Currently in the ninth position in 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, Morobe United was not having a good season until the COVID-19 pandemics that forced the league to stop for five months. However, the coaching staff and players are focused on proving that they can do something better now.
Morobe United is surely one of the teams that had more time to get ready for the league’s resumption as they started training in the last week: “We have a new team specially in the midfield as Emmanuel Simongi and Obert Simon left the team to join Kutubu,” said 18-year-old attacking midfielder Bruce Tiampo.
Bruce Tiampo playing for Morobe United – PNGFA Media
Tiampo’s team also has a bad record when it comes to scoring goals as Morobe United has the worst attack in the league with ten goals scored in ten matches: “Our attack was very poor, we are focused on improving it. Our front line needs to step up and score,” he pointed – “We still want to finished in the top four to reach the semi-finals,” he added.
Morobe United will face Morobe Wawens at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae. You can check the updated schedule of the remaining matches of the 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League’s regular season by clicking here.
After a long wait the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is ready to resume on this Saturday as five matches are going to be contested – two in Lae and three in country’s capital Port Moresby.
One of the most interesting matches of this weekend is the clash between current league champions Lae City and Gulf Komara that is currently in the fifth position: “We have been training for eight weeks. We are focused on taking every single game seriously, specially this one against Lae,” said Komara’s forward Rupa Emil.
Rupa Emil (in black and white kit) playing for Gulf Komara – PNGFA Media
Emil is one of the key players of the team and he believes that the team is stronger for the remainder of the season: “We had time to work on our weakness and I believe in the coaching staff and in my teammates,” he pointed.
Gulf Komara is currently four points ahead fourth placed team Tusbab Stallions which means that Emil and his teammates are still alive to fight for a spot in the National Soccer League’s semi-finals: “We can not underestimate any team if we really want to fight for a spot in the semi-finals,” said Rupa.
You can check the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League standings by clicking here and the schedule of the remaining matches by clicking here.
Sarpreet Singh is ready to join a new club on loan. It was reported by Bild.dethat the 21-year-old player from New Zealand is going to play for FC Nürnberg in the 2.Bundesliga – the second tier of German football – on loan from Bayern München.
Singh is one of the most promising players from Bayern and it is expected that he is going to have more game time playing in the second division which will help him to develop as a player. Christian Früchtl is another young player from Bayern that joined FC Nürnberg on loan for 2020-21 season.
The All Whites international was a regular starter at Bayern II in the 3.Bundesliga – the third-tier of German football – but he did not have many opportunities in the main squad as he played only two matches in Bayern’s first team.
Singh joined Bayern in the last year after impressing when playing for Wellington Phoenix in Hyundai A-League – the major football league from Australia. He made his official debut for New Zealand National Football Team at senior level in a 1-0 loss against Canada in 2018.
The 2020 Battle of the Giants kicks-off today at Churchill Park in Lautoka as four matches are going to be contested throughout the opening day, including an interesting clash between current tournament champions Labasa against Suva in the Group A.
It is already known that Labasa will not count on defensive midfielder Atonio Tuivuna as he was red carded in the Babasiga Lions’ last official match against Ba. However Labasa is not the only team that will not count on an important midfielder as Suva’s Patrick Taroga is expected to miss the match due to university commitments: “I am very busy with the university but I must be available for the second match against Nasinu,” revealed Taroga.
Patrick Taroga must miss Suva’s opening match against Labasa
Taroga joined Suva in the last transfer window. The 20-year-old midfielder from Solomon Islands is having his first experience playing in Fiji and he is performing in a very good level for the Capital City Boys.
Suva is drawn in Battle of the Giants’ Group A alongside Ba, Labasa and Nasinu. You can check the schedule of the tournament by clicking here.
Honiara City is one of the three new franchises that are going to feature in this Telekom S-League season alongside Central Coast FC and Southern United. Despite being a new franchise, Honiara City has a very good staff led by Jerry Allen and Jerry Sam.
Allen and Sam are part of the staff of Hekari United from Papua New Guinea but they are currently stuck in Solomon Islands due to border restrictions caused by COVID-19 pandemics so both will be coaching Honiara City in the 2020 Telekom S-League until borders reopen: “The players are happy and enjoying every training session with Allen who is sharing his knowledge with the players,” said Jerry Sam.
Allen (left) and Sam (right)
Sam also expressed his confidence in the team for the upcoming challenges: “We are a new franchise in the league and we have many young players with hidden talent,” he stated.
Honiara City’s debut in the major football league from Solomon Islands is against Marist FC on Wednesday at Lawson Tama Stadium.
The recent Hekari United’s signing, the young defender Carlos Onne, is positive abou the restart of PNG National Soccer League. The talented plaeyer talked to Oceania Football Center about his expectation on the restart of the competition and how his new side Hekari United will perform in the coming games.
“It is a big game for us when we play Bougainville this coming weekend,” said Onne – “we have a good team and everyone is working hard to retake the first place in the table,” completed the young central defender. Hekari will restart their campaign against Bougainville this Saturday (08th Aug) -“It is going to be a good football match, it will not come easy for us,” explained the player about his expecations on this upcoming clash.
Carlos Onne in PNG National Team colours – OFC Media
Onne is also excited to play alongside the stars Nigel Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba: “The team is doing great in the trainings and Nigel and Raymond as well, they are a fantastic addition,” stated the defender. Even withouth the head coach Jerry Allen, that is momentarily unavailable for Hekari due borders restrictions as he left for his country Solomon Islands in March before Port Moresby’s lockdown, Onne is happy with the training sessions and expects the team can put in practice what they are training in the upcoming clash: “the coach Eric [Komeng] is doing everything he can for us,” stated Onne.
