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.
The Lautoka’s defender Sekove Finau is having a nightmare of restart of season for his side. The young player featured in the last two of the three matches of the team since the restart of Vodafone Premier League and his performances certainly worried Lautoka fans.
The first match of Lautoka after COVID-19 forced break was against rivals Ba. Finau failled to control the ball and allowed Samuela Drudru to take it run to the penalty box. Finau tried to recover the ball, but fouled Ba’s striker inside the area giving a penalty kick to the opposition side. The penalty was a controversial call from the referee – as you can see here, but it allowed Ba to take up the lead in the clash.
Sekove Finau is not having a good restart of season – FFA Media
Finau was booked by the referee in the penalty foul – in the final stages of the same match, the defender fouled another Ba attacker and was shown another yellow card: Sekove Finau was sent off and his team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat against Ba.
Due his red card, the defender was not able to play against Navua in the following weekend: not counting on Finau, the team coached by Ravinesh Kumar came from behind and earned all points from the clash after beating Navua away from home by 2-1.
In Finau’s return after serving suspension against Navua, Lautoka took on Rewa in Ratu Cakobau Park and Sekove had another very bad match: in the first goal – and only goal of the clash – the defender allowed Josaia Sela to be free in the box to fire away against goalkeeper Joela Biuvanua to score Rewa’s winning goal of the clash. Moments later, the same Finau commited another penalty: this time no doubts, the defender tried a reckless tackle inside the penalty area and allowed Rewa a possibility to double the scoreline – you can watch the moment by clicking here. Fortunately for Lautoka and Finau, the goalkeeper Biuvanua was in a great day and stopped the kick from Patrick Joseph. Despite the efforts of Lautoka attack, the Blues could not score an equalizer: two matches played by Sekove, two defeats with serious mistakes from the defender that costed points for Lautoka.
Sekove comes from a well-known football family in Fiji – he is brother of former Fijian international Leone Vurukania, of legendary defender Peni Finau and the also Fijian football legend Osea Vakatalesau. The player already represented Fiji internationally at U23 level and certainly has quality to do much better than he had done and help his team to improve their rankings in Fijian Premier League.
There are big news coming from Honiara for the fans of Oceania football: Mr.Cool, the legendary Alick Maemae, has returned to football action as he signed a deal with the newly formed Isabel United. The team coached by another football legened from Solomon Islands Gideon Omokirio will also count the star Benjamin Totori as he recently signed for the team.
Maemae in action for Isabel United – Isabel United Media
After a two-year hiatus of not playing in Telekom S-League or any other national league, the 34-year-old midfielder decided to return to the highest level of football in his country to defend the colours of Isabel United. Maemae already player for teams such as Auckland City, Hekari United and Amicale during his succesful career. You can see here a magnificent goal of Maemae scored when player of Amicale in Vanuatu. The star-player played 19 times for Solomon Islands national team scoring six times. In his return to the pitches, in a friendly match of Isabel against Kossa, the midfielder scored a brilliant free-kick.
“Former Solomon Island international Alick Maemae or better known as ‘Mr. Cool’, has officially signed for FC Isabel United for the upcoming TSL campaign. A skillful midfielder and deadly set piece taker, he brings a wealth of experience for the young youthful side to learn from,” stated Isabel United media. The new season of the Telekom S-League is set to start soon – see here the suggested dates for kick-off.
The 2020 Telekom S-League is scheduled to kick-off on August 8 and football clubs are already training and playing friendly matches. Two friendlies were contested on this Wednesday as part of the teams’ preparation for the upcoming national league season.
Both matches were contested by three quarters of 30 minutes each. Isabel United and Kossa clashed in the first match. James Naka opened the scoreboard for Kossa but Benjamin Totori, Alick Maemae and Bently Kelobi found the net once each to give a 3-1 win to Isabel United.
Totori (yellow kit) playing for Isabel United – S-League Media
In the second friendly match of the day Laugu United come from behind to beat Malaita Kingz by 2-1 with goals from guest player Gagame Feni and Mathias Iani. Feni is currently attached to Galaxy FC from Vanuatu and he must leave Solomon Islands once borders reopen.
All these clubs are working hard for the upcoming season in order to fight for the national title against local powerhouses Henderson Eels and Solomon Warriors.
Fijian international Nicho Prasad is back to training with Bischofswerdaer FV 08. The 24-year-old defender is going to play his second season with the German club after signing with them in February.
