Oceania Football Center

Darold Kakasi: an underrated player

Ba is having a season of ups and downs; after the most shameful moment of their history in the start of the year in the OFC Champions League, the Men in Black are recovering themselves in the current season: after winning a series of matches in Fiji’s top-tier Vodafone Premier League – sitting now 2nd in the process – the team coached by Ronil Kumar qualified for the semi-final stage of the traditional Battle of Giants, but ended up finishing 3rd in the tournament as they defeated Nadi in the 3rd/4th playoff – Ba lost to Rewa in one of the semi-finals in the penalty shootout.

Exactly in the Battle of Giants, one young Solomon Islander stepped up to score in the last match of the tournament for Ba – that secured for them the 3rd place in the competition: Darold Kakasi. The former Laugu United man was instrumental for Ba, especially in their final match as he scored a brace against Nadi to give the bronze medal to the Men in Black. The U23 Solomon Islands international is being a regular starter for Ba since the last season – always being valuable for the team, the player is still to be recognised by his efforts.

The 21-year-old attacker scored three goals in the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants. Kakasi almost left Ba in the most recent transfer window in Fiji – the player was in talks to move to Rewa, but Ba managament persuaded him to continue in the team.

The Solomon Islander is still to receive a call up for his senior national team, but he already captained the U23 side in the last OFC U23 Olympic Qualifiers, competition that his team reached the grand final match but was defeat by a strong New Zealand side.

Since Kakasi rejoined Ba – after a little stint in Laugu United in 2019’s edition of Telekom S-League in his country – the player was used in various positions: in the OFC Champions League, coach Ricki Herbert used Kakasi as a full-back, back in the Vodafone Premier League and Battle of Giants, the player was used more as winger or even forward. His hard work and strong contribution to Ba continues as always, even after rumours linked him out of the club.

Despite his always hardworking mentality and good production inside the pitch, the young Solomon Islander is not usually seem as one of the key members of Ba squad by local fans. Kakasi is proving his value in Fiji and showing to the Oceania football community he has what it takes to fly even higher.

Navua’s youngster Thomas Dunn has his chance to impress in Fiji national team training camp

Navua is not doing a so good season so far in Vodafone Premier League – the team is at the bottom of the table three points away from 7th placed-side Nasinu. In the recent Battle of Giants, despite an impressive win over Lautoka, the team could not proceed to the semi-final stage of the traditional tournament.

Despite Navua poor results, the performances of one of their players are getting attention all over the football community in Fiji: the 17-year-old Thomas Dunn. The young midfielder is being one of the best performers of Navua alongside the experienced Apisai Smith. The talented Dunn was part of the Fijian U16 national team squad in the recent OFC U16 Championship, competition that his team was knocked-out in the semi-finals after a defeat against Solomon Islands.

Now, Dunn has another important chapter of his football career: the player was called up by Fiji national team head coach Flemming Serritslev for an one-week training period. Dunn will have the opportunity to attend training sessions alongside key football players of Fiji football scenario such as Setareki Hughes and Malakai Rakula – and certainly a great chance for the youngster to have the legend Roy Krishna as his teammate in this training camp.

The 17-year-old will not only have the opportunity to better his football when training with Fijian superstars and having the guidance of the experienced Danish coach Serritslev, but also the chance to impress the Bula Boys‘ staff in order to get a call up for the next challenges of the national team.

While it is uncertain when international football will restart in Oceania, Dunn will need to work extra hard to improve the results of his Navua side in the Vodafone Premier League and upcoming cup tournaments in Fiji. Adding to a possible improvement of Navua in the season a good training spell with national team, Dunn’s chance to receive a call up will turn into a real possibility.

Solomon Islands’ Judd Molea back to action after long football break

The hard fought 1-0 win of Solomon Warriors against Marist FC this Wednesday (19th Aug) was not only the debut of the current national champions in Solomon Islands. The game also marked the return of the pitch of the new number 10 of Warriors for the season: Judd Molea.

The Solomon Islands international played his last official football match in 2018 for the same Solomon Warriors – helping the team to clinch the title in the that season -, but did not feature for any other side in the country or abroad since its last appearance for the club. Molea played an important role in the 1-0 of his side against Marist, helping the title holders to start the season with a win.

Judd Molea against Marist FC – *S-League Media*

The player that will turn 32 this month has still a lot to contribute to Warriors and Solomon Islands football: “First proper game back after a very long time. Felt so good. Tough 3 points against a very young, fast and energetic Marist team.Looking forward to a fun and enjoyable season with these boys“, said the midfielder in his social account.

