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.
HJK visited FC Haka at Tehtaan Kenttä in another match of Veikkausliiga – the top-tier of Finnish football. Papua New Guinea international David Browne was in HJK’s starting eleven for the first time in Veikkausliiga – a milestone for him as he had only played 48 minutes in the league so far.
Browne did not disappoint the coaching staff and he showed that he deserves a spot in the starting eleven as he ruled his opponents in an incredible performance. He opened the scoreboard for his side in the 50th minute after a shot saved by Haka’s goalkeeper. A few minutes later, Browne was fouled inside the box and Ferhan Hasani extended the lead from the penalty spot.
David Browne had an amazing performance against FC Haka – HJK Media
Browne was unstoppable and the HJK’s third goal came from a cross from the left by the Papua New Guinean. The 24-year-old winger was fouled inside the box once again and Hasani scored another goal from the penalty spot. At the final whistle the score was 4-1 in favour to HJK. You can check the highlights of the match by clicking here.
HJK are now in the second position in Veikkausliiga with 21 points in ten matches – four points behind current league leaders Inter Turku. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
Laugu United had a very good start of season as they smashed Real Kakamora by 5-0 in their opener in Telekom S-League. The impressive front line of the team made up by Gagame Feni, Mathias Iani and Coleman Makau was effective in their debut, but not in their second match against the powerful Henderson Eels.
Even counting on important players such as Allen Peter and Atkin Kaua, Laugu could not hold the offensive power of Eels and suffered an embarrassing 7-0 defeat in the last Saturday. With four goals of Joses Nawo, two of Raphael Lea’i and one of Tutizama Tanito, Eels got their second win in two matches – scoring a total of 12 goals in two matches and only conceding once. “That was the first time I suffered a so harsh defeat,” said Laugu’s Mathias Iani to Oceania Football Center, “I used to be defeated by 3-1, 4-3 scorelines, but not 7-0,” added the striker.
The former Marist FC striker, scored a brace for Laugu in their opener against Kakamora, but his side was outplayed by the current runners-up of the Solomon Islands’ top-tier league: “we performed good from the first 20 minutes, but Els is a very good team“, said Iani – “they prepare and the play together for a few years and we just started months ago, I believe that we can slowly building; a main thing we must work is our fitness, COVID-19 pandemics spoiled everything, but we will work hard for the remaining games“, stated the tall striker.
Mathias Iani – S-League Media
“Our main issue was defense, we will need to work extra hard in our defensive system“, stated Iani – “It makes me angry [to lose by 7-0], but it is a challenge for me, so I must work harder for the next games,” added the striker. Iani and his teammates certainly have what it takes to retake their balance for their next matches in the league – “we must win now, but If we lose I expect close scorelines for the rest of the season,” explained the player – with players with international experience, the team coached by Paul Kakai is expected to make it hard for the top-teams in the league, but they will need to forget their nightmare performance against Henderson Eels when they take on their next challenges.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder of Nasinu Jasnit Vikash was the goalscorer of the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants in Fiji. The good performer new man of the team coached by Tagi Vonolagi already knew he was awarded the ‘Golden Boot’ of the tournament as Oceania Football Center recently reported in the weekend, but the player was still to receive the award as his side did not take part of the final stages of the competition at Churchill Park, Lautoka – Nasinu was knocked-out of the tournament in the group stage.
Vikash (left) receiving the prize from Fiji FA’s Mohammed Yusuf – Fiji FA Media
Vikash has been impressing since signed for Nasinu in the mid-season transfer window in Fiji. The player scored three goals in Battle of Giants, the same number of goals scored by other players such as Avinesh Suwamy and Darold Kakasi, but he was the player who less minutes played in the competition and this decided the award in favour of the Nasinu’s midfielder.
After celebrating the glory of Battle of Giants last weekend in Lautoka, the Delta Tigers have even more to celebrate as six of their players were called up by Fiji national team new head coach Flemming Serritslev to an one-week training camp in order to prepare for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – competition that is still not scheduled by Oceania Football Confederation.
The only 17-year-old goalkeeperIsikeli Sevanaia is one of the four goalkeepers called up by Fiji national team head coach Flemming Serritslev. The Ba shot-stopper impressed during the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants and received a chance to impress to the new head coach in an one-week training spell.
Sevanaia is son of former Fiji national team goalkeeper – Isikeli Sevanaia senior – and has still a long to go to reach the milestone achieved by his father. The very young player certainly has what it takes to get to the national team as Serritslev is willing to bring new tallent to his team. The Ba goalkeeper defended three penalty kicks in the Battle of Giants semi-final against Rewa, but unfortuantely his side could not end up with a win.