Prasad did not have much time to show his talent as he played only one official match for Bischofswerdaer FV 08. His official debut was in a 2-0 loss against Union Fürstenwalde in the Regionalliga Nordost, one of the leagues that compose the fourth tier of German football.
Nicho Prasad
The Fijian defender is having his second opportunity in Europe as he played for German side SpVgg Bayreuth in the 2018-19 season. He made his debut for Fiji National Football Team in the last year and since then he played eleven matches for the Bula Boys.
The 2020 Samoan football season started in the last month with the beggining of youth national tournaments. Despite the beginning of these tournaments, the national leagues at senior level have not started yet.
Football Federation Samoa (FFS) announced through a live on their Facebook account that twelve teams are going to contest the 2020 Men’s Premier League: Faatoia, Kiwi, Lepea, Lupe o le Soaga, Moata’a, Moaula, Sogi, Togafuafua, Vaipuna, Vaitele Uta, Vaivase Tai and Vaiusu. All these twelve teams played the last Premier League season.
Lupe o le Soaga is the current Men’s Premier League champion – OFC Media
Lupe o le Soaga and Kiwi are the biggest contenders for the title race. Lupe is the current league champions as the tournament was called off due to a measles outbreak that affected the country in the last year.
FFS also confirmed that thirteen teams are going to contest the Women’s League while men’s second tier is going to be contested by twenty clubs – a considerable increase compared to the previous year when fourteen teams played in the second tier. All these three leagues are set to kick-off in mid August.
After many years, former Solomon Islands international James Naka is back to Kossa FC. The 35-year-old forward was part of the squad that lost to Isabel United by 3-1 in a friendly match contested yesterday at Ports Field.
It was previously reported that Naka was close to join Henderson Eels but according to reliable sources he is going to stay with Kossa for the next Telekom S-League.
James Naka (right) playing for Kossa against Isabel United – Isabel United Media
Naka is back to Solomon Islands after playing in Vanuatu for two years. He last played for Galaxy FC but he was ruled out of the squad that played the 2020 OFC Champions League group stage.
Kossa FC finished the 2019-20 Telekom S-League in the third position with 32 points in sixteen matches. You can see the full standings by clicking here.
The Papua New Guinean transfer window is open and all National Soccer League teams are trying to bring new players to stregthen their squads for the remaining of the current football season in the country.
It was confirmed by reliable sources that forward Obert Bika and Ronald Warisan returned to Lae City after leaving the club earlier this year alongside head coach Peter Gunemba and some other players.
The 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is scheduled to resume on this Saturday when Lae City will face Gulf Komara at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby. Lae City is currently in the second position in the table with 23 points in ten matches. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
The traditional PVFA Independence is close to its end in the 2020 edition. Today, at Port Vila Municipal Stadium, the losing sides of the semi-finals matches – Yatel and Tafea – played a very interesting match to decide which side would take the bronze medal from the tournament.
Yatel opened the scoreline in the first half thanks to a goal of the talented midfielder Frank Ruben, but in the second half Tafea equalized through the effort of John Thomas.
Tafea players celebrate a goal in PVFA Independence Cup – Vanuatu Sport
The match needed to have a winner – a penalty shotout was required to decide which team would take the 3rd place of the competition. Tafea was able to score all penalty kicks, unfortunately for Yatel that lost one shot giving Tafea the in the 3rd/4th match playoff. “The mach was good. Yatel lost on penalty shoot out again. It was a close one – we scored first, but Tafea equalised just before end of game. Final score on penalty shotout 5-4 for Tafea“, said Yatel’s president John Stephens Tougon.
The decisive clash to decide the champions of the tournament will be tomorrow – Independence Day of Vanuatu – as Galaxy FC take on Ifira Black Bird.
Despite the difficult scenario, in a meeting between NSL Board and PNGFA (Papua New Guinea football association) that happened yesterday (28th Jul) it was confirmed by reliable sources that it had been decided league will restart this weekend as previously schedule.
Hekari United players celebrate a goal scored against Tusbab Stallions for NSL – PNGFA Media
Despite the good news, the fans will not have the possibility to support their teams in person in the two venues that will host the remaining matches of the season. It was agreed between all parties that no crowd will be allowed in the stadium – but the competition remains as it was previously schedule.
The national league will have five matches this weekend in Port Moresby and Lae. You can see the full schedule for the resumption of PNG NSL by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 