Molea already represented Solomon Islands national team for 13 times scoring for goals donning his country’s colours. The player also has plenty of experience when it comes to the most important club football competition of Oceania – OFC Champions League. The player represented clubs such as Hekari United, Lautoka and his current Solomon Warriors in the regional tournament.

Akuila Mateisuva to represent Rewa in Futsal Inter-District Championship

One of the most important players of Labasa is set to represent Rewa in this weekend’s Futsal Inter-District Championship. The goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva will be one of the most known player of Rewa’s squad in the competition that will take place this weekend FMF Gymnasium in Suva.

Mateisuva represented Fiji in the last OFC Futsal Nations Cup in 2019 – the team’s first choice goalkeeper – when the futsal national team finished 5th in the tournament. Mateisuva will have as teammates the brothers Bruce and Setareki Hughes in Rewa – they were also with the goalkeeper in the 2019 OFC Futsal Nations Cup competition held in New Caledonia.

Akuila Mateisuva in 2019 playing for Fiji Futsal – *OFC Media*

Four Suva reps – Nickel Chand, Iosefo Verevou, Shahil Dave and Filipe Baravilala – will also be part of the Rewa’s squad that is full of important players for this weekend’s competition. Another districts will also have players that are currently registered to other districts for football tournaments, as Suva will feature Nasinu’s Marlon Nonone and Lautoka will count on Nadi’s Napolioni Qasevakatini.

The Futsal Inter-District championship was set to be played last year, but due measles outbreak that affected the region in the last months of the year, the 2019 Futsal Inter-District Championship will take place now in August, 2020.

Haddis Aengari’s late goal give Solomon Warriors debut win over Marist in Telekom S-League

The completion of the second round of Telekom S-League saw the current title holders Solomon Warriors field a very different starting team than usual against the good side of Marist FC. The team coached by Selson Molea could not count on players such as Dennis Ifunaoa and Tigi Molea for their debut in the season – as Warriors had a bye week in the first week of football in the national league.

Patrick Miniti’s side Marist had a clear strategy against Warriors: counter-attack. The former OFC Champions League semi-finalists counted on the pace of players such as Abraham Iniga upfront to harm the current champions in their fast transitions to attack. Warriors led by John Alick in the midfield, created some opportunities in the first half, but could open the scoreline. Good combinations in the midfield between Alick and other two important midfielders Alwin Hou and Judd Molea were always dangerous for Marist defense led by John Aeta, but Marist managed to keep the danger out of the box.

Warriors first choice goalkeeper Timothy Mae’arasia was forced to make interventions – the pacy Dalton Saeni was dangerous in the left flank, but rarely could not connect with Iniga upfront and create goalscoring chances -, but Marist had their moments in the first half as their counter-attacking strategy seemed to work in the first 45 minutes.

Haddis Aengari scored the winner for Warriors – *S-League Media*

As Warriors managed to control the tempo of the game in the first half, the team captained by Haddis Aengari decided to put more intensity in the final 45 to get a much needed goal. Warriors saw Henderson Eels smash Isabel United and Laugu United in their both first two matches in the season – the current champions did not want to see another title contenders rising up, they needed to win.

Marist was dangerous in counter-attack, but unfortunately for the team coached by Patrick Miniti, a late goal confirmed the favouritism of Warriors. After a corner, a pinball inside the box ended up in front of Solomon Islands international Haddis Aengari that with a header put the ball in the nets already in the final stages of the match. The 1-0 lead was sustained by Solomon Warriors until the final whistle giving the champions a win in their debut in the 2020 Telekom S-League.

Warriors will have another important clash in the weekend as they play their second match in the league against Kossa. You can see the update standings of Telekom S-League by clicking here.

Henderson Eels: Tutizama Tanito praises team work against Laugu United

The second matchweek of 2020 Telekom S-League finished on this Wednesday when Solomon Warriors beat Marist FC by 1-0. However the biggest moment of the round was surely Henderson Eels’ 7-0 win over Laugu United on Saturday.

Despite being the favorites to win the match, nobody expected beat Laugu by 7-0. Joses Nawo and Raphael Lea’i were on fire as both players scored six of the team’s seven goals in the match while Tutizama Tanito found the net once: “Our forwards performed really well but team work was the key for our victory against Laugu United,” revealed Tanito.

