Oceania Football Center

Brasileiros conquistam título em Vanuatu

O futebol na Oceania está voltando aos poucos após a pandemia de COVID-19. Alguns países já retomaram as ligas locais como Fiji, Nova Zelândia e Vanuatu enquanto outras ligas nacionais como a das Ilhas Salomão e a da Papua Nova Guiné retornarão em agosto.

Em Vanuatu o futebol foi oficialmente liberado para voltar no dia primeiro de julho, mês que é muito esperado pelos cidadãos locais pois a independência do país é comemorada no dia 30 deste mês. Como forma de celebração da independência de Vanuatu, todo ano é disputada a Copa da Independência (Independence Cup em inglês) em diversas regiões do país. A edição deste ano ganhou um toque extra de importância por ser o 40º aniversário da independência do país, e tivemos brasileiros brilhando por lá.

Um dos principais times de Vanuatu da atualidade e classificado para as quartas de final da Liga dos Campeões da Oceania, o Galaxy FC teve um duro caminho na fase de grupos da PVFA Independence Cup – torneio que reuniu os oito times que jogam a PVFA Premier League – a primeira divisão da liga de futebol de Port Vila que é a capital do país.

Apesar do favoritismo, o Galaxy sofreu bastante na fase de grupos do torneio, uma vez que a equipe só conseguiu a classificação para as semi-finais após bater o Erakor Golden Star nos pênaltis em um jogo extra pois ambas as equipes terminaram a primeira fase empatadas na segunda colocação do Grupo A com o mesmo saldo de gols e o mesmo número de gols marcados.

Jogadores do Galaxy FC antes de uma partida da fase de grupos – *Vanuatu Sports News*

Na semi-final o Galaxy teve como adversário o Tafea, tradicional time que detém o recorde mundial de mais títulos nacionais conquistados de forma consecutiva (15). Com uma atuação magistral de Roberson, que fez um lindo gol, o Galaxy venceu por 2 a 0 e ficou com a vaga na final.

A tão esperada final foi contra o Ifira Black Bird, equipe que está na liderança da 2019-20 PVFA Premier League e que liderou o grupo do Galaxy na primeira fase da PVFA Independence Cup. Em uma partida complicada, a estrela de Roberson brilhou mais uma vez ao balançar as redes para dar o título do torneio para o Galaxy em uma vitória por 2 a 1 na final.

Roberson (esquerda) e Diego (direita) segurando o troféu da 2020 PVFA Independence Cup – *Vanuatu Sports News*

Roberson chegou ao clube no ano passado e é um dos grandes nomes da equipe que se classificou para a próxima fase da Liga dos Campeões da Oceania enquanto Diego está em Vanuatu há alguns anos e é ídolo no futebol local. A Oceania Football Center parabeniza os dois atletas pela conquista!

Hekari United’s Raymond Gunemba eager to face his former club Lae City

One of the best footballers from Papua New Guinea, Raymond Gunemba returned to Hekari United after leaving Lae City earlier this year – you can see here a recent highlights video of Gunemba. The 34-year-old forward joined Hekari alongside his long time partner Nigel Dabinyaba.

It is Gunemba’s second stint in the club and he did not hide why he joined them: “Hekari United is a very disciplined team Nigel (Dabinyaba) and I have been with the team in the past years so when they asked us to join them we accepted it because Hekari is a very organized club and the team management knows how to look after the players which is good for our careers and performance,” he said to Oceania Football Center.

Hekari is currently in the third position in 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League with 23 points, only two points behind league leaders Vitiaz United. The arrival of Raymond Gunemba surely adds a lot of talent to the team’s squad but he keeps his feet on the ground: “It all depends on our preparation. Football is a team game and not an individual one so if we have a proper preparation as we are having we can performe well in the league,” he explained. He also shared his thoughts about his long time partnership with Nigel Dabinyaba: “We understand each other very well. I really enjoy playing with him,” he said.

It is known that Raymond left Lae City alongside many other players earlier this year when head coach Peter Gunemba left the club and the forward expressed his feelings about it: “I am looking forward for this game (Hekari United vs Lae City). I believe the second part of the season will be a tough one,” said Raymond.

Hekari United’s next clash in 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League will be against FC Bougainville on August 8 as the National Soccer League’s resumption was postponed for a week due to a lockdown that was imposed in Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby after new cases of COVID-19.

