Oceania Football Center

New issues on Gunemba-Dabinyaba case transfer to Hekari United

Hekari United got two of the best players in Papua New Guinea to reinforce their squad heading to the restart of PNG National Soccer League. The transfer window period was vital for Hekari’s management to finish negotiations with Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba – transfer window that was under much controversy around Papua New Guinean football community. Former Lae City FC duo are now under the coaching of Eric Komeng preparing for the challenge to retain national glory for the Port Moresby-based club.

But, this week, a report that quoted acting PNG National Soccer League Dimirit Mileng in local newspaper raised questions about the situation on Gunemba and Dabyniaba’s transfer to Red Army. Dimirit Mileng said that if a player is not transferd according to regulations the team will be held accountable for breaching transfer protocols – as mentioned in a recent EMTCV video report. In the article, current Lae City FC franchise owner Ian Chow was also quoted mentioned both Gunemba and Dabinyaba were not officialy released – so their transfer to Hekari would not be under NSL regulations, not allowing them to feature for their new club.

Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba – *EMTV*

Both players were interviewed alongside club manager Vonnie Kapi-Nato by local TV station about the case. “We read in newspaper we were not suspended, but yes terminated. They let us out of the payroll, we were hummiliated,” stated star Raymond Gunemba. Dabinyaba supported the statement from Gunemba and also added they tried to get in touch with Lae City’s franchise onwer to understand the case: “we tried to set up a meeting through email contacting Ian Chow, but his response was negative stating we were not anymore part of his club,” said the Papua New Guinean international.

The situation started when both players decided to leave Lae City after their former coach Peter Gunemba was fired by Lae City’s franchise onwer – then the players walked out and, as mentioned by the star players, they had their contracts terminated with the team. Hekari’s boss Vonnie Kapi-Nato also stated in the press release both players were free agent and that is why she signed them, also added NSL board is aware of the situation.

Due to these unresolved issues, it is not known if both players will feature for Hekari United in this weekend’s clash against Bougainville – Hekari can choose to not select the players for this match to avoid any penalties to Hekari United until the situation is completely cleared.

Telekom S-League: season opener fixtures released

The 2020 edition of the most important football league of Solomon Islands will start this weekend in Honiara. TSL media recently informed the first five games that will be taking place this weekend in the national league.

On Saturday, the first match of the seaoson will see James Naka side Kossa taking on the newly formed Southern United at 2pm in Lawson Tama Stadium. At 4pm, one of the most interesting mathces of the weekend, will see Joses Nawo, Raphael Lea’i and Tutizama Tanito Henderson Eels taking on the new club of Michael Boso and Benjamin Totori, Isabel United.

On Sunday, two more matches will take place at Lawson Tama Stadium: at 2pm Malaita Kings will be taking on the newly created Central Coast and Real Kakamora will have he task to play against the good Laugu United at 4pm.

On Wednesaday we will have the final match of the season opener matchweek as Marist FC take on the new side Honiara City. Current title holders Solomon Warriors will be team on bye this week as we have eleven this season in Telekom S-League – always one team will get a bye matchweek.

Napolioni Qasevakatini: Nadi is here to qualify for semifinals

One of the most known players of Nadi’s squad for this 2020 Battle of Giants, Napolioni Qasevakatini, talked to Oceania Football Center about his expecations for the tournament. The attacker said the Green Machine is prepared for the competition and is here to achieve its goals: “preparation are going well; we do not underestimate any team in BOG, so we take one game at the time“, said the Fijian international.

The 27-year-old player know it will be hard task for Nadi – the will be taking on Rewa, Navua and Lautoka in the Group B: “we expect to qualify for the semifinals – we are here to proceed to the next stage“, said Qasevakatini – “we will take a game at a time; trying to motivate the boys to give there 100% out of the game time“, add the striker.

The 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants will take place in Lautoka, at Churcill Park that will be starting this Friday (07th Aug). Nadi’s first clash will be against Navua in the Group B.

Arami Manumanubai: I ask Lautoka supporters to come in numbers to support us

Lautoka’s key player Arami Manumanubai is excited with the experience to play the upcoming Battle of Giants in home ground; the defender asks for fans supports at Churchill Park: “we are in hard pool, but the opponents will need to come to play in our home ground,” stated the tall defender.

“Playing at home will be a big advantage for Lautoka, the team is ready for this challenge“, explained Manumanubai. Lautoka will be starting their campaign against Rewa this Friday (07th Aug) at Churchill Park.

Manumunubai knows the stadium will have a reduced capacity for this competiton due COVID-19 concerns, but he asks the supporters to come as they can to support the Blues: “I ask the fans to come in numbers to support their team Lautoka this weekend“, expressed the defender.

The 21-year-old player stated the team is preparing well for the competition under coaching of the experienced Ravinesh Kumar towards this challenge in Battle of Giants: “we are preparing very well, two sessions in day under master Ravinesh. The boys are ready for this challenge“, added Manumanubai.

The group stage of the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants will be played in Lautoka, as mentioned, this weekened – from 7th to 9th August.

Laugu United adds Kurukuru’s Coleman Makau

Laugu United added another important signings to their squad for the upcoming Telekom S-League that is set to restart this weekend in Honiara. After signings the likes of Gagame Feni and Atkin Kaua, the black and white side announced the Solomon Islands futsal national team member Coleman Makau as their new player for the season. Makau, that in the 11-a-side football plays as forward, already has experience in football of playing in clubs such as Malaita Kings in the past.

Makau helped the Kurukuru to qualify for another FIFA Futsal World Cup as he was part of the squad that won last year the OFC Futsal Nations Cup – the player already featured for Solomon Islands in the most important futsal competition as the 2021 will be 4th edition in a row the Solomon Islanders will take part. Coleman Makau was also part of the Kooline’s squad that won the first ever OFC Futsal Champions League last year in New Zealand.

