After finishing the last Telekom S-League season in the third position, Kossa FC staff and players want more. With a big squad with some great names like legendary James Naka and the rising star Barrie Limoki, the team coached by Fred Osifelo wants to make it big this time.
One of the remaining players of the last season is 26-year-old forward Harrison Mala who shared his thoughts about the upcoming Telekom S-League: “I think this season is going to be a very interesting one for us. We have some young players ready to strengthen the team,” he said.
Mala playing for Kossa FC in the last Telekom S-League season – SIFF Media
Harrison Mala finished the 2019-20 Telekom S-League season with fifteen goals scored in thirteen matches and now he is going to have legendary forward James Naka as his teammate upfront: “James Naka is a very good player to play with. His experience and quality will surely be a boost for us,” he pointed. The forward also talked about the arrival of Benjamin and Elis Mana two young futsal players that are going to have an opportunity to play in the pitch: “Both are young players with good footwork and skills and it is going to help us a lot,” said Mala.
Kossa’s first challenge of the season will be against debutants Southern United on this Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium.
After finishing the 2019-20 Telekom S-League in the second position, Henderson Eels want more for this season. The team coached by Eddie Marahare built a very strong squad that is surely one of the best in the country.
Bakale playing for Henderson Eels in 2020 OFC Champions League – OFC Media
It was also confirmed that rising stars Leon Kofana and Raphael Lea’i will remain with the team for the tournament. Both players joined the club for the second half of 2019-20 season and they played important roles in the team, specially Lea’i who scored 24 goals in seven matches in the last edition of he Telekom S-League: “We finished the last season in the second position but we are stronger now so we want to win the title this year,” said Bakale.
Henderson Eels’ first challenge of the season will be against Isabel United on this Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.
After a bad start in the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, the Morobe Wawens are trying to do something different for the league’s resumption as Charlie Foike was appointed to be the team’s head coach for the remainder of the season.
With only ten goals scored in ten matches, it is clear that Wawens need to have a better performance in the attack if they want to win games: “The current season is not being so good for us but we will try our best to improve our performance,” said team’s captain Ferdallas Namuesh.
Namuesh (with the ball) playing for Morobe Wawens in 2019 OFC Champions League – OFC Media
Currently in the seventh position with nine points, Namuesh still believes that they can fight on top: “We still want to reach the top four to advance to the National Soccer League’s semi-finals,” he pointed.
Morobe Wawens will face Morobe United tomorrow at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae in the eleventh matchweek of the current National Soccer League season. You can check the updated schedule of the remaining matches of the league’s regular season by clicking here.
The hosts Lautoka made all they could to surpass one of the favourites teams for this Battle of Giants tournament, but at the end of the day one Fijian international decided the match in favour of the DeltaTigers.
The game started well for the hosts as Netani Doli touched the ball to the goal after a corner in the 14th minute of play to put Lautoka upfront. But it did not take long for the star of the night to get into the game: Setareki Hughes finished with a slice shot the ball in the nets of Joela Biuvanua after receiving the ball in the back of the defense on a flick from his teammate Gabriele Matanisiga.
In the 46th minute, still in the first half, the same Matanisiga found this time Peniame Drova free in the penalty box to score through a powerful header to put Rewa upfront in the scoreline for the first time in the match.
Matanisiga (red) was influential for Rewa with two assists – City Star
In the second half, the debutant Malakai Rakula finished from 35-yeard and equalised the match for the Blues as Rewa’s shot-stopper Senirusi Bokini failed to get the ball allowed it into his nets. But, for the luck of Bokini, Setareki Hughes was a great night: Peniame Drova sent a beautiful through pass to Hughes, that with his left foot put the ball in the right corner of Biuvanua to seal the victory of the team coached by Marika Rodu – the first win for Rewa in the tournament while Lautoka could not approach the home advantage in this Battle of Giants.
All teams will restart the competition tomorrow (08th Aug) in order to pursue a place in the semifinals of the traditional Battle of Giants in its 2020 edition.
The fans were certainly very well entertained in a goal fest between the Men in Black and the Giant Killers. The started good for Nasinu, seemed they were really to kill another giant today, as Jasnit Vikash opened the scoreline after being an one-on-one situation with the young goalkeeper Isikeli Sevanaia. But this was only the start; Abbu Zahid put Ba back in the game as he scored through the penalty spot – just one minute later of the equaliser the talented Saula Waqa put his upfront. The same Abbu Zahid scored a weird free-kick after a mistake from opposition goalkeeper to score another for his side and still in the first half Samuela Drudru added another for the Men in Black after scoring an empty net.