Michael Boso to play S-League for FC Isabel United

Isabel United confirmed in its official social media that the Solomon Islands international Michael Boso is the new player of the club. Recently, the club also announced the signings of Alick Maemae and Benjamin Totori.

The former Team Wellington player, most recently played for Suva in Fiji. In an interview to Oceania Football Center, the player disclosed he could not return to Suva due borders restrictions and said he was interested to continue playing football in his country. Boso trained with Henderson Eels, but decided to be part of the interesting project Isabel United is bringing.

Former Suva’s Ivan Kumar aiming success in New Zealand

The 23-year-old full back Ivan Kumar is enjoying his first football season in New Zealand. The former Suva player and U23 Fiji international aims to suceed in New Zealand football scenario going step by step. Now, at South Auckland Rangers in the NRF Conference, Kumar is being vital for the club that aims to get promoted to NRFL Division 2 in the 2021 season of regional football in New Zealand.

“When back in Suva I was playing for the pride and heart. Since coming here is another level of football, so joining this team – It is the same giving the best in each game and playing for my pride towards the South Auckland Rangers,” said Ivan Kumar. When asked which is his goal in New Zealand, Kumar is cristal clear: “Well, I want to try my best; the aim is to represent Auckland City FC team one day,” said the player that hopes one day to play for the current New Zealand top-tier league champions.

But the Navy Blues are not the only one goal of Kumar: “Bula Boys; I am always waiting for the chance to play for my country. If i get a chance will give my best,” said Kumar regarding a chance to play for Fiji national team in the future. While the player says it is unlikely his return to Fijian football leagues, he says he will move back to the country to visit his family friend when the season is over in Auckland.

Currently, South Auckland Rangers is at the top of the league – they need to win the league to get promotion – while Kumar is one of the stars of the league: six goals scored so far in the season, the top goalscorer of the team and the third in the goalscorers table.

Osea Vakatalesau set to feature for Nadroga in Fijian second tier

The former Ba and Fiji national team legend Osea Vakatalesau is set to represent Nadroga district in Vodafone Senior League. The experienced player that is a football legend in Fiji and Oceania is set to return to the pitch after a two-year suspension since 2018 for usage of prohibited substance.

The suspension is schedule to finish this December, but in an exclusive meeting with Oceania Football Center, Vakatalesau confirmed he is appealing to Fiji FA to lift his ban to allow him to feature for Nadroga in the Senior League. Club officials also confirmed the player might be available for this weekend or next weekend clashes.

Vakatalesau when player of Hekari United – FIFA

Nadroga will also count on another former Ba players, such as Paulo Buke and Maveliko Nakama in their campaign looking to return for Vodafone Premier League in 2021.

Lautoka: Malakai Rakula on doubts for Battle of Giants

The Fiji international Malakai Rakula is uncertain if he will take part in the next Battle of Giants. The new signing of Lautoka is still to debut for the club in the Vodafone Premier League as the player had problems in his ITC (International Transfer Certificate). Most recently, in an interview to Oceania Football Center, Rakula said he would not be available for Lautoka’s first match in the national league against Ba, but was positive about his return to the pitch against Navua – something that did not happen, even not in the third match of Lautoka against Rewa.

Malakai Rakula representing Fiji – *FFA Media*

Battle of Giants will take place in Lautoka and it is set to start in the next weekend (08th Aug) and the Blues have a week to solve ITC’s situation of Rakula in order to count on his services in the traditional tournament.

Recently, Malakai Rakula had a short stint in New Zealand outfit Manukau, but moved back to his country after the COVID-19 pandemics. As he can not move back to New Zealand due borders restrictions, the player decided to represent Lautoka in Fiji until the borders issue is not solved – being loaned from Manukau to Lautoka. This is the scenario of Rakula is in – the bureaucracy on the deal might had found problems and Lautoka is running against time to have the important player available for Battle of Giants.

PMSA 7s Challenge decisive clashes take place this weekened

The Port Moresby Soccer Association is helding the traditional Football Sevens tournament in Papua New Guinean capital the PMSA 7s Challenge. The competition will have its decisive clashes this weekend at Bisini Football Park.

