Oceania Football Center

Basil Jofari ready to guide FC Bougainville as PNG National Soccer League resumes

The 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League resumes this weekend and all ten participating teams are getting ready for the league’s resumption. It is not being different for FC Bougainville that is surely doing a very good preparation over the past few weeks.

Currently in the sixth position in the table with eleven points in ten matches, FC Bougainville added some talent to its squad by signing with forward Bernard Purari and former Star Mountain’s assistant coach Percy Mataio.

FC Bougainville’s latest match was a 5-0 win over Star Mountain with two goals scored by Basil Jofari: “The team’s preparation is being great. We have beaten Star Mountain twice and Gulf Komara once during this period but there is still room for improvement. We are working hard and doing our best as a team for league’s resumption,” said Jofari. The 26-year-old midfielder also talked about the positive impact caused by the arrival of Percy Mataio: “His arrival brings a lot of energy to the team. We are excited to work with him,” he stated.

Jofari (left) playing for FC Bougainville – *PNGFA Media*

Basil and his teammates are going to have a very difficult match this weekend against a strengthened Hekari United that will count on Nigel Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba who recently joined the team: “Dabinyaba and Gunemba are already used to Hekari United. Anyway we are focused on our preparation for the match,” pointed the midfielder.

With eight matchweeks remaining for the end of the National Soccer League’s regular season, Jofari has a clear goal in his mind which is to help his team to win matches to reach the league’s semi-finals. “I know it is not going to be easy and we have to work hard to get there. We have to take one game at a time and it starts this weekend against Hekari United,” he stated.

The clash between FC Bougainville and Hekari United is set to kick-off on Saturday at 3pm at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby. You can check the complete schedule of the remaining matches by clicking here.

Gagame Feni joins Laugu United

Solomon Islands international and former Suva attacker Gagame Feni is the new player of Laugu United in the Telekom S-League. The star player was released by his former team Galaxy in Vanuatu to join Laugu for the new season in his home nation. The player was unable to return to Vanuatu due border restrictions and decided to switch to Laugu to continue playing.

Laugu comes with a very strong squad for this season as Jared Rongosulia and Atkin Kaua just recently signed for the club for the new season in Solomon Islands top-tier league. The club will also count on players such as Allen Peter and Matson Feni.

The Telekom S-League is set to start this Saturday (08th Aug) in Honiara.

Marlon Nonone delighted to play the Battle of the Giants for the first time

Marlon Nonone is living a good moment in Fiji. The 21-year-old forward from Solomon Islands is showing his talent abroad and he is playing an important role in Nasinu’s attack in Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier of Fijian football.

Nonone joiend the Fijian club this year and he is one of the 22 players selected to represent The Giant Killers in the Battle of the Giants that kicks-off on Friday: “I am glad to be picked by the team staff to represent Nasinu in this important tournament. It is going to be my first time in the Battle of the Giants” he revealed to Oceania Football Center.

Nasinu is drawin in the Group A alongside Ba, Labasa and Rewa – a very difficult group. The young forward understands the importance of this tournament: “I am a young player and I am expecting more pressure but I will handle with it to do my best in the tournament,” he said.

SEE ALSO
Misaele Draunibaka: every match is like a final in the Battle of the Giants;
Simione Nabenu: Suva is ready for Battle of the Giants

Nonone (number 10) will play the Battle of the Giants for the first time – *Fiji FA*

The odds are not good for Nasinu in this group but The Giant Killers can not be underestimated as they have beaten Ba and Labasa in the current Vodafone Premier League season: “We will have tough challenges. All teams have good players but we need to work hard inside the pitch to fight for the win every single game,” said Nonone.

Nasinu’s debut in the tournament will be against Ba on Friday at Churchill Park. You can check the 2020 Battle of the Giants’ schedule by clicking here.

Misaele Draunibaka: every match is like a final in the Battle of the Giants

Rewa is always a strong side when it comes to Battle of the Giants as the Delta Tigers won five out of the last ten editions of the tournament. This year it is not going to be different as the team coached by Marika Rodu is currently leading the Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier of Fijian football.

Despite being on top of the league, Rewa’s players know that it is important to keep their feet on the ground: “People are saying that we are the favourites, but we are the underdogs,” said Misaele Draunibaka, one of the 22 players selected to represent the team in the tournament that kicks-off on Friday at Churchill Park.

SEE ALSO
Marlon Nonone delighted to play the Battle of the Giants for the first time;
Simione Nabenu: Suva is ready for the Battle of the Giants

Draunibaka playing for Rewa against Suva – *Fiji FA Media*

The Delta Tigers are goint to have a tough clash in the opening day as they are going to face hosts Lautoka: “It is going to be a tough match and a tough tournament. All teams are physically and mentally prepared so we can not take any game lightly, every match is like a final in the Battle of the Giants,” stated Draunibaka.

Rewa is drawn in the Group B alongside Lautoka, Nadi and Navua. You can check the tournament’s schedule by clicking here.

Simione Nabenu: Suva is ready for BOG

Currently in the third position in Vodafone Premier League, Suva is looking for glory in the Battle of the Giants (BOG) that kicks-off on Friday. The Capital City Boys will try to clinch BOG title for the first time in this century as they last won the tournament in 1995.

One of the 22 players called to represent Suva in the tournament is 20-year-old defender Simione Nabenu who recently joined the team after leaving Ba: “Suva is well prepared. We are ready for the tournament,” he revealed to Oceania Football Center.