The always strong Sanaila Waqanicakau score his first in the game and fifth for Ba already in the second half – minutes later, Jasnit Vikash had another opportunity to cut the deficit, this time through the penalty spot and he made no mistake. Ba did not stop looking for goals, this time the young Solomon Islander Darold Kakasi put anotoher goal in the nets for team coached by Ronil Kumar to make it 6-2.
Darold Kakasi (black) was a danger for Nasinu defense in the game – FFA Media
In the final minutes of the match, two more goals were scored: the young Sumeet Goundar added another for the Men in Black, but still before the final whistle the Solomon Islander Marlon Nonone scored through the penalty spot once again for Nasinu to give final numbers to the goal fest: 7-3 in favour of Ba.
Ba records a big win and might be very satisfied with its attacking force, while Nasinu will need to improve a lot if they want to have a chance to proceed to the knock-out stage.
Papua New Guinea football star Raymond Gunemba is one more at the spotlight in Oceania football region alongside his best partner Nigel Dabinyaba. This time, as recently Oceania Football Center stated, questions were raised under the legality of the transfer of both players to their new club Hekari United under the PNG National Soccer League regulations.
Raymond and Nigel, former Lae City FC stars were put in question when Lae City’s chairman stated both players were not officially released from their last club to join a Hekari – making so their transfer to a new club void.
In interview to Oceania Football Center, the Papua New Guinean football star explained the situation and shown why he believes he is free to sign to any club – as him and Dabinyaba had done when agreed terms with the Port Moresby-based team: “Lae City’s chairman verbally told us the players during our lunch with their new coach that if any players wanted to leave with the outgoing coach than they were free to go,” said Raymond, “secondly we all the players who walked out of Lae City FC wrote a reconciliation letter through e-mail to franchise owner and he replied back to us stating he would not accept us again to the team and wish us best of luck joining other new team,” added the experienced player. All the situation happened when certain Lae City players, including Raymond and Nigel, decided to leave the club as former head coach Peter Gunemba was sacked. In fact, the response from Lae City’s chairman is according to Gunemba’s words: “Since you all walked out without notice I have decided to release all of you […], You are all released and free to do whatever you choose,” said the Lae City boss in e-mail answer to players’ reconciliation letter. The content of the e-mails was provided by Gunemba.
In the letter, the charmain explains his decision to sack former coach Peter Gunemba and to not allow the return of the players the chose to leave the team with the coach. But, directly to the point, it is clear in the message that the ties between Lae and Raymond/Nigel were terminated according the decision of the manager. “We had tried to contact him after this episode, but he turned the back to us. He did not want to talk to us,” explained Gunemba – “That’s why I am free to choose which team I want to go now and my choice was Hekari United”, added the Papua New Guinean international.
Raymond Gunemba
“He did terminated us, because he was not paying us anymore so we left the team camp. So what is the difference? If he did not release us and we did not get any payment or anything from his company and we have been suffering through five months without a job,” explained Raymond – “You see, if he did not release us than we have to get something from his company, but we have been suffering from this lockdown period and now he is raising concerns about our transfer to Hekari,” added the striker.
Hekari, Gunemba and Dabinyaba concerns were around a possible breaching of the PNG National Soccer League transfer regulations, but “I think the regulation does not state the situation me and Nigel are, but if they want to make decisions they must do it using the treatment and the situation. It is all common sense,” evaluated Raymond. “Another players who were also in the group that walked out and were terminated by Lae City’s chairman just returned to Lae City – they were terminated, but they were free to move back to the team with no concerns,” also added Gunemba.
According to article 30 of Premier Division Comp Regulations 2019/20, “Any player playing for any Football Club team in NSL and has finished his agreement or is terminated from his agreement can apply back to be registered to play in the PNGFA local competition upon satisfying the conditions showing proof of termination of his agreement and a letter of release from the former franchising club. Football Clubs have no right to set conditions for the release letter for a player upon the termination of agreement of play.”
As mentioned previously by Raymond, he received his termination notification through e-mail from his former club chairman and also noticed that “the rules and regulations of NSL did not state our real situation, so NSL can see it and make the decision using their common sense and then later next season they can specify this rule in,” said Gunemba. For the reasons mentioned, the player understands he is free to join Hekari United and defend the Red Army in the remaining matches of the season in Papua New Guinean most important football league.
The current title holders of Battle of Giants had a very debut in the 2020 edition of the traditional tournament; Labasa had to come from behind against a very strong Suva side to collect one point in both sides starting match of the tournament.
The first half lack creativity for both sides; few opportunities were created by the offensive systems of both teams. Atonio Tuivuna was not there for Labasa, a big miss for the team as he will also be losing the next match of the Babasiga Lions in 2020 Battle of Giants.