Brandt Muli’Aina Kila, player of Strikers FC, talked to Oceania Football Center about his team performance in the competition so far: “we topped our pool with six wins and one defeat. On Cup quarterfinals we had beaten Bemobile to procced to Cup semifinal which we lost on penalty shooout to a much experience FC Genesis side. We now automatically qaulfiied to play Bowl Grand Final this comming Sunday“, said Kila.

“There are three different Grand Finals: for the Cup, for the Plate & the Bowl; the major final will be the Cup Final between Mungkas FC and FC Genesis,” explained the player.

“We expect a tight clash against Mariners [their opponent in the next game] because they have been good throughout the tournament. But we have the upper hand with NSL experience in the likes of Benjamin Rupa, Timothy Marley, Laventine Monuo, Randall Passam, Joseph WaiWai and skipper Romario Solon“, said Kila.

Oceania Football Center wishes best of luck of all teams taking part in the finals of this tournament organised by PMSA.

New Caledonian legend Bertrand Kaï to undergo ankle cirurgy

🇫🇷 French

The Hienghène Sport and New Caledonia national team striker Bertrand Kaï will not be available for Hienghène in the Mobil Super Ligue as the player is set to undergo a cirurgy in his ankle. The player was not available for the first two matches of his team in the Mobil Super Ligue againt AS Mont-Dore and AS Magenta and might be a couple of months away from the football pitch.

Kaï is the all-time top goalscorer of New Caledonia national team and helped Hienghène to make history in 2019 by winning three important trophies, including the OFC Champions League. In the 2020 edition of the OFC Champions League, where Hienghène were knocked-out in the group stage, Kaï was not effective and did not score in the matches he took part – signs of potential injury he sustained in the competition.

Galaxy clinches PVFA Independence Cup title as they beat Ifira Black Bird

30th July – Independence Day of Vanuatu – lots of celebrations around capital city’s Port Vila, but there is also space for the most entertaining sport for the Ni-Vanuatu: the PVFA Independence Cup final match was played in Port Vila Municipal Stadium between Galaxy and Ifira Black Bird to decide the champions of the competition.

The game started well for Galaxy, as Octave Meltecoin opened the scoreline for the team coached by Moise Poida. Stil in the first half, the Brazilian Roberson added another for the team in red, but Ifira Black Bird also managed to pull one back even before the half time break.

SEE ALSO
Erakor Golden Star wins PVFA Women’s Independence Cup;
Malampa Revivors beat Santos and clinch LFA Independence Cup title

Galaxy players celebrate one of their goals – *VBTC*

The second half had lots of emotions for the fans in Port Vila, as Ifira Black Bird pushed forward in order to grab an equalizer. Unfortunately for Ifira, Galaxy managed to continue upfront in the scoreline until the final whistle to celebrate the glory of Independence Cup.

The 2019 champions of PVFA Independence Cup were Tupuji Imere, now Galaxy take the title undefeated in the whole competition. One day before the grand final match, Tafea recorded a win over Yatel in the penalty shootout to clinch the 3rd place in the traditional competition.

In another final contested in the same day, North Efate United has beaten Seveners United to win the Mix First and Second Division Independence Cup – a cup contested by clubs from second and third tiers of PVFA football league system.

Galaxy players receive PVFA Independence Cup trophy – *VBTC*

Galaxy had also the top goalscorer of the competition; the attacking midfielder Roberson scored five goals in the tournament. You can see the most updated results and standings from the competition by clicking here.

PNG National Soccer League rescheduled as board waits SOE Controller approval

It was agreed in a PNG NSL board meeting recently the restart of the national league as scheduled previously – as reported here. Although, the State of Emergency control board did not respond in time for the recommence of the league and PNG National Soccer League is now pending approval and a new schedule was decided: 8th August.

“We have put together a submission to the SOE Controller and are waiting for his approval to start next weekend,” said Dimirit Mileng, NSL Manager.

Tusbab Stallions and Hekari United match in PNG NSL – *PNGFA Media*

“Social distancing has to be maintained at the match venue as security officials will be present to enforce the same therefore everyone involved in the game are advised to take heed of the advice provided,” also stated Mileng. It is confirmed that, despite the schedule change, no crowds will be allowed in the matches of the national league – “The game will now be resumed next weekend, with all matches played behind closed door without spectators,” as informed PNGFA Media. Despite the affirmations from PNGFA, it is know SOE needs to approve the return of the matches – something that is very likely to be on 8th August.