had come to and end with two entertaining matches played at Lawson Tama Stadium. The Stanley Waita-coached side Southern United celebrated their first ever win in the national league as James Naka‘s captained-side Kossa could not surpass a fighting Honiara City.
The first match of the day saw Southern United battling hard against Malaita Kingz; the young talented Bradley Irosaea scored the first goal of the match in the first half to give Kingz the lead. In the second half, Stanley Waita speech worked as Southern United equalised through Augustine Halumwane after a beautiful one-two combination with Joachim Waroi. The same Waroi put Southern ahead minutes later for the joy of the fans at Lawson Tama. The advantage of the team in green did not take long: the young Irosaea scored again with a close finish header to put the game leveled again.
Unfortuanately for the team coached by Michael Alafa, in the injury time a penalty was awarded to Southern. The captain Joachim Waroi made no mistake and with a powerful kick gave the first ever win for the new team in the league. This was the second defeat in two games played for Malaita so far.
Southern United celebrates Augustine Halumwane’s goal – S-League Media
In the second match of the day Kossa was looking for their second win in the league against Honiara City. Things did not start well for the team coached by Fred Osifelo: Junior Annie scored throught the penalty spot to give the lead for the TSL debutants Honiara. Still in the first half Kossa managed to comeback; first through a well-taken penalty by Barrie Limoki and later from a fantastic solo-effort play by Lore Fonaota.
In the second half Honiara City was able to score again, this time throught the experienced Moffat Kilifa at the 60th minute of play. Honiara was unable to score through a second penalty kick that was awarded to the team – it was defended by Kossa’s backup goalkeeper John Telengea that was introduced in the second half due an injury on first choice Felix Ray. The late stages of the match saw many wasted opportunities from both sides – any of the teams could end up winning the clash – what made the final result to be a 2-2 draw. Kossa has now four points in the table as Honiara got their second draw from two games played so far.
Honiara City and Kossa battled hard in Lawson Tama Stadium – S-League Media
On Wednesday (19th Aug) the current champions Solomon Warriors will debut against Marist FC to complete the second round of matches in the Telekom S-League.
Nasinu got close to secure a spot in the semi-final stage of the 2020 Battle of Giants, but unfortunately the goal deficit let them out of the decisive weekend of football in Lautoka. Despite their faillure to advance to the next stage, the team coached by Tagi Vonolagi has a remarkable award to collect: talented midfielder Jasnit Vikash collected the ‘Golden Boot’ award for the tournament. The 26-year-old player scored three goals in the tournament. Vikash was tied in the goalscorers list alongside players such as Setareki Hughes and his teammate Marlon Nonone, but the player was awarded the prize because he was the player who less minutes played in the tournament.
Vikash (11) playing for Nasinu in Vodafone Premier League – Fiji FA Media
Previously, the top scorer of the tournament was Nadi’s captain Avinesh Suwamy, but Fiji FA did not counted one of his goals against Lautoka – they understood the goal as an own goal from Lautoka defender, denying so a hattrick for the legendary player.
The 17-year-old Ba rep Isikeli Sevanaia certainly will have a moment to remember for life as he was chosen the ‘Best Goalkeeper of Tournament’ for 2020 edition of Battle of Giants. Despite not reaching the finals, Sevanaia helped Ba to clinch the 3rd place in the tournament as they surpassed Nadi by 2-1.
Sevanaia played all matches of the tournament and impressed Fijian fans especially in the semi-final match against champions Rewa. The young rising star saved three penalties in the shootout, but unfortunately for him and Ba the team was defeated by Rewa.
Isikeli Sevanaia saving a penalty against Rewa – Fiji FA Media
Sevanaia took his chances in style: the goalkeeper turned into first choice for Ba as two goalkeepers left the team in the transfer window and the then first choice shot-stopper Misiwani Nairube sustained a knee injured in Ba’s match against Lautoka for Vodafone Premier League.
The great performances of the Fiji international Setareki Hughes were enough to award him a the ‘Best Player of Tournament’ of 2020 edition of Battle of Giants. Hughes was crucial for the 9th title win of his side Rewa – Seta is the captain of the Delta Tigers and in the final match against Suva his brother Bruce Hughes scored the winning goal that led Suva to one more important title.
Setareki Hughes (red) – Fiji FA Media
Setareki Hughes scored three goals in the competition, including one against Ba in the semi-final. The Delta Tigers might be pleased with the recent performances of the team captained by Hughes – Rewa is currently the top-tabled side in the Vodafone Premier League and now collected a very important honour as they grabbed BOG title.
Suva could not surpass the Delta Tigers at Churchill Park as the team coached by Marika Rodu celebrates the title of the traditional Battle of Giants. Rewa defeated Suva by the minimum advantage thanks to a goal of Bruce Hughes.
