The soap opera is over! Nigel Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba are finally cleared to play for Hekari United after facing lots of trouble with their former club Lae City FC.
According to National Soccer League (NSL) Manager Dimirit Mileng, the league’s secretariat has ruled that the players are a liberty to transfer to their new club: “Players right and welfare is paramount for the two player’s transfer, provided there is no liability or encumbrances under any exiting contract,” he said.
Gunemba (left) and Dabinyaba (right) are finally cleared to play for Hekari United
Hekari United’s next clash in the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is against Lae City FC so Dabinyaba and Gunemba might debut for Hekari against their former team. This match is scheduled to take place on this Saturday at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The biggest surprise of 2020 Battle of the Giants is surely Nadi. The Green Machine won all their three matches in the group stage to lead the Group B with nine points. Now the team coached by Kamal Swamy has a bigger challenge: a clash against Suva in the semi-finals.
Nadi scored eight goals in the group stage even without forwards Napolioni Qasevakatini and Rusiate Matarerega who got injured during the tournament. On the other hand, midfielder Avinesh Suwamy found the net four times in Battle of the Giants – including a hat-trick against Lautoka – which puts him as the current top scorer of the tournament. When asked about his recent goals, Suwamy kept his feet on the ground: “I would love to score again, but football is a team sport so winning is the most important goal,” he said.
Avinesh Suwamy playing for Nadi in Battle of the Giants – Fiji FA Media
Nadi’s captain understands the importance of this tournament for Green Machine’s fans as they last won this tournament in 1996: “Our preparation was quite good. We will do our best against Suva in order to reach the final,” he said.
The clash between Nadi and Suva is scheduled to kick-off at 4pm on Saturday at Churchill Park in Lautoka. You can check more information about the tournament by clicking here.
Rewa are living a wonderful season in Fiji. The Delta Tigers are currently leading the Vodafone Premier League and they are also qualified for Battle of the Giants’ semi-finals. The team coached by Marika Rodu finished the group stage in the second position and now they need to beat Ba if they want to reach the final match.
In an exclusive interview with Oceania Football Center, Rodu revealed that winning Batthe of the Giants is a secondary goal for Rewa. Anyway, the head coach understands the importance of this tournament for players due to cash incentives. While Rodu is trying to preserve the squad in order to avoid problems with injuries or suspensions, the players are ready for a huge battle this weekend: “I will play all-out. If we do our part, we can achieve good results,” said Rewa’s forward Gabriele Matanisiga.
Matanisiga playing for Rewa in 2020 Battle of the Giants – Fiji FA Media
The Delta Tigers are a very successful team when it comes to Battle of the Giants as they won five out of the last ten editions of the tournament. However Matanisiga knows that the number of titles will not mean anything throughout the 90 minutes: “We have been training and learning every single day to get better for this tournament,” he stated.
Many people in Fiji were affected by COVID-19 crisis, specially football players which means that winning this tournament can bring a financial boost for players in order to help their families after tough months: “Winning this tournament will be an honor for us and our families. We will bring honor to Rewa after this crisis,” pointed Matanisiga.
The clash between Rewa and Ba is scheduled to kick-off at 2pm on Saturday at Churchill Park in Lautoka. You can check full information about the tournament by clicking here.
Ifira Black Bird are living a marvelous season in Vanuatu: they won the Opening Cup and reached PVFA Independence Cup‘s final where they lost to Galaxy FC. Also, Ifira are currently sharing the PVFA Premier League’s lead with Tafea as both teams are tied in the first position with eighteen points in nine matches.
This wonderful season is something very exciting for players and fans as the team is fighting for the league title, but players need to keep their feet on the ground: “We can stay on top if we remain focused on winning the league,” said Ifira’s forward Lee Taiwia.
Lee Taiwia
Taiwia and his teammates will face Sia-Raga – a team that they have beaten by 11-0 in the Independende Cup – when league resumes. However Lee knows that they can not underestimate any team: “We are working hard for all remaining matches. Our team work is very strong and we are focused on winning,” he stated – “Winning PVFA Premier League is our goal, and I believe we can make it,” he added.
Ifira have four matches to keep their moment to win Premier League. You can check the current league standings and the full schedule of the tournament by clicking here.
