Football clubs are already allowed to resumed training in Solomon Islands as the local football federation received the green light from Solomon Islands’ government’s COVID-19 oversight committee to resume football activities.
With the next Telekom S-League’s season scheduled to begin on August 8, the teams are slowly resuming their activities in order to get ready for the season opener and one of these teams is the Henderson Eels.
Eels’ first training session took place at Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Academy on Saturday. It was the first opportunity for head coach Eddie Marahare see his team back to action after the COVID-19 pandemics.
Henderson Eels players after the training session
Henderson Eels also have another important to get ready for: the 2020 OFC Champions League quarter-finals that is currently scheduled to take place in September.
Football resumed in United States of America as MLS is Back Tournament kicked-off on Wednesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando.
The current Major League Soccer season counts on many players from New Zealand and three of them were involved in today’s clash between Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC. Defender Michael Boxall was Minnesota’s captain while his countryman James Musa started on the bench. The third Kiwi involved in the clash was Winston Reid who remained on Kansas City’s bench during the whole match.
Boxall played with a special item today: a armband with George Floyd’s name – a black American killed by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis.
Michael Boxall before the kick-off – Minnesota United Media
Kansas City opened the scoreboard in the first half with a goal scored by Khiry Shelton. Shelton still had time to score another goal in the second half… an own-goal in the 92th minute to equalize. Minnesota still had time to score another goal in the stoppage time when Kevin Molino found the net in the 97th minute before being replaced by James Musa.
Minnesota’s next clash will be against Real Salt Lake while Sporting Kansas City will face Colorado Rapids. Both matches are going to be contested on Friday.
After some controversy, a new football transfer window is open in Papua New Guinea and national powerhouse Hekari United did not lose time as they are close to join with two of the best footballers in the country: Nigel Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba.
Both players were free agents since March when they left Lae City alongside head coach Peter Gunemba. Dabinyaba and Gunemba are already known by Hekari United fans as both have already played there a couple of years ago.
Gunemba (left) and Dabinyaba (right) are close to join Hekari United
Dabinyaba and Gunemba must be huge additions to Hekari United’s squad for the remaining of 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League as they will bring lots of quality and experience to a team that already counts on some experient and talented players like midfielder David Muta.
Hekari United is currently in the third position in the National Soccer League with 23 points in ten matches, only two points below current league leaders Vitiaz United. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
The 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is set to resume on August 1st after five months stopped due to COVID-19 pandemics. However the league’s resumption is also generating controversy about opening a new transfer window.
According to reliable sources, Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) opened a special transfer window before the league’s resumption as the last transfer window closed right before the tenth matchweek of the current league season but it seems that it was not approved by everyone involved with the league – “As a franchise owner I am shocked and surprised if the transfer window was opened again,” said Lae City’s chairman Ian Chow.
Lae City players celebrating a goal in 2020 OFC Champions League – OFC Media
Lae City lost many players in March after head coach Peter Gunemba was sacked. However the team owned by Chow will count on the Komolong brothers Alwin and Felix for the remaining of the 2019-20 season.
Local clubs will have the opportunity to strengthen their squads for the final part of the season. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
Wellington Phoenix fans must enjoy having youngster Liberato Cacace in the team while he is still there. The 19-year-old left back is one of the most talented players from his generation in New Zealand and it seems that an European move is just a matter of time for him.
According to Stuff, clubs from Belgium and Netherlands are strongly interested on signing with Cacace for 2020-21 season so Wellington Phoenix must receive some offers during the European transfer window.
Cacace is a key player at Wellington Phoenix. The young left back scored three goals in eighteen league matches in the current Hyundai A-League season that is set to resume on this week.
The fourth matchweek of Lotto NRFL Men’s Premier League is over and the two top teams won to remain on top: Auckland United and Central United.
Auckland United received bottom-placed North Shore United at Keith Hay Park and won by 2-1 with goals scored by Andrew Milne and Joshua Redfearn while Central United visited Forrest Hill Milford at Becroft Park and won by 3-1. Dylan Manickum, Emiliano Tade and Angus Kilkolly were Central’s goalscorers in the contest. Both teams remain on top with twelve points in four matches. However Auckland United are currently on top because they have a better goal debit than Central.
