Oceania Football Center

Hekari United’s Junior David expects a tough contest against FC Bougainville

One of the top teams from Papua New Guinea, Hekari United aims the top of the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League as they were knocked out in the group stage of 2020 OFC Champions League.

Currently in the third position in the table with 23 points in ten matches, Hekari can reach the top of the table tomorrow depending on other results. Anyway, players know the importance of stay focused on every single match, including tomorrow’s clash against FC Bougainville: “It is going to be a tough game but we are ready for the match,” said young defender Junior David.

Junior David (left) playing for Hekari United

Hekari lost some players like Erick Joe and Vinicius Kryzozun from Brazil. On the other hand it is also known that Nigel Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba joined the team for the remaining of the season after leaving Lae City in March.

The clash between Hekari United and FC Bougainville is scheduled to kick-off on Saturday at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby. You can check the schedule of the remaining matches of National Soccer League’s regular season by clicking here.

New Zealand duo sign for Swedish club

Two New Zealand players have a new club in Europe; former U20 international Jesse Edge and the youngster Matthew Conroy are the newly signings of Swedish 3rd tier side IFK Berga. Edge that already played in countries such as Italy, Slovakia and Czech Republic and most recently played for Duth side SV DFS, Conroy – that was part of New Zealand squad of U20 FIFA World Cup in 2019 – most recently played for Danish club Vejle, but only featured for club’s U19 team.

IFK Berga, Division 1 team in Sweden, is in a very complicated situation in the season as they sit bottom of the table in the competition losing all their nine matches so far in the season. The club’s website presented the players as very important signings to help them improve in the table and avoid relegation.

FC Kutubu’s new signing Emmanuel Simongi shows ambition for National Soccer League

FC Kutubu’s squad suffered a lot of changes in the last Papua New Guinean transfer window. Four important players left the team alongside with head coach Mathew Witu while Dinniget Luaine and Emmanuel Simongi joined the team to play the remainder of 2019-20 National Soccer League season.

Both players will have a tough mission: lead Kutubu’s midfield against better teams and the first challenge will be this weekend against Tusbab Stallions at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae – “I am looking forward to help Kutubu and hopefully we can advance to the semi-finals,” said Simongi; it is important to remember that Kutubu is currently in the last position in the table with six points in ten matches.

Emmanuel Simongi playing for Papua New Guinea U23 National Team – *OFC Media*

Simongi also revealed the reason for leaving his former club Morobe Wawens: “I did not hesitate to join the team when I heard that well known Harrison Kamake would be the involved with Kutubu for the remainder of the season“. Kamake was Simongi’s head coach in the U17 and U19 National Teams a few years ago.

As it was mentioned above, Kutubu will have a very difficult challenge against Tusbab Stallions this week. You can check the updated schedule of the remaining matches of Natinal Soccer League’s regular season by clicking here.

Eliud Fugre: we need to work hard to keep Vitiaz United on top

The 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League resumes this weekend and now it is time to see how all ten teams are going to perform in the remaining matches of the season. Most people will probably look at national powerhouses Hekari United and Lae City, but it is very important to remember that a new franchise is currently on the top: Vitiaz United.

With eight wins in ten matches, Vitiaz United is surely a team to look at and people must consider the team coached by Nathan Vincent as a serious contender to win the current National Soccer League season. Despite being on top of the table, the players know that there is still a lot to come: “We are the top team in the table but we have not fully secured the top position yet, we still need to maintain our form and focus on our goals and objectives,” said team’s captain Eliud Fugre.

Fugre (left) is the captain of current PNG National Soccer League leaders Vitiaz United

The 31-year-old forward also highlighted the team’s preparation for the upcoming challenges: “We have maintained a close team bonding which is a key aspect of our culture during preparations. After all football is a sport which needs proper team coordination to win games. Training and tactical sessions have been put in place to get us on track for the league’s resumption,” he stated – “Anyway I am happy with what we have done in the league so far,” added Fugre.

Vitiaz United officially returns to a football pitch on this Saturday against Star Mountain FC at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby. You can check the updated schedule of the remaining matches of the season by clicking here.

Morobe United’s Bruce Tiampo focused on PNG National Soccer League’s resumption

Currently in the ninth position in 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, Morobe United was not having a good season until the COVID-19 pandemics that forced the league to stop for five months. However, the coaching staff and players are focused on proving that they can do something better now.

Morobe United is surely one of the teams that had more time to get ready for the league’s resumption as they started training in the last week: “We have a new team specially in the midfield as Emmanuel Simongi and Obert Simon left the team to join Kutubu,” said 18-year-old attacking midfielder Bruce Tiampo.

Bruce Tiampo playing for Morobe United – *PNGFA Media*

Tiampo’s team also has a bad record when it comes to scoring goals as Morobe United has the worst attack in the league with ten goals scored in ten matches: “Our attack was very poor, we are focused on improving it. Our front line needs to step up and score,” he pointed – “We still want to finished in the top four to reach the semi-finals,” he added.

Morobe United will face Morobe Wawens at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae. You can check the updated schedule of the remaining matches of the 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League’s regular season by clicking here.

Rupa Emil: Gulf Komara is working hard for National Soccer League’s resumption

After a long wait the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is ready to resume on this Saturday as five matches are going to be contested – two in Lae and three in country’s capital Port Moresby.