The first goal of the game came already in the second half when the substitute Patrick Taroga put Suva upfront the scoreline in the 69th minute of play after a confusing play inside the box where many Suva players were left free by Labasa’s defense. Patrick Taroga was set to miss Suva’s opening match in Battle of the Giants due an university exam, but for Suva’s luck the exam was cancelled and the player was able to make it to the matchday squad.
A 1-1 draw was the final result of Suva and Labasa clash – FFA Media
Suva would be celebrating a very important win today if it was not for a very experienced player in Labasa’s squad: Taniela Waqa. The 37-year-old defensive midfielder equalised the match for the Lions already in the final minutes of the game through a powerful header to save his team from the defeat in their opening match of the tournament. You can watch both goals in the clash clicking here.
Now, both Suva and Labasa have one point each in the table and have all to play in their next two matches in the weekend to decide their fate in the competition.
The current PNG National Soccer League champions Lae City will not be counting anymore on the usual Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba in their attack; but the team now coached by Bob Morris will need to move on if they want to defend their national glory this season. As the PNG National Soccer League is set to restart, the recent addition to Lae’s, the Ecuadorian midfielder Abdias Aguirre, seems determinated to fill the gaps the left and procude good quality football in order to help his team to get another national title: “I’m focused to be champion; personally I am working always in the gym, training each day harder in the pitch to help Lae to win the league“, said the Ecuadorian.
Abdias, alongside his compatriot Gustine Icaza Vergara, joined Lae City in the start of the year to help them in OFC Champions League; both South Americans featured in the regional tournament but could not help their team to proceed to the knock-out stage as they were beaten by Vanuatuan champions Malampa Revivors in the decisive clash in the group stage. Now, Abdias Aguirre, that is having his first experience playing away from his home country, put all his focus in the national league: “the competition will be hard, Hekari signed some important players for the restart of the league, another teams are preparing well – but Lae City is strong and we are focused, we want the trophy,” explained the 21-year-old midfielder.
Abdias Aguirre
The experience Abdias is having is unique – not always a South American comes to play in Oceania or especially in Papua New Guinea. He assumed he sees differences from what he was used in his motherland Ecuador from the type of football played in Papua New Guinea: “Well, from what I can see I see the game is very fast, a lot of one-two combinations, it is very strong. In South America the players concentrate more in building up plays, taking care of ball possession. Here in Papua New Guinea I feel the players put the ball forward with much urgency, they do not control the timing and it makes them get tired; they forget there is still a second half to be played – there are lots of differencies,” explains the midfielder – “It is not bad to put the ball upfront, the teams attack and they can press them, so we have game to play,” added the Ecuadorian.
Abdias will be looking to add the usual quality of South American football to Lae City’s squad alongside his compatriot Gustine; both are certainly hungry to prove theirselves in Papua New Guinea, to solidify their presence in the team and to contribute for a possible national league victory that would seal a perfect first season for the first ever Ecuadorians to feature in PNG National Soccer League.
It was Nadi the first team to record a win in 2020 edition of the traditional Battle of Giants; the GreenMachine won Navua in both sides debut to collect their first three points in the table. Nadi did not have much problems to overcome the current bottom ranked side of Vodafone Premier League as in the first they were leading by two thanks to two goals of the winger Josua Tawake.
In the second half the Jetsetters continue to attack to increase their advantage and it came in the 65th minute through a mistake from Navua’s goalkeeper Rusiate Amasio that scored an own goal. The team coached by Kamal Swamy controlled possesion and was satisfied with this important victory, it was exactly when Nadi’s defense commited a foul inside the box – a penalty kick was awarded and Navua team captain Vineet Chand cut the deficit at the 80th minute of play.
Nadi started in fashion the 2020 BOG – FFA Media
But Navua could not continue their comeback – in the 86th minute Nadi’s captain Avinesh Suwamy added another for the green side to give final numbers to the clash: final result, Nadi wins Navua by 4-1 – click here to watch the goals of this match.
This was the first match of the competition that continues all over this weekend in Lautoka.
Currently in the eighth position in the league table, Star Mountain FC suffered many changes for PNG National Soccer League’s resumption as Bernard Purari, Steven Inia and assistant coach Percy Mataio left the team while seven new players joined the club for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
One of the players who joined the club is former FC Bougainville’s full back Moses Arisib: “He can play in almost every position, but I like him when he playis in the flank,” said Star Mountain’s manager Joseph Ame.
Star Mountain’s manager Joseph Ame
The team coached by Selan Elizah had a good preparation for the league’s resumption despite the 5-0 loss in a friendly match against FC Bougainville. Anyway, Ame understands that his team needs to win games if they want to fight for something in the season: “Our aiming is to make into top four,” he stated.
Star Mountain will face Vitiaz United tomorrow at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby. You can check the updated schedule of the remaining matches of National Soccer League’s regular season by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 