Former Ba attacker Micah Tommy will not feature for Tafea in the remaining matches of the 2019/20 season of Port Vila top-tier league. The information was confirmed by Tafea’s manager and former Vanuatu national team head coach Robert Calvo. The Ni-Vanuatu forward, that recently departed from Ba to return to his former club, will not be available for Tafea at PVFA Premier League: “According to Batick Bong Shem of Vanuatu Football Federation, transfer window is not open yet, therefore he will not played for the remaining games of the premier league, only next season,” explained Calvo.
Tommy, that recently stated his reasons for leaving Ba, played for Tafea in the 2020 Port Vila Independence Cup, but in an official tournament as PVFA Premier League, the player will need to wait until next season’s transfer window to receive Ba’s clearance in order to rejoin officialy Tafea.
Micah Tommy – MG Tafea FC Media
“He [Batick Bong Shem] said TMS [Transfer Matching System] does not allow to proceed to his transfer at the moment – now only in new transfer window in September,” added Robert Calvo.
Micah Tommy’s absence will be a huge blow for Tafea in their fight for the top spot in 2019/20 PVFA Premier League. The regional league in Vanuatu’s capital city will restart next month.
Wellington Phoenix could not capitalise their chances against a well-organised Newcastle Jets side in the team final match for the regular season of the Hyundai A-League. Despite not counting on top-striker Gary Hooper, the team coached by Ufuk Talay expected a win from this clash in order to secure their third place in the the league’s ladder.
The Nix pressed high the Jets in the first part of the game – despite being a constant danger for the opposition back line, Phoenix could not connect properly in order to score first in the match. After around 20 minute of pressure, Jets enjoyed more ball possession and started to be push up their lines and create some danger to the Steven Taylor’s defensive system. Unfortunately for New Zealand-based side, Jets found the nets just before half time as Nicholas Fitzgerald counted on a deflection from Luke DeVere to put the ball in the nets for his side.
Jets celebrate one of their goals – Newcastle Jets Media
In the second half, Phoenix introduced Alex Rufer in place of Matti Steinmann in order to reinforce their creativity upfront. Phoenix continued on top pursuing an equaliser and almost got when Liberato Cacacewith an solo effort play almost forced Jets to an own goal, but it was brilliantly saved by young goalkeeper Noah James.
Birnie Ibini, in one of his first touches in the game, scored a fantastic goal to double the lead for Newcastle Jets – an unstoppable finish for Stefan Marinovic. Three minutes, a lapse of concentration allowed Jason Hoffman to receive the ball in the box to add another for his team; 3-0 for Jets.
Phoenix had at least two occasions in the match of a possible penalty denied by the referee – that according to senior NZF referees, they should had been given. Despite all efforts of Phoenix, the team is now heading to the finals in a bad record: in the last four matches, two defeats and two draws.
Wellington will wait the outcome of the final matches of Western United – the only team that can take their current 3rd place in the standings – to get to know their opponent in the first challenge at A-League finals. This will be second season in a row the club from Wellington heads to the league finals.
The Nix is set for its final match in the regular season of the Australian top-tier Hyundai A-League. The New Zealand-based side will play at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium against Newcastle Jets looking for confirm their 3rd place in the run for the finals of A-League.
The coach Ufuk Talay will not count on Tim Payne and Gary Hooper as both players sustained injuries being so unavailable for this clash against Jets. After scoring the late equaliser in the last match against Brisbane Roar, the English marksman Hooper will be certainly a miss for this clash, but it is expected the striker reinforce the Nix at A-League finals.
Phoenix and Newcastle Jets last match in Sky Stadium
Phoenix will expect a better performance from the Mexican midfielder Ulises Davila in order to finish the regular season in a high. As it is virtually impossible to take the 2nd spot from Melbourne City at this point – they would need to cut a huge goal deficit from the current second-placed side -, Phoenix will be looking to confirm their third place in the ladder.
The match will kick-off at 9:30pm NZT and will live telecasted by Fox Sports and livestremaed by MyFootball App and YouTube channel.
After a terrible start in 2019-20 PVFA Premier League with only two wins in nine matches, Tupuji Imere has to make up for lost time in order to avoid relegation. The team coached by legendary David Chilia will have a strengthened squad for the final part of the season to fight for every single point in the five remaining matches.
