Vodafone Premier League resumption is close to be postponed. Source: FIJI FA MEDIA
Rewa FC is leading the current Vodafone Premier League edition with twelve points in five matches. You can check the league standings and top scorers by clicking here.
Leroy Jennings has a quite interesting story as a footballer. Born in Australia in 1998, the forward had the opportunity to join Los Angeles Galaxy from United States when he was just 13 years old after impressing former England National Team player David Bechkam.
His moment of glory happened when he tackled David Beckham’s son Brooklyn – ”I tackled him [Brooklyn Beckham], I got the ball and had to play on […] It was two seconds of glory. After the game, the director of the youth academy asked David Beckham who were the stand-outs and he replied with me,” told Leroy to Port News. After a successful trial he moved to Los Angeles and spent one year in Galaxy’s academy.
Jennings (left) impressed David Beckham
He returned to Australia in 2013 and spent some time playing for Bonnyrigg White Eagles youth teams before having another opportunity abroad. Jennings joined Wrexham United from Wales and spent two years in Europe – “It was not easy living in a new country, playing a different style of football with new teammates […] Even though I became a regular starter for the team in my second year it was still a constant expectation to perform at your very best and then try to break into the first-team,” he revealed toFTBL.
Older and more experienced, Jennings went back to Australia in 2016 to play for Newcastle Jets youth team. In the same year he was called-up to represent Fiji in OFC U-20 Championship. He scored one goal in three matches and since then he has never again represented Fiji internationally.
Jennings representing Fiji in 2016 OFC U-20 Championship
Jennings grew up and became a regular starter in National Premier League (NPL) teams in Australia at senior level. He played for Sutherland Sharks in 2018 and now he is currently playing for Blacktown City FC. Both teams play the first tier of New South Wales league in NPL.
Leroy has never played for Fiji National Team at senior level. It is not known if it is because he did not want to or if Fiji Football Association did not contact him anymore. The 22-year-old forward surely has the goods to be part of the National Team if he wants to.
Fiji Football Association (FFA) has recently released the calendar of 2020 Vodafone Senior League – the second tier of Fijian football. It was expected that twelve teams would play the tournament, but it seems that Lami FC will not play.
Lami finished 2019 Vodafone Senior League in the second position and they should be one of the top teams in the second tier this season but the team does not appear in the next Senior League’s table. FFA have not published anything about this issue yet.
Lami FC players in 2019.
Many players from Lami left the club and joined Navua including powerful forward Taniela Rakariva. The next Vodafone Senior League season is going to count on eleven teams – five in Viti Levu Zone and six in Vanua Levu Zone. You can check the schedule by clicking here.
It seems that Roy Krishna is not returning to Wellington Phoenix. His agent confirmed to Fiji Village that the 32-year-old forward will not rejoin his former club.
After being speculated in Europe, Krishna is likely to keep playing in India. According to reliable sources, Mumbai City FC and East Bengal FC are trying to sign with him as ATK want to renew his contract.
There are many teams interested on signing with Krishna
Krishna was one of the best players in 2019-20 Indian Super League. He helped ATK to clinch the national title by scoring 15 goals in 21 matches.
He received full support from Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) since the process started. He was even in the 54-men list released by VFF as Vanuatu National Team provisional squad for 2020 OFC Nations Cup.
According to Clark, the process is almost done – “I believe the last step is going to Vanuatu for the ceremony. With the COVID-19 traveling restrictions it is hard to see when that will be,” he explained – “once the ceremony has been done then it will be official and certified that I am a Ni-Vanuatu citizen,” he added.
Jared Clark is almost a Ni-Vanuatu citzen
His naturalization process was speeded up in order to make him available to represent Vanuatu in 2020 OFC Nations Cup. However the competition was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemics – “I was very keen on playing the OFC Nations Cup but COVID-19 has messed everything up,“ he revealed.
Clark is not going to be the first player born in Australia to represent Vanuatu internationally. Hume City’s midfielder Mitch Cooper faced the same process recently. He made his debut for Vanuatu National Team in 2019 Pacific Games.
Fiji Football Association (FFA) Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Yusuf revealed that cancelling the 2020 editions of Battle of the Giants, Inter-District Championship and Fiji FACT is a real possibility.
FFA recently announced the venues of these three tournaments and revealed that 2020 Fiji FACT would be contested by only six teams. The latest news about Fiji FACT left Fijian football fans angry as most people do not agree with only six teams playing the tournament.
Nadi and Labasa clashing in 2019 Inter-District Championship semi-final – Fiji FA Media
Yusuf pointed that running these tournaments in 2020 would be too expensive for FFA and the districts because big crowds are not allowed in Fiji at the moment. However 2020 Vodafone Premier League resumption is confirmed.
These three tournaments are very important for Fijian football and their cancellation could be a hard blow for football fans and players in the country.
The new season of the Northern Regional Football League is about to kick off. After many doubts during the football break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, football is definitely back in New Zealand. The clubs had two weeks to prepare for the leagues – many friendly matches were played to get ready for the new season of New Zealand’s most important regional football league.
As the competition begins, many Pacific Islanders have a chance to shine in the new season; the clubs of NRFL in their four division have many players from the Pacific Islands, making it path for football development for players coming from these countries.
