Oceania Football Center

Samuela Kautoga’s Western Springs win in Lotto NRFL Premier opening round

Western Springs received Eastern Suburbs at Seddon Fields and did not have difficulties to win and grab their first three points of 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s season.

Fijian defender Samuela Kautoga played a solid match before being replaced by Josh Margetts in the 78th minute of the clash.

Springs scored three goals in the first half and they just managed the lead in the final 45 minutes to win the game by 3-0. Dylan Bull opened the scoreboard in the 24th minute while his teammate Gerard Garriga Gibert extended the lead four minutes later. The third goal was an own goal scored by Dylan Laing-McConnell.

The next challenge of Western Springs will be against Auckland United at Keith Hay Park while Eastern Suburbs will receive Melville United at Madills Farm. You can check all results from 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s opening round by clicking here.

Malampa Revivors’ stars prepare for OFC Champions League in Port Vila

Malampa Reviovors made history recently in Luganville where they hosted the Group B of the 2020 OFC Champions League; the current Ni-Vanuatu national champions qualified for the first time ever for the knock-out stage of the regional tournament as they topped the group beating Lae City from Papua New Guinea and having draws in the process against Lautoka from Fiji and Henderson Eels from Solomon Islands.

As COVID-19 hit Oceania, clubs were forced to stop their activities and Malampa Revivors is now returning slowly their trainings in Luganville. While this period, football in Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital, is also in the early stages to its restart: it is reported PVFA is will organize the traditional Independence Cup in the following weeks. Approaching this period, two important players of Revivors are in the capital currently warming up for the OFC Champions League: the defender Tasso Jeffrey and the midfielder Dondy Kileteir.

Kileteir (left) and Jeffrey (right) in a friendly match against Galaxy – *Vanuatu Sport*

Both Jeffrey and Kileteir played a major role in the succesful campaign of the Luganville powerhouse in the OFC Champions League – the Revivors’ stars are playing friendly matches in Port Vila in the squad of Erakor Golden Star, another very important team of Vanuatu football scenario that currently plays in the top-tier of Port Vila regional league.

The partnership agreed between both clubs to give game time to Jeffrey and Kileteir was appreciated by Luganvile football community that thanked Erakor Golden Star in social media for their efforts allowing the players to be part of the squad in these non-competitive matches.

The OFC Champions League resumption date is still unsure; none of the clubs qualified for the quarterfinals know their opponents yet. Oceania Football Confederation appointed that the competition is likely to restart this September.

Tahiti: Beach Soccer tournament to begin on Wednesday

Good news for Tahitian Beach Soccer. The OPT Beach Soccer Tour 2020 Group is confirmed and it is going to be contested from June 24 to August 1.

The tournament will be contested in three categories: Elite (Men), Fun (Men) and Women’s. Both men’s tournaments are going to have ten teams while women’s tournament will be contested by eight teams. You can check the list of participants by clicking here.

Green Warriors in 2019 Elite Final – Source: FTF Media

OPT Beach Soccer Tour is organized by the Tahitian Football Federation (FTF) since 2016. Oceania Football Center wish good luck to all teams involved in the tournament.

Sydney: the provisional home of Wellington Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix delegation arrived in Australia to keep their preparation for 2019-20 Hyundai A-League season resumption. The football club from New Zealand will be based in Sydney during this period.

According to reliable sources Phoenix will complete the remainder of their regular season matches in New South Wales, with games to be played at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah, and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Phoenix will be based in Sydney during the remainder of 2019-20 A-League season

The team coached by Ufuk Talay was performing in a great level before COVID-19 pandemics – “We’ve got six very tough games but we will work hard to get there […] We will do our best to get through to the finals,” said Talay to Wellington Phoenix media.

The Nix is currently in the third position in 2019-20 Hyundai A-League with 36 points in twenty matches. You can check the current standings by clicking here.

David Koloamatangi: I have a lot of interest on representing Tonga

New Zealand is a country with lots of immigrants. Every year thousands of people come from all over the world to live in the Oceanian country. The reflection of immigration can be seen in the local football.

Many football clubs have foreign roots like Central United (Croatia) and Wellington Olympic (Greece). The same happens in New Zealand National Team as there are a bunch of players with the most varied ancestry like Liberato Cacace (Italy) or Sarpreet Singh (India).

Lots of people from the Pacific Islands moved to another countries in the past decades and now we can see many football players that were born in New Zealand representing their parents’ homeland like Fiji or Samoa.