SEE ALSO
Marlon Nonone delighted to play the Battle of the Giants for the first time
Misaele Draunibaka: every match is like a final in the Battle of the Giants

Suva is drawn in the Group A alongside current Vodafone Premier League champions Ba, current Battle of the Giants champions Labasa and Nasinu: “The clashes against Ba and Labasa will be tough ones,” said Nabenu.

The first challenge of the Capital City Boys in the tournament will be against against Labasa on Friday at Churchill Park.

Young talented Richie Kwaimamani delighted to join stars in Isabel United

One more young rising star is set to play at the highest level of football in Solomon Islands; the talented 18-year-old midfielder Richie Kwaimamani joined the strong side of FC Isabel United for the new season that is set to start this Saturday (08th Aug) in Honiara.

The former U17 Solomon Islands international talked to Oceania Football Center about his goals for the season and how important for him is to play the Telekom S-League in 2020.

“I decided to play for Isabel because I want to learn new ideas and earn experiences from different players and coaches,” said Richie when asked why he accepted Isabel’s offer. The talented player can not forget his experience in Brazil in 2019, where he represente his country at FIFA U17 World Cup: “during the time in Brazil I learned new things; that level is professional – it was my first time to play in world stage,” explained the midfielder.

Richie is clear when asked about the goals of his Isabel United for the upcoming season: “this season the boys, team officials and coaches are expected for win the leagu and qualify for OFC Champions League“. Richie has reasons to be optmistic for the new S-League – Isabel United was ambitious and signed three very important players: Michael Boso, Alick Maemae and Benjamin Totori – all stars of Solomon Islands football. “I think that I am so lucky to play with such player – but I am alrady feeling comfortable to play with them this upcoming season,” explained Kwaimamani.

The Telekom S-League will certainly be at a higher level for this season – various national team players rejoined clubs from the country; the young midfielder is aware about the quality of the league this upcoming season and expects to be battle at the top of the table: “the past seasons the champion was Solomon Warriors and Henderson Eels in second place; our aim is too work hard like a team and be among these top teams at the top of the table this season,” said the 18-year-old.

Isabel United will certainly have the quality of players such as Alick Maemae and Benjamin Totori, but the young talent of Kwaimamani will be something also to highlight in the upcoming season of the Solomon Islands national league for the team coached by the legend Gideon Omokirio.

Ba: knee injury denies Misiwani Nairube’s BOG participation

Ba’s first choice goalkeeper Misiwani Nairube will not be taking part of the 2020 Battle of Giants. As it was recently released by Fiji FA, the player is not listed in the Men in Black squad for the tournament and will force the coach Ronil Kumar to keep playing the 17-year-old Isikeli Sevanaia in his place.

Recently, Nairube talked to Oceania Football Center and explained about his injury – that was sustained in the win of Ba against Lautoka by 2-1 – and the possibilities to be not playing the Battle of Giants.

Nairube missed all latest matches of Ba in the Vodafone Premier League and will expect to be fully recovered to help Ba in the rest of national league and in the upcoming tournaments of the season.

Ba is in very hard pool in BOG alongside Suva, Labasa and Nasinu. The competition is set to start this Friday (07th Aug) in Lautoka.

Samuela Nabenia out of Rewa’s squad for Battle of Giants

One of the best profiles of Fijian football to be left out of the traditional Battle of Giants contest, that is starting this weekend in Lautoka, is Rewa’s midifidler Samuela Nabenia. Rewa recently released its squad for the 2020 Battle of Giants, where Nabenia was not listed. Oceania Football Center confirmed with the player that stated he will not be representing Rewa in this competition.

Rewa is in a complicated group in the competition alongisde Lautoka, Navua and Nadi. The tournament is set to this start this Friday (07th Aug) at Churchil Park, Lautoka.

Anginesh Prasad strengthens Suva’s staff for 2020 Battle of the Giants

Suva’s staff is going to have a strong addition for Battle of the Giants that kicks-off on Friday as Anginesh Prasad was confirmed as the team’s assistant coach for the tournament.

Prasad joined the team on Monday and he revealed to Oceania Football Center that the Capital City Boys have a good squad. He also pointed that there will be some small changes in order to strengthen the team.

SEE ALSO
Afonja Jibola to miss 2020 Battle of the Giants;
Battle of the Gaints’ squadlists

Despite losing to Ba by 3-1 in the last week, Suva has a strong side with many good players and the Capital City Boys are surely one of the contenders to win the tournament. The biggest news for the fans is that talented Iosefo Verevou is confirmed in the squad so he might be able to make his official debut in the season.

Suva won the Battle of the Giants three times in the history: 1982, 1988 and 1995. You can check the tournament’s schedule by clicking here.

Amani Makoe to rejoin Rewa after eighteen months suspended

Fiji Football Association (FFA) announced that four players are back from suspension due to drug use including former Fiji National Team representant Amani Makoe.

It was confirmed by Rewa’s president Nazeel Buksh that Makoe is returning to Rewa. However the 29-year-old defender is not going to play the 2020 Battle of the Giants that kicks-off on Friday. You can check Rewa’s squad for this tournament’s by clicking here.

It has been sixteen months since Makoe was suspended by the federation. He last played for Rewa in a 1-0 win against Suva in the last Vodafone Premier League season.