Tanito playing for Henderson Eels in 2020 OFC Champions League – *OFC Media*

Henderson Eels started the season in a high level as the team coached by Eddie Marahare is leading the league with six points in two matches: “The season has just started but if we stay on the right track we can win the league,” pointed Tanito.

Eels’ next match will be against Central Coast FC on Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara – the capital of Solomon Islands. You can check the current Telekom S-League standings, top scorers and results by clicking here.

VFF National League kicks-off on Saturday

A national tournament is ready to kick-off in Vanuatu: the VFF National League. The tournament will be contested by eight teams – one from each member association.

The eight teams were split in two groups of four teams each. Malampa FA, Port Vila FA, Shefa FA and Tafea FA are in the Southern Group while Luganville FA, Penama FA, Sanma FA and Torba FA are in the Northern Group.

VFF National League kicks-off this Saturday

The eight member associations were allowed to pick eighteen players to their squads. These players must be born in the respective FA region or serve in a club linked to this FA. You can check Port Vila FA’s squad by clicking here.

The tournament’s final is scheduled to take place on August 29 at Korman Stadium in Port Vila – the capital of Vanuatu. Oceania Football Center wish good luck to all teams.

Fiji: Tavua in trouble with Nadroga’s unbeaten run in Vodafone Senior League

The last weekend was a very exciting one in Fiji as the Battle of the Giants’ finals took place at Churchill Park in Lautoka. However there were another football matches being contested throughout the weekend in the Vodafone Senior League – the second division of Fijian football.

Eleven teams are fighting for a spot in 2021 Vodafone Premier League. These teams are split in two groups – one with five (Viti Levu Zone) and one with six teams (Vanua Levu Zone) – and the winner of each group will play a final play-off in November to decide which club will be promoted to the major football league in the country.

After being relegated to Senior League, Tavua are facing some difficulties in the second division as they are seeing Tailevu Naitasiri and Nadroga above them in Viti Levu Zone. Current leaders Nadroga are surely the ones to be beaten this season since they added Osea Vakatalesau and Paulo Buke to their squad to fight for promotion this year.

Tavua must fight for every single point if they want to return to Vodafone Premier League – *Fiji FA Media*

While Nadroga lead one group, Seaqaqa lead Vanua Levu Zone. The team based in the northern side of Vanua Levu won three matches in a row to take the lead of the group. However they have a tough opponent in the fight for the first position – Bua FC – that have beaten Seaqaqa in the opening round of the season. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.

With half the season already played, it is obvious that everything can change. However Nadroga seem to be the strongest side of 2020 Vodafone Senior League and the other teams must work the extra mile to beat them.

Dennis Ifunaoa to miss Solomon Warriors’ debut in Telekom S-League

One of the most important players from Solomon Warriors, Dennis Ifunaoa is going to miss today’s match against Marist FC. The 28-year-old winger suffered a head knock and he is expected to be available for the next match against Kossa FC.

Ifunaoa joined the team in the last year after spending a season with Labasa from Fiji. He scored five goals in seven matches in 2019-20 Telekom S-League and he was an important player for the team in the title race against Henderson Eels.

The clash between Warriors and Marist FC is scheduled to kick-off at 4pm (local time) at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara – the capital of Solomon Islands. This match will be livestreamed on Telekom S-League Facebook Page.

Gibson Daudau unable to rejoin Solomon Warriors due to border restrictions

After clinching 2019-20 Telekom S-League title, Solomon Warriors have the mission to defend their title in the current season and this mission begins today when they will face Marist FC at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara – the capital of Solomon Islands.

Warriors’ 25-men official squadlist for Telekom S-Leauge was released a couple of weeks ago Despite being part of Warriors’ official list, Gibson Daudau is not available to play as he is currently in Vanuatu. The 31-year-old winger is unable to rejoin the club due to border restrictions caused by COVID-19 pandemics: “I was visiting my family in Vanuatu when the borders were closed,” he revealed.

Daudau playing 2020 OFC Champions League for Warriors – *OFC Media*

Despite being stuck in Vanuatu, Daudau keeps working hard in order to stay fit as he has been training with Tafea FC: “I played PVFA Independence Cup for Tafea FC because it was a friendly tournament,” he explained – “I am waiting for a flight to go home,” he added.

The clash between Warriors and Marist FC is scheduled to kick-off at 4pm. The match will be livestreamed on S-League’s Facebook page.