Prasad, that is born in Canada, made his debut for the Bula Boys in 2019. The player represented Fiji in the Pacific Games and helped his country to earn the bronze medal in the competition – the defender already played 11 matches for the Fiji national team.
Nicho Prasad
“Disappointing news,” said Prasad regarding the cancellation of the league, “club and I are in the process of negotiating a new contract for the next season. They would like to have me back,” added the player. Bischofswerdaer did not have a good season – finishing the competition in the relegation zone – but things ended up well for Prasad’s side: “The league decided on no relegation. They used the quotient rule for promotion. Worked out well for my club and I in the end“, explained the Fijian international.
Prasad is a valuable member of Fiji national team as he has many professional experience in football; coming from the well-known Vancouver Whitecaps academy in Canada, Prasad had already played in Germany before and most recently had a stint in United Soccer League club Tulsa Roughnecks in United States before moving back to Europe.
Fiji football has been improving over the past years. The average level of local leagues increased and many players are having the opportunity to play outside the country. The most famous name is surely Roy Krishna who last played in India.
New Zealand is surely the biggest door for Fijian players – many players go to New Zealand every single year to play the winter football season in the country. Some of them perform really well and are given the opportunity to play in the ISPS Handa Premiership like 24-year-old left back Shuiab Khan.
However there are dozens of players that build a career in the winter leagues and these players are oftenly forgotten by football fans like Divikesh Deo. Deo is a 25-year-old goalkeeper that built his career in New Zealand playing the winter leagues.
Deo is a Fijian goalkeeper playing in New Zealand
Currently playing for Bucklands Beach AFC in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Division 1 – the second tier of winter football season in Auckland region – the Fijian keeper is playing in the country since 2013 when he joined Papatoetoe AFC. Since then he played for some clubs like Ellerslie AFC before joining his current club in 2019.
The biggest moment of his career is surely when he was part of the Fijian U-20 squad that played 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand – Fijian first ever appearence in a FIFA World Cup. Deo was the only of the 21 players who was playing outside Fiji by that time.
Deo has never had an opportunity to represent his country at senior level. However he keeps his path as a footballer in New Zealand. The 1.99m keeper is ready for the upcoming Lotto NRFL Men’s Division 1 that is set to kick-off on Saturday.
Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) received USD $93.000,00 from FIFA to fund a fencing project at PNG Football Stadium that must start this week.
According to PNGFA president John Kapi Natto this money will be used for making some improvements like: internal perimeter palisade fence line, field of play perimeter chainmesh fence barriers, competition zone barriers custom built to suit international football competition requirements. Palisade fence encloses of vital installations such as the irrigation water tanks and pump area, standby generator set and light tower switch boxes around the field of play perimeter with external and internal vehicle and pedestrian gates for use by spectators service providers.
PNG Football Stadium – PNGFA Media
Mr. Kapi Natto is likely to be re-elected as PNGFA president in the 16th Ordinary Congress of Papua New Guinea Football Association that is going to be held in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Bugotu Football Association’s Senior League kicks-off in Solomon Islands. The official season opener took place on this Sunday at Duddley Tuti College at Isabel Province.
Ten teams are going to fight for the title this year Kalenga FC, Duddley Tuti College FC, Tasina FC, Jevula FC, Kamaru FC, Sana FC, Mafi FC, Green Bay FC, Japuana United and Tuti Veterans.
Players taking part in the opening ceremony
Oceania Football Center wishes good luck to all participants in this tournament.
Football is all about passion – it is about how we can get our team to win, support and give the best to achieve our goals in this beautiful game. If you want to be successful in football, you certainly need a lot of training and sacrifice to achieve what you want. This is the aim of the youth programmes and football academies – to provide the best possible training and facilities to develop the young talents they have.