In the top-league of the Northern Region Football League, the Lotto NRFL Premier League, we can mention various football stars from Oceania: Manukau United will count on the Fijian international Kishan Sami, Hamilton Wanderers will have the Papua New Guinean star Tommy Semmy and the experienced Solomon Islands football legend Henry Fa’arodo, Central United will count on Ni-Vanuatu central defender Brian Kaltak and the Fijian Shuiab Khan. Many other Pacific Islanders will play their trade in NRFL season this year – Manukau United is one club with many Pacific Islanders, counting on a total of six Fijians in their first and reserve squads. Manukau will also have the Samoan international George Konusi and the Maro Bonsu-Maro who represented Cook Islands at youth international level.
Tommy Semmy (right) is the star of Hamilton Wanderers
The second-tier of football in the regional league will also have plenty of Pacific Islanders, some as the former U20 Fijian international Divikesh Deo and the new Ellerslie signings from Cook Islands Lee Harmon and Avi Enoka. The best-known player from Pacific Islands of NRFL Division 2 – the third-tier of the regional league – is arguably the youth Solomon Islands’ international Charles Mani, now a player of Hibiscus Coast.
North Shore United is the current champions of the Lotto NRFL Premier League, Forrest Hill Milford won the Division 1 and got promoted to the top-tier league as Albany United was crowned champions of Division 2 also getting promotion to the next league.
Solomon Islands are very close to have a women’s football league. Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) president William Lai revealed that a proposed league is set to begin in July once football tournaments are cleared to resume in the country.
According to Lai, the league must consist of eight to ten teams. The women’s league will probably follow Telekom S-League’s pattern but it is not decided yet. The president of SIFF will also be the chairman of women’s football committee. A board will be created to run the competition and find sponsors for the participating clubs as well.
SIFF logo
It is a big step for women’s football development in Solomon Islands. The country is very a traditional one when it comes to men’s football, futsal and beach soccer in Oceania but female squads usually struggle in the continental tournaments.
It is not uncommon to see foreign players in Oceania. There are some well known players like Argentinian forward Emiliano Tade, Portuguese forward João Moreira and Spanish defender Ángel Berlanga. These players came from South America and Europe to make history in Oceania – specially for Auckland City FC. However there is an African player that deserves to be highlighted: Sanni Issa.
Issa is a 29-year-old forward that currently plays for Manukau United in Lotto NRFL Premier League – the top-tier of winter football season in the northern region of New Zealand. Nevertheless his story as a footballer is bigger than winter leagues. The Nigerian forward arrived in Oceania in 2010 to play 2010-11 OFC Champions League for Lautoka from Fiji and he could not imagine that it was just the beginning of a long career in Oceanian football.
The African forward also played for Rewa and Suva before joining Ba FC to write his name in OFC Champions League history. He scored nine goals in eight matches to help the Men in Black to reach 2012-13 OFC Champions League semi-finals. Issa was the top scorer of the tournament and he was also elected the best player in the tournament – “It was very special to me. It really opened the doors for me in Oceanian football,” – he said.
Issa (right) receiving his 2012-13 OFC Champions League awards.
Issa moved to Vanuatu to represent Amicale FC in 2013-14 OFC Champions League. The Nigerian player almost felt the taste of being continental champion but Amicale lost to Auckland City in the final after two tight matches – “Auckland Cityhave a big story in the competition. It is always difficult to play against them,” he pointed.
Sanni’s quality called the attention of Auckland City that signed him for 2014-15 season. He played only eight official matches for the Navy Blues but it was enough to write his name in the history of Oceanian football one more time. Issa played an important role at Auckland City’s historical campaign in 2014 FIFA Club World Cup helping the team to finish the tournament in the third position.
The third place match was contested by Auckland City and Cruz Azul from Mexico and it was decided in the penalties after a 1-1 draw in the regular time. Issa had the very difficult mission to shoot the last penalty of his team – “It was scary moment for me but I was confident,” he revealed.
The game would end if he scored the penalty. But if he lost Cruz Azul he would still have another opportunity to tie the series – “I had a lot of confidence on taking it but at the same time I was praying when I was going towards to take the penalty,” he added. For the happiness of Issa and his teammates, he scored and the Navy Blues took the bronze medal to New Zealand.
Issa celebrating his goal against Cruz Azul
It has been ten years since the Nigerian player arrived in Oceania and he could notice the evolution of the game in the region throughout the last decade – “I think football in Oceania changed a bit […] You can really see some teams from the Pacific Islands being a challenge to Auckland City and Team Wellington. It is tougher now,” pointed Issa.
When asked about playing outside the OFC region, he answered clearly: “I had the opportunity but injuries and family commitments did not allow me to go”. He is living in New Zealand since 2014 and he only left the country to represent Ba in 2017 OFC Champions League. Currently playing for Manukau United, the 29-year-old striker is already making plans for the future – “I am looking into the possibility of becoming a football coach,” he revealed.
The Nigerian forward built a solid career in Oceania and he is a very respected striker in the continent. He is very happy in New Zealand and pretty sure that he made the right choice when he moved to Oceania in 2010.
Good news for Ni-Vanuatu football. It was confirmed by Port Vila Football Association (PVFA) president Felix Stephen that the traditional PVFA Independence Cup will be played this year.
The Cup is set to begin on July 4 and the final match must be contested on Vanuatu Independence Day (July 30). This edition will surely be special for Ni-Vanuatu citizens because this will be the 40th anniversary of the country’s independence.
2020 PVFA Independence Cup is confirmed
The Independence Cup is a knockout tournament with eight participants. Tupuji Imere is the current champions as they won 2019 edition after beating Tafea by 3-1 in the final match. You can check the last edition’s results by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 