Auckland United (left) and Central United (right) won all their league matches so far – Phototek NZ
Birkenhead United have beaten Eastern Suburbs by 3-2 to remain in the third position while Matthew Palmer scored a brace to lead Bay Olympic in a 3-0 win against Waitakere City. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
Miramar Rangers received Wairarapa United at David Farrington Park on Saturday in the fifth matchweek of 2020 Ultra Football Central League – the top-tier regional league from the central region of New Zealand.
It was a very important match for both teams. Miramar Rangers needed the win to keep fighting for the first position in the tournament while Wairarapa United is trying to recover after a bad start in the tournament.
Young attacking midfielder Ollie Whyte opened the scoreboard for Miramar in the 17th minute and Portuguese forward João Moreira extended the lead four minutes later. Legendary Paul Ifill scored for Wairarapa in the 32nd minute and the final score was 2-1 at the half time.
Miramar Rangers led the first half by 2-1.
Wairarapa had a quick start in the second half and equalized with a goal scored by Jonty Roubos. However Miramar woke up and found the net four times in six minutes to lead the contest by 6-2. Paul Ifill netted his second goal of the day but it was not enough as Samuel Mason-Smith scored twice in the 66th and 76th minute to set the final score: 8-3.
Mason-Smith finished the match with four goals scored while João Moreira and Ollie Whyte scored twice each. Miramar Rangers have twelve points in five matches and they are fighting for the lead against Western Suburbs. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
The first tournament of 2020 Solomon Islands football season is over. Twelve teams took part at Women’s Preseason Tournament held at Lawson Tama Stadium during this week to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Solomon Islands’ independence.
The tournament counted on hundreds of women from many regions of the country – “Women’s football has had encountered many challenges over the years but this competition has shown that we can grow our women’s game to a higher level,” said Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) president William Lai.
Twelve teams were split in two groups of six teams each and the top four teams from each group advanced to the knock-out stage. Koloale was the dominant team in the group stage as they won all their five matches in Group A while Police Blue led the Group B – “Both our teams (Police Blue and Police Yellow) played very well since we only had two weeks of training. Majority they know how to play, there is a few that this is the first time for them to play,” stated Police’s team manager Grace Hilly.
Koloale kept their dominance in the tournament to reach the final and beat Wansol Frigates in the final clash to clinch the title while Police Blue and Police Yellow clashed in the Third Place Play-Off match and the blue team won by 8-4.
Koloale players celebrating the title – SIFF Media
“I think such a tournament will help prepare girls for the upcoming league so by having this tournament is very helpful especially for us girls,” said Koloale’s player/coach Crystal Bakolo – “It’s an opportunity for our women to come out and be part of this event. Football is a beautiful platform for women to keep healthy and meet other women […] I hope this tournament will attract other clubs to participate to support women football development in the Solomon Islands,” said Grace Hilly.
Oceania Football Center congratulates SIFF and all involved players and staff members who took part of this tournament. You can check full information about the tournament by clicking here.
After losing important players, Lautoka added some talent by signing with good players like Malakai Rakula and Sitiveni Cavuilagi. However the Baby Bluez want more and they are very close to join with a top player from Labasa: Siotame Kubu.
It was reported by reliable sources that Kubu is just one step away from being a Lautoka’s player. It is also known that he was training with Baby Bluez in the past days.
Kubu celebrating a goal for Labasa in 2019 Battle of the Giants final
Kubu is a key player from Labasa and he had an important role in the team last year by helping Babasiga Lions to win Battle of the Giants, Inter-District Championship and Champions vs Champions series. If he really joins Lautoka it will be a major blow to Labasa.
Lautoka’s next official match will be against Ba on Wednesday at Churchill Park while Labasa will receive Nadi at Subrail Park on Saturday. You can see the current Vodafone Premier League standings by clicking here.
Hamilton Wanderers received Melville United at Porritt Stadium in the fourth matchweek of 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s – the top-tier of the Northern Regional League system.
It was a very exciting derby and Wanderers deservedly won by 2-0. Papua New Guinea international Tommy Semmy was the man of the match as he lead his team to the victory by scoring a brace.
Semmy scored twice in the match – NRF Media
Wanderers’ next challenge will be against North Shore United at Allen Hill Stadium while Melville United will receive Manukau United at Gower Park. Both matches will be played on next Saturday. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 