Rewa seemed always dangerous to Suva until Hughes opened the scoreline after a pinball inside the penalty box that ended up with a powerful shot of the striker giving no chance to Suva’s goalkeeper. At the 34th minute of play finally Rewa was upfront in the score.
Bruce Hughes (9) celebrates his goal with his team – Fiji FA Media
Suva produced some danger to Rewa, but defensive system build by Marika Rodu was strong enough to manage the danger out of the team’s penalty box. The Tigers defended well its lead until the final whistle to grant the title of the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants.
This was the 9th title of Rewa making them the second most succesful team in the competition history – only Ba is ahead in number of titles.
Another shocking news emerge in Fiji football community as experienced Ba rep Manasa Nawakula tested positive for marijuana and is now suspended for three years from any activity related to football in the country. The info is confirmed by reliable sources inside the tournament organisation. Nawakula is the second Ba player to test positive for this substance as Fiji international Saula Waqawas also recently suspended by the governing body.
Manasa Nawakula – Fiji FA Media
Nawakula recently made their return to Ba squad for the final stages of Battle of Giants, but the player saw a red card in the semi-final match against Rewa and could not play the 3rd/4th playoff match against Nadi as they were beaten by the Delta Tigers in the penalty shootout.
It is expected Ba logde an appeal against the suspension of Nawakula – as they did in Saula Waqa’s case – to at least reduce the period of forced absence of the defender.
The young Solomon Islander Darold Kakasi was the responsible to secure the 3rd place for Ba in the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants as the attacker scored two goals against Nadi in the 3rd/4th playoff match.
Kakasi opened the scoreline at the 14th minute of play for Ba – the Men in Black kept the one-goal advantage to half-time break, but in the second minute of the second half Jolame Vukivuki equalised for Nadi. Both sides continued to press high, but it seemed that Nadi and Ba were going to another extra-time – the teams also went to extra-time spells in the semi-final stage.
But the talent of Kakasi stepped up once again in the injury time to secure Ba another goal and the bronze medal in the 2020 edition of Battle of Giants. The Solomon Islander that almost left the team in the latest transfer window period in Fiji ended up being the start of the day to give some joy to the Men in Black supporters.
Kakasi (7) celebrates one of his goals alongside his teammates – Fiji FA Media
Despite Ba’s defeat in the semi-final against Rewa, the Ba fans will have something to be proud of from their participation in the Battle of Giants. Nadi surprised everyone as they won all their matches in the group stage, but could not keep the good momentum this weekend in the decisive stage.
Rewa and Suva will be playing a very entertaining game to decide which side will be crowned champions of the traditional tournament in Fiji.
The 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants approaches its final moments – the 3rd/4th playoff match and the grand final battle will be played this Sunday (16th Aug) to give the final results for the competition in Lautoka.
While Ba takes on Nadi to decide the who gets the 3rd place from the tournament, the major match of the day will see Rewa challenging Suva for glory. After 120 minutes of football for both sides in the semi-final stage, certainly the final will be full of emotions for the fans at Churchil Park. Rewa vs. Suva is one the oldest rivalries in Pacific football dating back 92 years – both clubs were formed in 1928.
Rewa and Suva will contest for the title in Lautoka – Fiji FA Media
Rewa will not be counting on the young talented Josaia Sela that suffered a serious injury just in the moment he scored the first goal for his side against Ba in the semi-final when coliding with goalkeeper Isikeli Sevanaia.
A defensive mix-up was the difference between Hekari United and Lae City on Saturday in Port Moresby, as a Jacob Sabua goal was enough for the five-time reigning champions to pull away from their biggest rivals at the top of the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League.
In the meantime, Vitiaz United kept the pressure on league leaders Lae with a 3-0 victory over Morobe Wawens, with ex-Lae City striker Mathew David scoring a hat-trick.
But it was the Hekari-Lae match which had fans watering at the mouth, as the two teams who between them have shared every single National Soccer League title since the competition’s inception went head-to-head for the second time this season. The sides met in Lae back in March with the points shared after a 1-1 draw; this time, the reigning champions were able to get over the line.
Despite Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyababeing cleared to play ahead of the clash and starting the game, Hekari coach Erickson Komeng selected an unusual backline, with Samoan Vito Laloata – who usually plays as a striker – featuring in defence alongside the only other foreigner left in the Hekari squad, right-back Junior David. But after just five minutes, Kamake’s gameplan was undone, as David and Laloata failed to clear a ball from the penalty area, and Jacob Sabua was there to smash home from just inside the penalty box.