Oceania is certainly lacking football academies and youth programmes to develop the code. Football still has a long way to go in the region and it is very necessary to implement youth leagues, academies and training facilities. In Solomon Islands, Royals Academy is trying to ensure that young talented players from their country are nurtured as much as possible – but Royals, as most Solomon Islands football fans may already know, has a turbulent history behind the scenes.
After a stay in England alongside his players and the Royals Academy technical director Alick Collin, Konofilia recently returned to the Solomon Islands. Then, many confusing versions of a story emerge: In recent days, Konofilia has split from Collin and fired him from his position with the Royals. Collin, however, used his reports in the social media to explain his view of the events: In Collin’s words, he said that Konofilia attacked a member of the Stars Academy in England, which led to his arrest, then he was deported back to the Solomon Islands.
Konofilia responded to Collin’s accusations and in fact mentioned that Collin had fought drunk with two of his players. Konofilia also stated that Stars Academy owner and his wife were angry with Collin because he had disturbed them and this was the reason why Stars expelled Collin from their academy – making so Konofilia to fire Collin. The now former technical director of Royals is still in England, according to him.
Two very confusing versions of the same story coming from two highly suspect figures of regional football – it is also known both of them were not so friendly during their stay in England. The only certainty in the midst of this turbulence is that players can not develop in a background of so many problems. While both Konofilia and Collin use their social media to attack each other, many youngsters from Solomon Islands are still in a very rough patch in England during the COVID-19 pandemics. According to reliable sources it is known that family members of the young players have contacted SIFF to do something about the case – the uncertain situation of their sons in England in the midst of the pandemics – but SIFF is not related to Royals and can not respond to this situation as Royals is a private academy – and Konofilia is banned.
Royals Academy in England
Konofilia’s attempt to support the development process of football is something that is definitely valuable, but based on the latest news and statements we can see that there are many problems in this situation. While so many strange events are happening around the Royals, we can not see much development of their players, nor any great success of the Royals in their attempts to develop the game. It seems that Konofilia and his followers are taking a path that will certainly not help them achieve their goals.
Morobe Wawens are back to training in Papua New Guinea. The first training session of the team after COVID-19 pandemics took place on this Monday at Scout Hall in Lae.
Papua New Guinea National Soccer League – the major football league in the country- is expected to resume in August and most teams are already back to training in order to get ready for the remaining matches of 2019-20 season.
Morobe Wawens are back to training in Papua New Guinea
Wawens are currently in the seventh position in the National Soccer League with nine points in ten matches. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
Fijian player Malakai Rakula is currently facing an unusual situation. The 28-year old midfielder is set to play 2020 winter football season in New Zealand for Manukau United but he can not enter in the country as the borders are closed there.
While he can not return to New Zealand, Rakula keeps training hard in Fiji. According to the player, his training sessions are being monitored by Manukau United staff that is providing a great support to the Fijian footballer – “I can not wait to go back to New Zealand. I loved playing for Manukau United,” said Rakula.
Rakula (left) celebrating a goal for Manukau United.
Manukau United is set to debut in 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier League – the top-tier of winter football season in Auckland region – on Saturday against Forrest Hill Milford at Mangere Centre Park.
While many countries are already resuming their football leagues, the wait is going to be a little bit longer in Tonga as the 2020 football season is likely to begin in September.
According to Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) the teams from Tonga were cleared to resume training activities in May which means that they are going to have a long preparation for the upcoming season.
Football must resume in September there
Veitongo is the current league champions and represented the country in 2020 OFC Champions League. You can check the standings of the last Tongan Major League season by clicking here.
One of Solomon Islands’ most famous players is still uncertain about the future of his career: Anthony Talo has had many ups and downs in his career, but surely the whole Solomon Islands can not forget his winning goal scored against Guatemala from his defensive end at the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup – the Kurukuru’s first ever World Cup victory; Talo was only 16-years old at the time.
