Oceania Football Center

Tahiti: Sandro Tau wins Ligue 1 VINI Golden Boot

The 2019-20 Tahitian football season was called off in May due to COVID-19 pandemics and the Ligue 1 VINI title was awarded to AS Pirae that was on top when the tournament stopped in March. After some months, the trophy was finally delivered to AS Pirae.

It was AS Pirae’s ninth title in the history of Ligue 1 and they are now qualified for 2021 OFC Champions League alongside with AS Vénus that finished the league in the second position.

AS Pirae players celebrating the title – *FTF Media*

This season was very special for Sandro Tau who scored 21 goals in the league and was awarded with the Golden Boot Award. The 23-year-old forward managed to overcome AS Vénus’ legend Teaonui Tehau who won the Golden Boot Award in the past two seasons.

Despite being the top scorer of 2019-20 Ligue 1, Tau was not in Tahiti National Team provisional squad that was training together earlier this month. According to National Team’s head coach Samuel Garcia, Sandro was not in the list because he decided to put priority on his professional career as football is amateur in there.

Sandro Tau holding the Golden Boot Award – *FTF Media*

The next Tahitian football season is currently set to begin in September and twelve teams must contest the 2020-21 Ligue 1 because there was no relegation in 2019-20.

OFC announces new calendar changes

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The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Executive Committee reached an agreement to change the tournament calendar for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemics as the borders of Oceanian countries remain closed or have extremely limited access.

It was reported by the Confederation that they are going to submit a proposal to FIFA for the rescheduled World Cup qualifiers. The qualifiers were initially scheduled to kick-off in the next month but this new proposal will change the kick-off date to March 2021.

The eleven Member Associations would be split in two groups based on their FIFA Ranking and the matches would be played in March and June. The top two teams from each group would advance to the semi-finals in September and then a final would be played in October. The winner of the regional qualifiers would go for an interconfederation play-off in June 2022.

As it was previously reported, there is a schedule proposal being discussed for 2020 OFC Champions League knockout stage. A further decision regarding the Champions League, including when and where a potential finals tournament would take place, will be made by the Executive Committee on August 31.

It is important to remember that the 2020 OFC Nations Cup was previously cancelled due to COVID-19 situation. OFC also announced that other tournaments were postponed while some were cancelled as you can check in the list below:
OFC U-19 Championship 2020: Rescheduled to January 2021 (Hosts: Samoa)
OFC U-16 Championship 2020: Rescheduled to April 2021 (Hosts: Fiji)
OFC Futsal Youth Development 2020: Cancelled
OFC U-15 Girls Centre of Excellence 2020: Cancelled
OFC Futsal Champions League 2020: Cancelled

Looking ahead to next year, the Executive Committee confirmed that Tahiti would host the OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup in January and the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2021 in September. OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo said these postponements and cancellations were the only option given the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic – “We look forward to international football returning in our region when it is logistically possible,” Castillo said.

PNG National Soccer League’s resumption uncertain due to lockdown in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister James Marape announced on this Monday that it was ordered a swift lockdown of the country’s capital Port Moresby as the country recorded its first confirmed COVID-19 death.

In the face of the country’s first confirmed COVID-19 death, a 35-year-old man, Marape announced a swath of restrictions to help curb the spread of the virus. The capital Port Moresby will close to non-essential business for 14 days from Tuesday, schools will be shuttered and a nighttime curfew imposed.

This new lockdown in Port Moresby brought many uncertainties for football lovers in the country as the 2019-20 PNG National Soccer League was scheduled to resume on this Saturday. It was previously reported that all remaining league matches would be played in Lae and Port Moresby, but the new lockdown must be a turnaround for the league’s resumption.

2019-20 National Soccer League’s resumption can be delayed

According to reliable sources, all ten National Soccer League clubs are yet to receive a formal message from Papua New Guinea Footbal Association (PNGFA) and National Soccer League Board whether the competition resumed or be cancelled.

Oceania Football Center team is keeping up with all updates in order to bring the most accurate information to our followers.

Nouvelle-Calédonie: Thierry Sardo quitte le poste d’entraîneur de l’équipe nationale

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Le célèbre entraîneur français Thierry Sardo n’est plus en Nouvelle-Calédonie – il est rentré en France aujourd’hui (27 juillet) après 15 ans de service pour le football néo-calédonien, dont cinq ans comme entraîneur des Cagous. Il a également guidé l’AS Mont-Dore vers un titre de Mobil Super Ligue pendant son séjour en Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Sardo a mené l’équipe nationale de football de Nouvelle-Calédonie à la médaille d’or des Jeux du Pacifique de 2015 et a également guidé l’équipe nationale jusqu’en demi-finale de la Coupe des Nations de l’OFC de 2016, où elle a été battue par la Nouvelle-Zélande. À l’époque de Thierry Sardo, différents joueurs basés à l’étranger ont été présentés à l’équipe nationale; des noms tels que Jorys Mene, Jean-Philippe Saïko et Stéphane Tein-Padom ont reçu leurs premières convocations pour Les Cagous avec Sardo comme entraîneur principal. Le Français a également été commentateur de Caledonia TV pour les matchs de football de la Mobil Super Ligue, de la Coupe de Calédonie et de la Ligue des champions de l’OFC.

En raison de la pandémie de COVID-19, les matchs amicaux prévus en Estonie ont été annulés – puis, le dernier match de Sardo à la tête de l’équipe nationale de Nouvelle-Calédonie a été la défaite 2-1 contre la Nouvelle-Zélande en finale des Jeux du Pacifique de 2019. On ne sait toujours pas qui va remplacer Sardo, mais ce qui est certain, c’est l’important héritage qu’il a laissé au football calédonien.

