The mistery about the next step of Solomon Islands’ international Micah Lea’alafa might close to have an end. The former Auckland City man is known to be close to sign a deal with the newly created Telekom S-League franchise Southern United. The attacker, who last played for South African professional outfit Maritzburg United, would be one of the most interesting players to watch in the upcoming season of the Solomon Islands most important football league.
According to reliable sources, the deal is not completely finished at the moment, but only few details are between Lea’alafa and the new franchise Southern United.
Micah Lea’alafa playing for Solomon Islands national team
As the new season is set to restart next weekend in Honiara, the confirmation of the new club of Lea’alafa might be released during the week – Oceania Football Center will keep investigating to confirm or not the move of the talented player.
Lea’alafa is a dual international for his country, playing for both futsal and football national teams of Solomon Islands. He had been in Solomon Islands since he departed from South Africa.
The Solomon Islands top-tier league will kick-off next weekend in Honiara having 11 teams in the competition – not 12 as previously expected and stated by Oceania Football Center. The known FC Guadalcanal decided to withdraw from the national league in this 2020-21 season.
FC Guadalcanal in 2019-20 season of TSL – TSL Media
FC Guadalcanal finished 8th from nine teams in the last season of Solomon Islands most important football league. For the 2020-21 season, Solomon Warriors, Henderson Eels, Marist FC, FC Isabel United, Malaita Kings, Kossa, Laugu United, Real Kakamora and the new additions Central Coast FC, Southern United and Honiara City FC will be eleven sides to play in the Telekom S-League season.
Former Ba man and current Fijian international Kishan Sami was forced to leave the pitch at the 16th minute in the match of his side Manukau United against Birkenhead United in Auckland, New Zealand. Sami is playing his first season overseas in the NRFL Premier League – being a regular starter for the team coached by former All Whites head coach Kevin Fallon.
Sami was forced to be subbed after receiving a knock in his knee. According to updatres received from Manukau United squad, Sami’s injury was not serious – he only had a cut in his knee and due the knock could not continue in the match.
Kishan Sami
Manukau United could not defend their 2-0 lead – goals scored by Maro Bonsu-Maro and team captain Agustin Contratti. Birkenhead managed to cut the deficit still in the first half through Nicolas Zambrano; unfortunately for Kishan Sami’s side, Emmanuel Darkwa scored a late equaliser for his team to secure a point for Birkenhead. Manukau is currently sitting 5th in the process with eleven points earned from a total of seven matches played.
The current national champions of Papua New Guinea will certainly fight at the top of the table of the 2020 PNG National Soccer League in order to defend their title. Lae City, counting on national top-players such as Emmanuel Simon and Alwin Komolong, has one of the best squads in the country at the moment. Differently from the past seasons – where Lae City dominated the national football scenario – Bob Morris will be the head coach instead of Peter Gunemba, while the usual stars Nigel Dabinyaba and former team captain Raymond Gunemba departed from the club to join Lae’s major rivals: Hekari United.
Another important part of Lae City dominance in the recent years that continues in the team is the Papua New Guinean international Jacob Sabua. In a recent interview with Oceania Football Center, the midfielder talked about his expectations for the return of the season, the new signings of Lae City and, surely, the impact of the absence of Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba.
Midfielder Jacob Sabua
“We have Emmanuel (Simon), Ronald (Warisan) and me that have been working together for years,” said Sabua – “with the addition of players as Felix Komolong and Alwin Komolong we are stronger – Stahl Gubab, Nigel Malagian and Charles Lepani they are the icing on the cake, every player is training very well“, added the 25-year-old midfielder.
The question all Lae City FC fans want to know: will Lae grab another national title? – the answer of Sabua to the question is clever and respectful to its opponents: “If we want to win the league we will need to put our heads together for Lae City – we will need to work hard. Currently, Vitiaz, Hekari they are strong as we are,” explained the midfielder – “the technical level of the league this season is better than the last ones,” added Sabua.
Sabua knows Hekari was already a strong side; “now they are counting on Raymond and Nigel. I do not need to say anything about them, about how good they are. Both were great signings for Hekari,” explained the player that already played 15 matches for the PNG Kapuls.
Sabua and his teammates are expected to restar their campaign in PNG National Soccer League next weekend – as it was recently informed by the organising bodies – as they look to bounce back to the top place in the table that is currently occupied by Vitiaz United.
Central United got back to the winning ways as they smashed Henry Fa’arodo and Tommy Semmy‘s side Hamilton Wanderers by 4-0 for NRFL Premier. The Ni-Vanuatu defenderBrian Kaltak helped his team to secure another clean sheet in the league and keep just one point away Auckland United in the top of the table.
New Zealand international Tom Doyle scored the first goal for Central at the 3rd minute of play; eight minutes later the Argentinian Emiliano Tade added another for Central and still in the first half Dylan Manickum scored the third for the home side. In the second half Tade added another for his tally to give final numbers to the clash.
Brian Kaltak on action for Central – Phototek
Kaltak played 82 minutes in the clash, being subbed by the young talented Fijian ShuiabKhan in the late stages of the game. The Ni-Vanuatu international was key to secure another clean sheet for his side that pursues the top of the table. Hamilton Wanderers had a very bad night with Semmy and Fa’arodo playing the entire game, but unable to combine into goals as the previous matches of Wanderers.