Hekari United is current ranked 3rd in the table of PNG National Soccer League and will look to improve their campaign to retake the first place – place where they were the biggest part of the season so far, just dropping it to Vitiaz United after a a 2-1 defeat to Star Mountain, their last match in the league before the forced break due COVID-19.
Hekari United got two of the best players in Papua New Guinea to reinforce their squad heading to the restart of PNG National Soccer League. The transfer window period was vital for Hekari’s management to finish negotiations with Raymond Gunemba andNigel Dabinyaba – transfer window that was under much controversy around Papua New Guinean football community. Former Lae City FC duo are now under the coaching of Eric Komeng preparing for the challenge to retain national glory for the Port Moresby-based club.
But, this week, a report that quoted acting PNG National Soccer League Dimirit Mileng in local newspaper raised questions about the situation on Gunemba and Dabyniaba’s transfer to Red Army. Dimirit Mileng said that if a player is not transferd according to regulations the team will be held accountable for breaching transfer protocols – as mentioned in a recent EMTCV video report. In the article, current Lae City FC franchise owner Ian Chow was also quoted mentioned both Gunemba and Dabinyaba were not officialy released – so their transfer to Hekari would not be under NSL regulations, not allowing them to feature for their new club.
Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba – EMTV
Both players were interviewed alongside club manager Vonnie Kapi-Nato by local TV station about the case. “We read in newspaper we were not suspended, but yes terminated. They let us out of the payroll, we were hummiliated,” stated star Raymond Gunemba. Dabinyaba supported the statement from Gunemba and also added they tried to get in touch with Lae City’s franchise onwer to understand the case: “we tried to set up a meeting through email contacting Ian Chow, but his response was negative stating we were not anymore part of his club,” said the Papua New Guinean international.
The situation started when both players decided to leave Lae City after their former coach Peter Gunemba was fired by Lae City’s franchise onwer – then the players walked out and, as mentioned by the star players, they had their contracts terminated with the team. Hekari’s boss Vonnie Kapi-Nato also stated in the press release both players were free agent and that is why she signed them, also added NSL board is aware of the situation.
Due to these unresolved issues, it is not known if both players will feature for Hekari United in this weekend’s clash against Bougainville – Hekari can choose to not select the players for this match to avoid any penalties to Hekari United until the situation is completely cleared.
The 2020 edition of the most important football league of Solomon Islands will start this weekend in Honiara. TSL media recently informed the first five games that will be taking place this weekend in the national league.
On Saturday, the first match of the seaoson will seeJames Naka side Kossa taking on the newly formed Southern United at 2pm in Lawson Tama Stadium. At 4pm, one of the most interesting mathces of the weekend, will seeJoses Nawo, RaphaelLea’i and Tutizama Tanito Henderson Eels taking on the new club of Michael Boso and Benjamin Totori, Isabel United.
Benjamin Totori – S-League Media
On Sunday, two more matches will take place at Lawson Tama Stadium: at 2pm Malaita Kings will be taking on the newly created Central Coast and Real Kakamora will have he task to play against the good Laugu United at 4pm.
On Wednesaday we will have the final match of the season opener matchweek as Marist FC take on the new side Honiara City. Current title holders Solomon Warriors will be team on bye this week as we have eleven this season in Telekom S-League – always one team will get a bye matchweek.
One of the most known players of Nadi’s squad for this 2020 Battle of Giants, Napolioni Qasevakatini, talked to Oceania Football Center about his expecations for the tournament. The attacker said the Green Machine is prepared for the competition and is here to achieve its goals: “preparation are going well; we do not underestimate any team in BOG, so we take one game at the time“, said the Fijian international.
Napolioni Qasevakatini
The 27-year-old player know it will be hard task for Nadi – the will be taking on Rewa, Navua and Lautoka in the Group B: “we expect to qualify for the semifinals – we are here to proceed to the next stage“, said Qasevakatini – “we will take a game at a time; trying to motivate the boys to give there 100% out of the game time“, add the striker.
The 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants will take place in Lautoka, at Churcill Park that will be starting this Friday (07th Aug). Nadi’s first clash will be against Navua in the Group B.
Lautoka’s key player Arami Manumanubai is excited with the experience to play the upcoming Battle of Giants in home ground; the defender asks for fans supports at Churchill Park: “we are in hard pool, but the opponents will need to come to play in our home ground,” stated the tall defender.
“Playing at home will be a big advantage for Lautoka, the team is ready for this challenge“, explained Manumanubai. Lautoka will be starting their campaign against Rewa this Friday (07th Aug) at Churchill Park.
Arami Manumanubai – OFC Media
Manumunubai knows the stadium will have a reduced capacity for this competiton due COVID-19 concerns, but he asks the supporters to come as they can to support the Blues: “I ask the fans to come in numbers to support their team Lautoka this weekend“, expressed the defender.
The 21-year-old player stated the team is preparing well for the competition under coaching of the experienced Ravinesh Kumar towards this challenge in Battle of Giants: “we are preparing very well, two sessions in day under master Ravinesh. The boys are ready for this challenge“, added Manumanubai.
The group stage of the 2020 edition of the Battle of Giants will be played in Lautoka, as mentioned, this weekened – from 7th to 9th August.