Avinesh Suwamy to captain Nadi in Battle of Giants

The football star Avinesh Suwamy will be the captain of the Jetsetters in the upcoming Battle of Giants that is set to start tomorrow (07th Aug) in Lautoka. The midfielder, that already scored four goals in his new district this season, is one of the most known players of Nadi alongside Rusiate Matarerega and Ame Votoniu.

In interview to Fiji FA Media, the experienced player expressed his feelings towards the tournament: “It is nothing new for me to be captain, I captained my previous districts in this competition in the past“, said Suwamy, former Ba player and legend.

“I can assure we will be playing a good football, so I request the fans to come in numbers to support us,” said Suwamy. The last time Nadi won BOG was in 1996, so Suwamy and his teammates will have a big task to accomplish in this tournament.

PNG National Soccer League cleared to restart on 8th August; matches in Port Moresby will be livestreamed

There are some good news for Papua New Guinea football fans: the most important football league of the country is set to resume this weekend on Lae and Port Moresby – but it will be behind closed doors; “The return of the competition will be played behind closed doors without spectators, however live streaming of the games in Port Moresby would be provided to ensure fans are given the opportunity to watch the games live“, said Benny Popoitai, NSL Chairman.

As mentioned by Popoitai, there will be livestreaming of the matches played in Papua New Guinea capital city – something much awaited from the fans as they will not be able to enter the stadiums to support their teams.

Match between Hekari United and Star Moutain – *PNGFA Media*

“In a letter sent to NSL secretariat on Tuesday, Manning [SOE Controller] stated that the competition to continue during lock down but provided the protocols are clearly laid out and followed,” stated PNGFA in a recent press release.

Only two cities in the country will host the remaining matches of the season in order to help the measurements to stop COVID-19 spread. As mentioned, the games will restart this Saturday (08th Aug) in Lae and Port Moresby as the national league finally restarts.

Marika Rodu: winning Battle of the Giants is a secondary goal for Rewa

Current leading Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier of Fijian football – Rewa is one of the contenders to win the Battle of the Giants (BOG) that kick-off tomorrow at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The Delta Tigers won five of the last ten editions of the tournament and this year they are even stronger.

Rewa’s last official match was a 1-0 win against Lautoka eleven days ago which means that Delta Tigers had a long time to prepare for the Battle of the Giants: “We worked on a different system compared to what we normally play in Vodafone Premier League,” said team’s head coach Marika Rodu.

Rodu knows that fans are eager to win the tournament and players will go all out in the tournament but he keeps his feet on the ground: “Winning the National League is our main goal as BOG is a secondary goal for us. We will use BOG to give game time to players who have not been playing in the league […] We have 22 players in the squadlist and I will use them all during the tournament,” he stated.

Despite being focused on winning the national league, the head coach understands his role in the situation: “My job is just to manage the players. I need to ensure that no one will get injured or suspended. I want to see my players fresh and injury free when the Vodafone Premier League resumes but there is cash incentive for players and they need to earn it,”

Rewa is drawn in the Group B alongside Lautoka, Nadi and Navua. You can check the schedule of the tournament by clicking here.

Mohammed Alam: we are determined to win Battle of the Giants

Current Battle of the Giants champions, Labasa is not living a good moment in the season at all. The Babasiga Lions are currently in the sixth position with seven points in the 2020 Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier of Fijian football.

Despite the bad moment in the league the players are confident that the team can have a good performance in the tournament: “We want to be the champions of Battle of the Giants again to satisfy our fans. The team’s spirit is high and we are determined to win this tournament,” said goalkeeper Mohammed Alam.

The 20-year-old goalkeeper joined the team recently as he is stuck in Fiji due to border restrictions caused by COVID-19 pandemics which prevented him to travel to New Zealand to play for Manukau United in the 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s.

One of the biggest challenges for the Babasiga Lions in the group stage is to deal with the absence of defensive midfielder Atonio Tuivuna in the two initial matches as he was red carded in Labasa’s last official match against Ba: “We will miss Tuivuna in the pitch as he is a key player in the team. However we are confident that all players will work hard in the tournament to achieve our goals,” stated Alam.

Labasa is drawn in the Group A alongside Ba, Suva and Nasinu. Babasiga Lions’ debut will be against Suva tomorrow at Churchill Park.

Ricky Wadunah and the challenge of taking Stallions to National League’s semi-finals

After five months, the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is ready to resume this weekend as five matches will be contested on Saturday – two in Lae and three in Port Moresby. With eight rounds to go until the end of the regular season, the possibilities are still open for all teams including the only club from Madang: Tusbab Stallions.

Currently in the fourth position with seventeen points in ten matches, Stallions are having a marvelous season but now they have to deal with the absence of rising star Stahl Gubag who left the team to join Lae City.

Despite Stahl Gubag’s departure, Tusbab Stallions still have a good squad for the National Soccer League: “Some new players joined the team while other players are going to have a bigger role now. We are working hard and looking forward for the upcoming matches,” said young midfielder Ricky Wadunah.

SEE ALSO
Former PNG Kapuls star Samuel Kini signs for Tusbab Stallions;
The Wadunah Family: working together for football in Madang

Ricky is a regular starter in the team and he is surely one of the most important players in the squad. When asked about the remainder of the season he was clear: “It is going to be tougher. All teams had time to work on their weakness“.

Stallions were performing in a very good level before the COVID-19 pandemics but the 19-year-old midfielder is sure that they can perform even better now to book a spot in the National Soccer League semi-finals.

Wadunah and his teammates will face Kutubu at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae. You can check the update schedule of the league by clicking here.