Recently, lots of supports from Labasa were very angry from statements from one particular commentator from local media towards its team and citizens – as they mention in a petition they recently raised against ‘derogatory statements’ from this commentator. In the petition created by an user called ‘Labasa Football Fan Club’ it is mentioned: “FBC’s football commentator, Raymond Stoddart, has been making derogatory statements aimed at Labasa football fans, and Labasa people in general, for some time now. We, the undersigned, are much agitated by this and are making a formal request to you to remedy this“.
The statements in the petition are harsh against Stoddart’s words, claiming he was disrepectful in various opportunities to Labasa FA and also to its supporters and people. “Raymond Stoddart’s attacks on the people of Labasa are not in the best interests of his employer FBC nor the sponsors of their football coverage. A large number of supporters, including the undersigned who were loyal listeners of FBC coverage have now switched to other media whenever there is a choice, and only listen to Raymond Stoddart’s commentary when no other media station is carrying coverage” it is written in the piece.
Raymond Stoddart (left) is being criticized by Labasa fans
Stoddart is a known football commentator in Fiji and he is known as “the voice of Fiji football”, but the Labasa supporters are currently angry with some of his statements. According to Babasiga Lions fan club, Stoddart has been disrepectful to Labasa for a number of occasions. He was also blamed for words in the most recent Labasa match – the 2-1 defeat against Ba. The turning point to create this petition were Stoddart words in match Labasa was not involved – Ba against Suva – when the commentator said: “Labasa fans are saying that Labasa lost to Ba last week because Raymond made decisions on the field“.
The petition, that is headed to Mr. Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, also says in this final part that “Raymond Stoddart will benefit from training and development activities on appropriate language and commentary on state media and to increase his professionalism and competency in his role. The standard of sports broadcasting has significantly increased globally and our media personnel on state owned media should not be a source of embarrassment for us, Fijians“.
In a special night for Ba’s top-striker Samuela Drudru, the Men in Black did not give a chance for Suva as they collected all points from a very important clash at Fiji FA Academy.
Ba pulled ahead in the first half thanks to a penalty kick well-taken by the experienced Manasa Nawakula – his third goal in the league so far – after Suva’s defender Remueru Tekiate brought down in the box the young Kalaveti Sivoi. Despite Suva’s pressure to find an equalizer, the team coached by Babs Khan could not create big chances and the final result of the first half was a 1-0 in favour of Ba.
In the second half it was when Drudru’s show got started; the Fijian international doubled the scoreline for Ba after finishing a good cross from Abbu Zahid in the 60th minute of play. The same Drudru scored his second goal in the clash and third in the Vodafone Premier League season after a defensive mistake from Suva that allowed the striker to score through an easy finish against his former teammate Beniamino Mateinaqara. You can watch all goals of this match by clicking here.
Samuela Drudru scored a brace for Ba – FFA Media
Suva still managed to score a late goal in the match through Sairusi Nalaubu, but it was not enough to start a reaction for the Capital City Boys. This was the first defeat of Suva in the season so far – a harsh result for the team as they lost the 2nd spot in the table for Ba. The players of Ronil Kumar celebrate their second victory in a row and now sit second in the standings just one point behing Rewa in the process – you can see the full standings of the Vodafone Premier Leage by clicking here.
The upcoming Telekom S-League season is scheduled to kick-off on the next weekend and football fans from Solomon Islands must be very excited as it was announced that three new teams are going to take part of the 2020 season.
After having nine teams in the past season, the Telekom S-League (TSL) has expanded from nine to twelve teams for this season as the TSL board approved Southern United FC, Central Coast FC and Honiara City FC to be part of upcoming 2020 TSL season. They will join Solomon Warriors, Henderson Eels, Marist, Kossa FC, Laugu United, FC Isabel United, Malaita Kingz, Real Kakamora, and FC Guadalcanal in the new season.
After a busy July of celebrations and friendly tournaments in Vanuatu due to the 40th anniversary of country’s independence, football is ready to resume officially there as the 2019-20 PVFA Premier League – the main regional football league in Vanuatu – is set to resume on next week after an eight-month stoppage.
The upcoming clashes are not confirmed yet but, according to the initial schedule, it must be the same confrontations as the third matchweek: Tafea vs Mauwia, Tupuji Imere vs Yatel, Ifira Black Bird vs Sia-Raga and Erakor Golden Star vs Galaxy FC.
Ifira Black Bird and Sia-Raga clashing in the third matchweek of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League
Tafea and Ifira Black Bird are currently sharing the lead with eighteen points each while Galaxy FC comes in the third position only one point behind the top two teams. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Henderson Eels are in the final part of their preparation for 2020 Telekom S-League that kicks-off on next weekend and an important player is confirmed in Eels’ squad for the upcoming league season: Andrew Rarangia.
After being an important player for Henderson Eels in the last Telekom S-League season, the 26-year-old defender was not part of the squad that played 2020 OFC Champions League group stage and the reason for his absence is still unknown.
Rarangia playing for Solomon Islands National Team
Having Rarangia back in the squad is a huge addition for Henderson Eels. His quality will surely add a lot of defensive power to the team in the upcoming Telekom S-League.
Oceania Football Center 