New Caledonia: Thierry Sardo leaves National Team head coach spot

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The well-known French head coach Thierry Sardo is not anymore in New Caledonia – he departed back to France today (27th July) after 15 years of service for New Caledonian football, including five years as Les Cagous head coach. He also guided AS Mont-Dore to a Mobil Super Ligue title during his time in New Caledonia.

Sardo led New Caledonia National Football Team 2015 Pacific Games’ gold medal and also guided the national team to the semi-finals of 2016 OFC Nations Cup where they were defeated by New Zealand. During Thierry Sardo’s era, various players based overseas were introduced to the national team; names such as Jorys Mene, Jean-Philippe Saïko and Stéphane Tein-Padom received their first call-ups for Les Cagous having Sardo as a head coach. The Frenchman was also commentator of Caledonia TV for the football matches of Mobil Super Ligue, Coupe de Calédonie and OFC Champions League.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the arranged friendly matches in Estonia were cancelled – then, the final match of Sardo in charge of New Caledonia national team was the 2-1 defeat against New Zealand in 2019 Pacific Games final. It is still unsure who is going to replace Sardo, but he leaves an important legacy to New Caledonian football.

All Whites’ defender Nando Pijnaker debuts for Grasshoppers

One of the most talented defenders from New Zealand, 21-year-old central back Nando Pijnaker made his official debut for Grassoppers senior team in the 3-2 loss against FC Wil in the Challenge League – the second tier of Swiss football.

FC Wil scored two goals to take the 2-0 lead. Pijnaker came from the bench in the 63rd minute to replace Elias Mesonero to make his first official appearence for his new club. Mychell Chagas scored a brace to tie the match for Grasshoppers but FC Wil still had time to find the net for the third time to seal the 3-2 win.

Nando’s countryman Max Mata was not with the squad for this match. Grasshoppers are currently in the third position in the league with 60 points, only one point behind second-placed team FC Vaduz.

Pijnaker joined the Swiss team in January after spending some months playing for Torslanda from Sweden. Pijnaker was part of New Zealand U-20 squad that played the FIFA U-20 World Cup last year. He made his debut for All Whites last year in a friendly match against Lithuania.

Sanaila Waqanicakau brings pride back to Ba fans

After losing two matches in a row, Ba finally returned to the right path by beating Labasa by 2-1 in a very entertaining match at Fiji FA Academy. The Men in Black are currently in the third position with twelve points, four points behind current league leaders Rewa.

Labasa had a strong beginning in the contest as Siotame Kubu opened the scoreboard for Babasiga Lions. However Ba’s forward Sanaila Waqanicakau was the hero of the day by scoring two goals in the second half – “Scoring two goals was great. I am one of those who can not take a defeat easily,” said Waqanicakau – “I wanted to give something back to Ba fans and we have beaten Labasa after two back to back losses,” he added.

Sanaila Waqanicakau (left) scored twice against Labasa – *Fiji FA Media*

Ba’s next challenge will be against Suva at Fiji FA Academy on Saturday – “It is going to be a very tough match. Suva will come strong to keep their unbeaten run,” pointed Waqanicakau. This match will be the last Vodafone Premier League’s match before the beginning of 2020 Battle of the Giants in the next week.

Josaia Sela: the flourish of a young star from Fiji

Current league leaders Rewa made another victim this weekend when they beat Lautoka by 1-0 at Ratu Cakobau Park in the seventh round of 2020 Vodafone Premier League – the major football league from Fiji.

The winning goal was scored by Josaia Sela, one of the most promising players from Fiji. The 17-year-old forward had a very consistent performance against Lautoka and he scored a deserved goal to give three more points to the Delta Tigers. You can check some of his actions in the match against Lautoka by clicking here.

Josaia Sela is a name that Fijian football fans must get used to hear. He made his debut for Rewa at senior level in 2018 Inter-District Championship when he was just 15 years old and now he is proving himself as a reliable forward that Rewa’s head coach Marika Rodu can count on.

He was also the captain of Fiji U-16 squad in the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship and he led his side to reach the semi-finals of the tournament by scoring two goals in five matches.

Sela surely has the necessary to become a successful player in Fiji but his talent can take him to a higher level. Rewa’s management and staff have a jewel to be cut.

Ahinga Selemani joins European club

After having a good 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season playing for Hawke’s Bay United, forward Ahinga Selemani is another footballer who left New Zealand to play the 2020-21 European season.

The 24-year-old forward joined Lincoln Red Imps from Gibraltar and he will probably be part of the squad that is going to play 2020-21 UEFA Europa League preliminary rounds.

SEE ALSO
Martin Bueno leaves Eastern Suburbs to play in Europe;
Duo from New Zealand help FC Helsingør to clinch title in Denmark.

Selemani celebrating a goal for Hawke’s Bay United

Selemani was one of the most important players of Hawke’s Bay United in the past ISPS Handa Premiership season by scoring ten goals in sixteen matches in the league.

Solomon Islands: Benjamin Totori scores twice in Isabel United’s friendly match

Isabel United and Malaita Kingz clashed at DC Park in a friendly match. This game was part of the preparation of both teams for 2020 Telekom S-League that is currently scheduled to kick-off on August 8th.

It was a remarkable match for Isabel United because it was Benjamin Totori‘s unofficial debut for his new club and the legendary forward did not disappoint as he scored a brace to lead his team against Malaita Kingz.

Totori scored twice against Malaita Kingz – *Isabel United Media*

Young forward Bradley Irosaea scored Malaita’s goal. The Kingz also counted on National Futsal Team playmaker Charles Otainao and youngster Javin Wae. The final score was a 2-1 win for Isabel United.

After an interesting debut season in 2019-20 Telekom S-League, Isabel United show that they want more this year. Their next friendlies will be against Kossa on Wednesday and against Real Kakamora on Saturday.