It was released by Fiji FA Media a list of 30 players called up for a training camp. The new national team head Flemming Serritslev will evaluate his option in a period of training that is set to key for the final selection of the national team that is set to battle for a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The period of training will be of one week, finishing on 28th August.
“It’s a part of our preparation for the World Cup qualifiers. Since we do not know when the qualifiers will be, we need to be ready as soon as we get the message when those qualifiers will be played. “We cannot wait to prepare until it is only one month away from the qualifiers,” Serritslev said to Fiji FA Media.
Coach Serritslev (right) alongside star player Roy Krishna – Fiji FA Media
Lots of young players were called up for the training period: “This time we have some young players in the squad. It’s not because they are present national team players but we want to see them among the experienced national team players how they are doing. “Mostly likely next time we will try some other very young players in the camp. If they (young players) are good enough then they are also old enough,” said the Danish coach.
Important overseas-based players such as Kishan Sami and Nicho Prasad are not inlcuded in the list as they are not currently based in Fiji. The only player listed that is currently playing his club football aborad is the star Roy Krishna that is on vacation in his country as the Indian Super League is on a break.
Solomon Islands international Tigi Molea was suspendend by SIFF (Solomon Islands Football Federation) for the first six matches of the 2020 Telekom S-League as outcome of the accusation of assault in a Telekom S-League match in the last season. The Solomon Warriors’ player will also be fined for $1000 for his conduct.
“SIFF Secretariat has already communicated the decision to the player and Solomon Warriors. Upon hearing and reading the materials presented before the DC, it found the player guilty of physical assault contrary to article 48 (1) of the SIFF Disciplinary Code (“the Code’’) for which a four (4) matches suspension has been imposed on the player. A fine of $1000 is imposed on the player pursuant of article 48(3) of the Code. Furthermore, DC has found the player guilty of offensive behaviour contrary to article 55(1) of the Code for which two (2) matches suspension has been imposed“, said SIFF Media in a press release.
Tigi Molea (red) – OFC Media
Molea assaulted Henderson Eels player Derrick Taebo after a match between Taebo’s side and Molea’s Solomon Warriors last season. Lots of questions emerged during the period – as why SIFF took too long to evaluate the case and give a final outcome – but it is understood the OFC Champions League preparations and then the COVID-19 pandemics were sensible barries for the resolution of the case.
However, SIFF also stated both Molea and Warriors can appeal against the final decision of the board – what is expected as the player is an important member of the Warriors squad. The current Telekom S-League champions counted the midfielder in the OFC Champions League campaign this year that qualified the team for the knock-out stage. Warriors is set to make their debut in the league season this Wednesday (19th Aug) at Lawson Tama Stadium against Marist FC.
The twelfth matchweek of 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League was played on last Saturday as two matches were contested in Lae and three other matches were contested in Port Moresby – the capital of the country.
After a bad campaign in the first half of the season, Star Mountain show that they are a better team now. The team coached by Selan Elizah drew with Vitiaz United in the previous round and beat FC Bouganville 2-1 last Saturday. This match also reserved a beautiful moment during the celebration of one of the goals.
Attacking midfielder Tau Winnie scored Star Mountain’s second goal in the match and his celebration was very special: the 34-year-old player wore a facemask to show his respect to all people that lost their lives due to COVID-19 pandemics.
Tau Winnie celebrating his goal against FC Bougainville – PNGFA Media
Star Mountain are currently in the sixth position with twelve points in twelve matches. They are six points behind fourth-placed team Tusbab Stallions which means that Winnie and his teammates still have the chance to advance to National Soccer League’s semi-finals. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
The second matchweek of 2020 Telekom S-League reaches its end on Wednesday when current league champions Solomon Warriors will face Marist FC at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara – the capital of Solomon Islands.
It is going to be Warriors’ first match in the season as they had a bye week in the opening round which means that they had one more week to get ready for the season: “We worked hard over the past weeks to recover our fitness level. We are ready to play this week,” said midfielder John Alick.
Alick is a key player for Solomon Warriors. The 29-year-old player from Vanuatu was named the best player of 2019-20 Telekom S-League and he knows that fans will expect more from him this season: “Receiving this award was an honour for me. Now I also have a big responsibility on guiding the team this season,” he stated.
John Alick playing in 2020 OFC Champions League – OFC Media
This Telekom S-League has eleven teams fighting for the title – two more teams in comparison with last season. After finishing the 2019-20 season in the second position, Henderson Eels had a powerful start this season by winning two matches (5-1 and 7-0). Alick knows that they are going to have tough rivals in the title race: “We will do our best to defend our national title,” he pointed.
The clash between Warriors and Marist FC will be broadcasted by Telekom S-League on their Facebook page. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