One of the players that are confirmed in the squad is Vanuatu international Raoul Coulon. The 24-year-old footballer is back to his homeland after spending some months abroad due to seasonal working. His first appearance for Tupuji Imere in this year was in PVFA Independence Cup last month: “I am more than happy to be back to football,” said Coulon. His team was knocked-out in the group stage with only one win in three matches – a disappointing campaign for a team that won this tournament last year.
Raoul (left) with his twin brother Michel (right) while celebrating 2019 PVFA Independende Cup title – Vanuatu Sports News
Coulon has not played in the current PVFA Premier League season yet so he is determined to help his team to win matches in order to escape from relegation to PVFA First Division – the second-tier of football in Port Vila: “I think we are ready for Premier League,” he stated.
Tupuji Imere is currently in the seventh position with eight points in nine matches – only two points ahead bottom-placed team Mauwia. You can check the standings, schedule and top goalscorers of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League by clicking here.
Despite losing in the opening matchweek, Southern United called the attention of local fans as they performed in a good level against Kossa FC. The debutant team is led by head coach Stanley Waita who recently coached Solomon Islands U17 National Football Team but there is another person who must be highlighted: Micah Lea’alafa.
Lea’alafa is surely one of the most important footballers from Solomon Islands. The 28-year-old forward recently had the opportunity to play football internationally when he spent some months playing for Maritzburg United from South Africa. Back to the country, Micah decided not to play Telekom S-League, but he is still involved with the league as he is Stanley Waita’s right-hand man in Southern United.
Lea’alafa (left) and Waita (right)
Micah is Waita’s assistant in the team and he is playing an important role by helping the head coach in training sessions. Also he was on Southern United’s bench alongside the head coach in the opening match of the season.
Southern United started 2020 Telekom S-League season in the ninth position. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Hekari United’s win over Bougainville in the last weekend – the first matchweek after the forced break due COVID-19 – saw a different Red Army side struggling to get opportunities upfront. With the absence of Ishmael Pole, back-up goalkeeper Dave Tomare needed to make a serie of interventions to prevent the now Percy Mataio-coached side Bougainville of grabbing an upset at PNG Football Stadium.
Key players such as Koriak Upaiga were also absent from the clash; the duo Nigel Dabinyaba andRaymond Gunemba were expected to debut for Hekari, but they had issues regarding their transfer to the team and they are still waiting for a greenlight from PNGFA and NSL Board to feature for the team momentarily coached by Eric Komeng.
Hekari allowed much space in the back; Bougainville was ready to harm them in the counter-attack, but luckily for Hekari, the team led by Basil Jofari was unable to find the net. Hekari needed a win to continue in the fight for the top of the table as Lae City had already won their match against Gulf Komara. In the dying moments of the game, a player stepped up to take responsibility and give Hekari all points from the clash: Kolu Kepo.
Kolu Kepo – OFC Media
Kepo scored both goals of Hekari in the clash – that you can watch here – to secure valuable three points for the Reds. Kepo has been a very important player for Hekari throughout the years; the player who already represented Papua New Guinea national team six times can be seen as an underrated player in his country.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder scored a magnificent goal against Eastern Suburbs in the OFC Champions League this year and has already notched six goals in the PNG National Soccer League in the current season – the top scorer of Hekari United in the league so far. Alongside his twin brother Ati Kepo, Kolu has been one of the most efficient players of the Reds in the past two seasons, but it is really rare to see him being praised.
Now with the introduction of Gunemba and Dabinyaba in Hekari United squad, both Kepo brothers might see their space in the starting eleven in danger, possibly reducing their football minutes throughout the remaining matches of the season. Despite the quality of the new signings, Kolu deserves the appreciation of his efforts and Hekari United fans should be pleased with his contribution.
Kolu Kepo is not only a goalscorer, but he is also effective with his playmaking, creating plenty of goalscoring chances, and especially with his off-ball movement allowing gaps for his teammates to fill in, penetrating in the opposition’s defensive line. Kepo’s pace is also remarkable, a complete attacking midfielder in the modern era of Oceania football, rotation to side-to-side to create space; he is a team player that also has individual skills to be exalted.
Oceania Football Center 