Former Ba attacker Micah Tommy will not feature for Tafea in the remaining matches of the 2019/20 season of Port Vila top-tier league. The information was confirmed by Tafea’s manager and former Vanuatu national team head coach Robert Calvo. The Ni-Vanuatu forward, that recently departed from Ba to return to his former club, will not be available for Tafea at PVFA Premier League: “According to Batick Bong Shem of Vanuatu Football Federation, transfer window is not open yet, therefore he will not played for the remaining games of the premier league, only next season,” explained Calvo.
Tommy, that recently stated his reasons for leaving Ba, played for Tafea in the 2020 Port Vila Independence Cup, but in an official tournament as PVFA Premier League, the player will need to wait until next season’s transfer window to receive Ba’s clearance in order to rejoin officialy Tafea.
Micah Tommy – MG Tafea FC Media
“He [Batick Bong Shem] said TMS [Transfer Matching System] does not allow to proceed to his transfer at the moment – now only in new transfer window in September,” added Robert Calvo.
Micah Tommy’s absence will be a huge blow for Tafea in their fight for the top spot in 2019/20 PVFA Premier League. The regional league in Vanuatu’s capital city will restart next month.
Wellington Phoenix could not capitalise their chances against a well-organised Newcastle Jets side in the team final match for the regular season of the Hyundai A-League. Despite not counting on top-striker Gary Hooper, the team coached by Ufuk Talay expected a win from this clash in order to secure their third place in the the league’s ladder.
The Nix pressed high the Jets in the first part of the game – despite being a constant danger for the opposition back line, Phoenix could not connect properly in order to score first in the match. After around 20 minute of pressure, Jets enjoyed more ball possession and started to be push up their lines and create some danger to the Steven Taylor’s defensive system. Unfortunately for New Zealand-based side, Jets found the nets just before half time as Nicholas Fitzgerald counted on a deflection from Luke DeVere to put the ball in the nets for his side.
Jets celebrate one of their goals – Newcastle Jets Media
In the second half, Phoenix introduced Alex Rufer in place of Matti Steinmann in order to reinforce their creativity upfront. Phoenix continued on top pursuing an equaliser and almost got when Liberato Cacacewith an solo effort play almost forced Jets to an own goal, but it was brilliantly saved by young goalkeeper Noah James.
Birnie Ibini, in one of his first touches in the game, scored a fantastic goal to double the lead for Newcastle Jets – an unstoppable finish for Stefan Marinovic. Three minutes, a lapse of concentration allowed Jason Hoffman to receive the ball in the box to add another for his team; 3-0 for Jets.
Phoenix had at least two occasions in the match of a possible penalty denied by the referee – that according to senior NZF referees, they should had been given. Despite all efforts of Phoenix, the team is now heading to the finals in a bad record: in the last four matches, two defeats and two draws.
Wellington will wait the outcome of the final matches of Western United – the only team that can take their current 3rd place in the standings – to get to know their opponent in the first challenge at A-League finals. This will be second season in a row the club from Wellington heads to the league finals.
The Nix is set for its final match in the regular season of the Australian top-tier Hyundai A-League. The New Zealand-based side will play at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium against Newcastle Jets looking for confirm their 3rd place in the run for the finals of A-League.
The coach Ufuk Talay will not count on Tim Payne and Gary Hooper as both players sustained injuries being so unavailable for this clash against Jets. After scoring the late equaliser in the last match against Brisbane Roar, the English marksman Hooper will be certainly a miss for this clash, but it is expected the striker reinforce the Nix at A-League finals.
Phoenix and Newcastle Jets last match in Sky Stadium
Phoenix will expect a better performance from the Mexican midfielder Ulises Davila in order to finish the regular season in a high. As it is virtually impossible to take the 2nd spot from Melbourne City at this point – they would need to cut a huge goal deficit from the current second-placed side -, Phoenix will be looking to confirm their third place in the ladder.
The match will kick-off at 9:30pm NZT and will live telecasted by Fox Sports and livestremaed by MyFootball App and YouTube channel.
After a terrible start in 2019-20 PVFA Premier League with only two wins in nine matches, Tupuji Imere has to make up for lost time in order to avoid relegation. The team coached by legendary David Chilia will have a strengthened squad for the final part of the season to fight for every single point in the five remaining matches.