David Koloamatangi is one of these players that are eligible to represent another nation. Born in New Zealand, both his parents are from Tonga. The 19-year-old goalkeeper currently plays for Metro FC in Lotto NRFL Division 1 while his older brother – Fred – is a central back that represents Mt Albert Ponsonby Reserves.

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Despite having many players with eligible to represent Tonga living in Australia or New Zealand, Tonga Football Association (TFA) usually do not contact players that are living abroad and that is Koloamatangi’s current situation – “Tonga Football Association have never been in touch with me,” revealed David – “I definitely have a lot of interest on representing Tonga internationally,” he added.

The next official challenge of Tonga National Football Team must be 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that is not scheduled yet. Playing in New Zealand, David surely has the goods to be part of Tonga National Football Team – “I would be excited for a call up to Tonga National Team,” he said.

There are some good talented players with Tongan citizenship that have never been contacted by TFA. David and his brother Fred would be two big additions for Tonga and the local football association should consider contacting them.

Youth leagues kick-off in Samoa

Football is back in Samoa. The Youth National Leagues kicked off on this Saturday at J.S. Blatter Football Complex in Apia – the capital of the country.

Seven different categories are being contested this year: U-14, U-17 and U-19 tournaments in men’s and U-17 and U-19 tournaments in women’s football. There is also U-8 and U-12 Mixed tournaments held by Football Federation Samoa.

The biggest clash of the opening day was contested by powerhouses Kiwi and Lupe o le Soaga and the final score was 4-3 in favour of Lupe o le Soaga after a breathtaking match. The Youth National Leagues are scheduled to finish on August 8.

U-18 league kicks offs in New Caledonia

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The U-18 league kicked off in New Caledonia. Two matches were played at Stade Numa Daly on Saturday in the opening day of the newest football league in the French territory.

In the opening match was contested between Païta FC and Dumbéa FC. The final score was 3-1 in favor of Païta FC. In the second clash of the day, local powerhouse Hienghène Sport lost to SC Ne Drehu by 3-0.

Two other two matches were initially scheduled to take place on this Saturday but according to the local federation these clashes were postponed. You can check the full schedule of the league by clicking here.

Sarpreet Singh plays his first match as a starter in Bayern München

Bayern München received Freiburg at Allianz Arena in the 33rd matchday of Bundesliga – the top-tier of German football and won by 3-1.

After clinching the national title in the last match against Werder Bremen, Bayern gave opportunity to some players that are not used to be in the starting eleven. New Zealand youngster Sarpreet Singh was one of these players who had the opportunity to be a starter.

Singh played as a left winger and had a decent performance by helping the team in offensive ball movement and pressing the opponent’s possession. He was replaced by Kingsley Coman in the 64th minute.

Joshua Kimmich opened the scoreboard in the 15th minute while Robert Lewandowski scored two more goals in the first half to seal the lead. Freiburg’s goal was scored by Lucas Höler. You can check the match highlights by clicking here.

Bayern’s last match of 2019-20 Bundesliga season will be against Wolfsburg on next Saturday and there is a huge possibility of Singh starting one more match in the main squad.

John Kapi Natto unopposed as he is re-elected PNGFA-chairman

Football fans may be eagerly awaiting the restart of the PNG National Soccer League – the national league is due to restart after the forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic in August this year. During this time, there is another very important event for football fans in Papua New Guinea: PNGFA’s current president, John Kapi Natto, has been re-elected in his seat following a meeting in Port Moresby at the weekend.

The former head of Hekari United took his place in the Football Association in 2018 after former President David Chung was banned by FIFA for corruption in the administration of football in the country and Oceania – Chung was also a former OFC President – forcing Chung to resign from his seat.

According to local sources, the meeting was held was at Crown Plaza Hotel, Port Moresby this Friday; the congress comprised members from all football associations in Papua New Guinea. The result was already expected as Kapi Natto that is being constantly praised due his work and commitemt to revive Papua New Guinea football was re-elected as president of PNGFA.

Fijian legend Salesh Kumar plays 90 minutes in Onehunga Mangere’s draw in New Zealand

Fijian legend Salesh Kumar is back to action in New Zealand. The 38-year-old midfielder played 90 minutes in Onehunga Mangere’s draw against Oratia United in the opening round of Lotto NRFL Division 2.

Kumar has a long history as a football player in New Zealand. He played for some top teams like Auckland City and Waitakere United in ISPS Handa Premiership – the top football league in the country.

He represented Fiji internationally in 13 matches from 2003 and 2008 and scored one goal.