Jacob Sabua scored Lae City’s winning goal against Hekari United
For the majority of the rest of the second half, the teams cancelled each other out, with Gunemba and Dabinyaba failing to truly link up with pacy forward Kolu Kepo for Hekari, and Lae dominating the midfield but not creating many clear cut chances on goal. Lae’s Emmanuel Simon looked particularly good as always in the Lae midfield, while Lae’s flowing forward line at times was spearheaded by Ecuadorian Abdias Aguirre, new recruit Stahl Gubag, and goalscorer Sabua – although the lack of a real out-and-out goal threat meant that they probably should have scored more than just the one goal.
Where Lae lack in attack, though, they make up in defence, with brothers Alwin and Felix Komolong looking remarkably assured on the ball and limiting Hekari to half-chances and long shots for the majority of the second half, allowing the league leaders to hold on to a clean sheet and, most importantly, a single-goal victory.
So, a disappointing weekend for Hekari United, compounded further by how comfortable Vitiaz United found their victory over Morobe Wawens earlier in the afternoon in the capital. Mathew David, who moved to Vitiaz United during the mid-season transfer window, scored a marvellous hat-trick to bring his goal tally for his new club to five in three games, and with Wawens unable to find an answer, Vitiaz join Lae at the top of the division, three points ahead of Hekari in third.
Vitiaz United’s starting eleven against Morobe Wawens
In the first match of the day in Port Moresby, Star Mountain continued their remarkable resurgence in the second half of the season with a 3-1 victory over FC Bougainville. Star Mountain now have seven points from their last three games – two more than they achieved in the entire first half of the season. The Tabubil-based side enjoyed two goals from free transfer Riggie Togubai, who most recently was playing for University in the Port Moresby Premier Division, and one from veteran striker Tau Winnie, who took his season tally to four. Bougainville’s Robert Kenake scored a late consolation for the visitors.
Star Mountain’s victory takes them to sixth in the table, just six points off the playoffs; and on current form, that doesn’t look very far away.
That’s because both sides ahead of them seem to have lost their mojo since the resumption of play following the coronavirus outbreak. Tusbab Stallions, in fourth, hosted Morobe United this week expecting a win – especially given the return of key youngster Ricky Wadunah in the midfield and Papalau Awele up front. However, Morobe United, who had looked bereft of form recently, having not won a game since January, came up with a shock win, with goals coming from Alex Kamen and Bruce Tiampo, despite Oswald Bade’s equaliser from the bench for the Stallions.
Meanwhile, Gulf Komara, in fifth, also lost in Lae this week, having travelled there to face FC Kutubu. In a goal fest, Komara’s Kenneth Arah scored a hat-trick from the bench but still ended up on the losing side, with Oberth Simon‘s brace and goals from Aisome Kila and Karesa Morris giving Kutubu a 4-3 victory – a result which still fails to lift them off the foot of the table.
The race for the final playoff spot, then, is very much still on, with Stallions five ahead of nearest rivals Gulf Komara, but with just three points separating Komara in fifth and Kutubu in tenth. With both Tusbab and Komara struggling for form, the resurgence from the sides beneath them could and should be worrying them.
The current standings with six games to play.
Next weekend, the top three are all at home as Lae take on Bougainville in Lae, while Vitiaz host Tusbab Stallions in Port Moresby and Kutubu travel to face Hekari in the capital. Gulf Komara host Morobe United in POM, while Morobe Wawens take on Star Mountain in Lae.
Results:
Star Mountain 3-1 FC Bougainville FC Kutubu 4-3 Gulf Komara Vitiaz United 3-0 Morobe Wawens Tusbab Stallions 1-2 Morobe United Hekari United 0-1 Lae City
This Saturday was a huge day for Rewa fans as the Delta Tigers reached Battle of the Giants’ final after beating Ba in the shootout. However this day was just not perfect for one reason: the serious injury of the talented Josaia Sela.
Sela opened the scoreboard for Rewa in the 35th minute when he found the net from a right-footed shot. However the 17-year-old forward could not celebrate the goal because he got injured at the same time that thousands of people celebrated the goal scored by him. Ba’s goalkeeper Isikeli Sevanaia collided with Sela and the youngster player from Rewa ended up breaking his leg in the play.
His injury caused a stir on social media as people started to blame Sevanaia began to accuse Sevanaia for having purposely injured his opponent – which is a great fallacy. First of all it is important to point that Ba’s goalkeeper was reckless in his move once he should have tried to catch the ball with his arms, and not with his legs.
Sevanaia (left) and Sela (right)
It is clear that Sevanaia collided with his opponent because he was trying to reach the ball but he arrived late and the outcome of this move was a terrible injury that nobody wanted to see. People were shocked with Sela’s broken leg but we can not say that Sevanaia had the intention to injury his opponent.
Oceania Football Center wish a fast recovery to Josaia who is one of the most talented footballers from Fiji. We can not wait to see him back to the pitch to show his talent.
Oceania Football Center 