One of the most interesting matches of this weekend is the clash between current league champions Lae City and Gulf Komara that is currently in the fifth position: “We have been training for eight weeks. We are focused on taking every single game seriously, specially this one against Lae,” said Komara’s forward Rupa Emil.

Rupa Emil (in black and white kit) playing for Gulf Komara – *PNGFA Media*

Emil is one of the key players of the team and he believes that the team is stronger for the remainder of the season: “We had time to work on our weakness and I believe in the coaching staff and in my teammates,” he pointed.

Gulf Komara is currently four points ahead fourth placed team Tusbab Stallions which means that Emil and his teammates are still alive to fight for a spot in the National Soccer League’s semi-finals: “We can not underestimate any team if we really want to fight for a spot in the semi-finals,” said Rupa.

You can check the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League standings by clicking here and the schedule of the remaining matches by clicking here.

Bayern’s Sarpreet Singh joins FC Nürnberg on loan

Sarpreet Singh is ready to join a new club on loan. It was reported by Bild.de that the 21-year-old player from New Zealand is going to play for FC Nürnberg in the 2.Bundesliga – the second tier of German football – on loan from Bayern München.

Singh is one of the most promising players from Bayern and it is expected that he is going to have more game time playing in the second division which will help him to develop as a player. Christian Früchtl is another young player from Bayern that joined FC Nürnberg on loan for 2020-21 season.

The All Whites international was a regular starter at Bayern II in the 3.Bundesliga – the third-tier of German football – but he did not have many opportunities in the main squad as he played only two matches in Bayern’s first team.

Singh joined Bayern in the last year after impressing when playing for Wellington Phoenix in Hyundai A-League – the major football league from Australia. He made his official debut for New Zealand National Football Team at senior level in a 1-0 loss against Canada in 2018.

Patrick Taroga to miss Suva’s opening match in Battle of the Giants

The 2020 Battle of the Giants kicks-off today at Churchill Park in Lautoka as four matches are going to be contested throughout the opening day, including an interesting clash between current tournament champions Labasa against Suva in the Group A.

It is already known that Labasa will not count on defensive midfielder Atonio Tuivuna as he was red carded in the Babasiga Lions’ last official match against Ba. However Labasa is not the only team that will not count on an important midfielder as Suva’s Patrick Taroga is expected to miss the match due to university commitments: “I am very busy with the university but I must be available for the second match against Nasinu,” revealed Taroga.

Patrick Taroga must miss Suva’s opening match against Labasa

Taroga joined Suva in the last transfer window. The 20-year-old midfielder from Solomon Islands is having his first experience playing in Fiji and he is performing in a very good level for the Capital City Boys.

Suva is drawn in Battle of the Giants’ Group A alongside Ba, Labasa and Nasinu. You can check the schedule of the tournament by clicking here.

Solomon Islands: Jerry Allen and Jerry Sam to coach Honiara City in Telekom S-League

Honiara City is one of the three new franchises that are going to feature in this Telekom S-League season alongside Central Coast FC and Southern United. Despite being a new franchise, Honiara City has a very good staff led by Jerry Allen and Jerry Sam.

Allen and Sam are part of the staff of Hekari United from Papua New Guinea but they are currently stuck in Solomon Islands due to border restrictions caused by COVID-19 pandemics so both will be coaching Honiara City in the 2020 Telekom S-League until borders reopen: “The players are happy and enjoying every training session with Allen who is sharing his knowledge with the players,” said Jerry Sam.

Sam also expressed his confidence in the team for the upcoming challenges: “We are a new franchise in the league and we have many young players with hidden talent,” he stated.

Honiara City’s debut in the major football league from Solomon Islands is against Marist FC on Wednesday at Lawson Tama Stadium.

Carlos Onne: Hekari United is working hard to retake top of the table

The recent Hekari United’s signing, the young defender Carlos Onne, is positive abou the restart of PNG National Soccer League. The talented plaeyer talked to Oceania Football Center about his expectation on the restart of the competition and how his new side Hekari United will perform in the coming games.

“It is a big game for us when we play Bougainville this coming weekend,” said Onne – “we have a good team and everyone is working hard to retake the first place in the table,” completed the young central defender. Hekari will restart their campaign against Bougainville this Saturday (08th Aug) -“It is going to be a good football match, it will not come easy for us,” explained the player about his expecations on this upcoming clash.

Carlos Onne in PNG National Team colours – *OFC Media*

Onne is also excited to play alongside the stars Nigel Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba: “The team is doing great in the trainings and Nigel and Raymond as well, they are a fantastic addition,” stated the defender. Even withouth the head coach Jerry Allen, that is momentarily unavailable for Hekari due borders restrictions as he left for his country Solomon Islands in March before Port Moresby’s lockdown, Onne is happy with the training sessions and expects the team can put in practice what they are training in the upcoming clash: “the coach Eric [Komeng] is doing everything he can for us,” stated Onne.

Hekari United is current ranked 3rd in the table of PNG National Soccer League and will look to improve their campaign to retake the first place – place where they were the biggest part of the season so far, just dropping it to Vitiaz United after a a 2-1 defeat to Star Mountain, their last match in the league before the forced break due COVID-19.