One of the players that are confirmed in the squad is Vanuatu international Raoul Coulon. The 24-year-old footballer is back to his homeland after spending some months abroad due to seasonal working. His first appearance for Tupuji Imere in this year was in PVFA Independence Cup last month: “I am more than happy to be back to football,” said Coulon. His team was knocked-out in the group stage with only one win in three matches – a disappointing campaign for a team that won this tournament last year.
Raoul (left) with his twin brother Michel (right) while celebrating 2019 PVFA Independende Cup title – Vanuatu Sports News
Coulon has not played in the current PVFA Premier League season yet so he is determined to help his team to win matches in order to escape from relegation to PVFA First Division – the second-tier of football in Port Vila: “I think we are ready for Premier League,” he stated.
Tupuji Imere is currently in the seventh position with eight points in nine matches – only two points ahead bottom-placed team Mauwia. You can check the standings, schedule and top goalscorers of 2019-20 PVFA Premier League by clicking here.
Despite losing in the opening matchweek, Southern United called the attention of local fans as they performed in a good level against Kossa FC. The debutant team is led by head coach Stanley Waita who recently coached Solomon Islands U17 National Football Team but there is another person who must be highlighted: Micah Lea’alafa.
Lea’alafa is surely one of the most important footballers from Solomon Islands. The 28-year-old forward recently had the opportunity to play football internationally when he spent some months playing for Maritzburg United from South Africa. Back to the country, Micah decided not to play Telekom S-League, but he is still involved with the league as he is Stanley Waita’s right-hand man in Southern United.
Lea’alafa (left) and Waita (right)
Micah is Waita’s assistant in the team and he is playing an important role by helping the head coach in training sessions. Also he was on Southern United’s bench alongside the head coach in the opening match of the season.
Southern United started 2020 Telekom S-League season in the ninth position. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Hekari United’s win over Bougainville in the last weekend – the first matchweek after the forced break due COVID-19 – saw a different Red Army side struggling to get opportunities upfront. With the absence of Ishmael Pole, back-up goalkeeper Dave Tomare needed to make a serie of interventions to prevent the now Percy Mataio-coached side Bougainville of grabbing an upset at PNG Football Stadium.
Key players such as Koriak Upaiga were also absent from the clash; the duo Nigel Dabinyaba andRaymond Gunemba were expected to debut for Hekari, but they had issues regarding their transfer to the team and they are still waiting for a greenlight from PNGFA and NSL Board to feature for the team momentarily coached by Eric Komeng.
Hekari allowed much space in the back; Bougainville was ready to harm them in the counter-attack, but luckily for Hekari, the team led by Basil Jofari was unable to find the net. Hekari needed a win to continue in the fight for the top of the table as Lae City had already won their match against Gulf Komara. In the dying moments of the game, a player stepped up to take responsibility and give Hekari all points from the clash: Kolu Kepo.
Kolu Kepo – OFC Media
Kepo scored both goals of Hekari in the clash – that you can watch here – to secure valuable three points for the Reds. Kepo has been a very important player for Hekari throughout the years; the player who already represented Papua New Guinea national team six times can be seen as an underrated player in his country.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder scored a magnificent goal against Eastern Suburbs in the OFC Champions League this year and has already notched six goals in the PNG National Soccer League in the current season – the top scorer of Hekari United in the league so far. Alongside his twin brother Ati Kepo, Kolu has been one of the most efficient players of the Reds in the past two seasons, but it is really rare to see him being praised.
Now with the introduction of Gunemba and Dabinyaba in Hekari United squad, both Kepo brothers might see their space in the starting eleven in danger, possibly reducing their football minutes throughout the remaining matches of the season. Despite the quality of the new signings, Kolu deserves the appreciation of his efforts and Hekari United fans should be pleased with his contribution.
Kolu Kepo is not only a goalscorer, but he is also effective with his playmaking, creating plenty of goalscoring chances, and especially with his off-ball movement allowing gaps for his teammates to fill in, penetrating in the opposition’s defensive line. Kepo’s pace is also remarkable, a complete attacking midfielder in the modern era of Oceania football, rotation to side-to-side to create space; he is a team player that also has individual skills to be exalted.
The football star from Papua New Guinea Felix Komolong played his second match as Lae City player last weekend when his side won by 5-0 Gulf Komara in Port Moresby for the 11th round of matches of the PNG National Soccer League.
It was a special match for Felix as he could play for the first time in the club alongside his brother Alwin Komolong. Felix also managed to find the nets for the first time as Lae City player as he oppened the account for Lae against Komara.
Felix Komolong (yellow) playing for Lae City – PNGFA Media
The debut of Felix Komolong was against Tusbab Stallions in the previous match of Lae City before the forced break due COVID-19 pandemics. The match ended up in an 1-1 draw.
Nadi displayed good football in the group stage of 2020 Battle of Giants, but they are in a real trouble as they are set to lose important players for the semi-final clash against Suva. According to Fijivillage, “Nadi’s top striker, Rusiate Matarerega may not feature for Nadi in the semi-final of Punjas Battle of the Giants as he has an ankle injury. Coach Kamal Swamy says there is a 50% chance that he may not play against Suva“.
Top striker Rusiate Matarerega will be a huge miss for Nadi in a decisive match. Also important forward Napolioni Qasevakatini is on doubts if he will return or not to the game as he sustained a groin injury in first pool match against Navua: “I am still recovering from my groin injury, I will try my best to return for the semi-final,” said Qasevakatini to Oceania Football Center.
Nadi won all their matches so far in Battle of Giants – Fiji FA Media
Suva will be also having injury problems as well, something that shown the problems of playing three matches in three days – putting players’ health under risk as many of them got injured for the decisive clashes of the 2020 edition of Battle of Giants.
Suva had to win Ba in their final pool match to proceed to the semi-finals of 2020 edition of the traditional Battle of Giants. The Capital City Boys had luck at their side in the weekend of football in the group stage of the tournament as the result from Labasa vs. Nasinu match allowed them a possibility to qualify – and they did so as they won 1-0 against Ba thanks to a goal from Sairusi Nalaubu.
Now the team coached by Babs Khan will have problems as they approach an important clash against Nadi in the weekend: Christopher Wasasala and Iosefo Verevou are on doubts for the weekend match. Both players sustained injuries recently and they are being monitored to confirm their avalability or not the semi-finals. “Suva FA president Ritesh Pratap says they are closely monitoring Wasasala and Verevou’s fitness and the final decision will be made on Friday,” said Suva’s chairman to FBC.
Wasasala and Verevou
While both players are on doubts, the news are even worse for the young Solomon Islander Patrick Taroga: “At the moment they are both not part of the squad. Then we will monitor their injury and then we will decide on Friday. Patrick Taroga got injured against Nasinu so he is out of the semifinals on Saturday“, said Ritesh Pratap to FBC – “Christopher Wasasala, Iosefo Verevou and Patrick Taroga have ankle and knee injuries and are not training with the team“, completed the info local source Fijivillage.
It is also known Simione Nabenu has a shoulder injury and he is also on doubts for the upcoming clashes. Meli Codro and Nickel Chand are also sustaining minor injuries and they will be also monitored by Suva’s officials whether they will be available or not for the match against Nadi.
Playing three matches in three dayso is something rare to be seen in worldwide football – the chances of getting injured are much more bigger. We can see this is unfortunately happening to Suva at this point of the tournament – heading for a very important challenge without counting on their top players.
The completion of the first round of football in Solomon Islands happened this Wednesday (12th Aug) as the traditional Marist FC played against the first first-timers in the national league Honiara City.
The debutants could not could on their best known player Anthony Talo while Marist FC awas captained by talented young player John Aeta. Late in the first half, Marist took the lead thanks to a goal scored by Fred Osifelo Jr – Marist was able to defend their 1-0 lead until the half-time break to keep its advtange.
Marist vs Honiara City – S-League Media
The newly raised Honiara City went forward in the second-half looking for an equaliser, Marist managed to keep well the defense – but unfortunately for the side coached by Patrick Miniti, the debutants in Telekom S-League would grab a point from this game thanks to a goal of Alick Solo in the 88th minute of play. Marist did not have power to seek for a winner as the match finished 1-1 with each side collecting a point from their debut in the league.
This was the final match of the first round of Solomon Islands’ national league – you can see the full standings, top scorer and results by clicking here. In the weekend, more four matches will entertain the fans in Honiara with the kick-off of the second round of matches in Solomon Islands.