Most recently, in 2019, Talo helped Solomon Islands qualify once again for the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The competition was to be held in Lithuania this year, but FIFA decided to postpone the tournament until 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in 2019, Talo helped the Solomon Islands’ side Kooline to win the first ever edition of OFC Futsal Champions League in New Zealand. Talo and his teammates had already begun preparations for Solomon Islands’ fourth consecutive FIFA Futsal World Championship, but the outbreak changed from one end to the other forcing it to a stop.
In his time between football and futsal, Talo also played for various clubs in his country such as Marist FC and Kossa. The player even helped Marist reach the semi-finals of the 2018 OFC Champions League, and in early 2020 Hekari United announced the a very important signing of the Solomon Islander to represent the Papua New Guinean side in the 2020 OFC Champions League. Despite the good news, the story ended dramatically as Talo played only two games for Hekari in the PNG National Soccer League and left before the OFC Champions League began.
Recently, Talo also revealed in interview to Oceania Football Center that he is going to take a break from international duties as soon as FIFA Futsal World Cup comes to and end. The recent happenigs of COVID-19 and further postponement of FIFA Futsal World Cup made the future of Talo’s career very uncertain – but he disclosed to Oceania Football Center his intentions: “It seems like I will take a break from S-League. I am only interested to play football abroad currently. If any team wants me to represent them overseas I am ready to go – but If it does not happen I will concentrate in Futsal here in Solomon Islands,” expressed the goalkeeper.
Anthony Talo was chosen the best goalkeeper of OFC Futsal Nations Cup 2019 – OFC Media
The still only 24-year-old goalkeeper has a lot to come in his sporting career; as one of the most talented Futsal players, Talo is still to represent his country internationaly in football pitch: “My goal isto be Solomon Islands’ first choice goalkeeper,” said Talo expressing his aim. To achieve this goal, Talo still has to impress to new staff of Solomon Islands Football National Team – but it is sure the goalkeeper has what it takes to be part of both national teams, as for example his compatriot Micah Lea’alafa already is.
Talo’s ITC (International Transfer Certificate) is still in possession of Hekari United – “Hekari was afamily for me,” said Talo – and as mentioned the player expects an opportunity to return to a foreign club, so his ITC is a crucial part to make this wish come true. Any team interested to sign Talo will need to acquire his services from the Papua New Guinean club.
The goalkeeper has much to look forward to in his already successful career, with Talo already making the Solomon Islanders smile with his performances – something he can continue to do in his sporting career.
Older people say that we only value something when we lose it and this phrase can be applied to different situations: a marriage, a loved one, a material asset, and even a football player when he retires or changes clubs. However it is never too late to recognize the legacy of an idol, specially when he is still in activity.
Avinesh Suwamy is a gentleman inside the pitch; A very smart player with a good technique, he is known in his homeland as The Fijian David Beckham because of his powerful shots and great skills on free kicks.
Suwamy started his path as a Ba’s player at senior level in 2005 when he was just 19 and people could not imagine that he would become a legend. It did not take so long for him to show his quality and be called-up for the National Team in the same year. He made his official debut for Fiji in a 1-0 win against India.
Suwamy (number 2) representing Fiji in 2016 OFC Nations Cup
The years passed and he became a key player in a Ba that dominated Fijian football. Avinesh’s trophy gallery representing the Men in Black is huge and it includes 9 Premier Leagues, 7 Battle of the Giants, 7 Champion vs Champion Series, 4 FIJI Fact and 4 Inter-District Championship. He was also part of Ba’s squad that reached 2007 OFC Champions League final – the second OFC Champions League final contested by a Fijian club.
While he was becoming a legend in the Men in Black, Avinesh was also building his own history in the National Team. He represented the Bula Boys in 2011 Pacifc Games, 2012 OFC Nations Cup and 2016 OFC Nations Cup and scored three goals in seventeen matches representing his country.
However, time is inexorable and everyone gets older year by year. He kept playing in a good level and winning tournaments with Ba, but people started to criticize him saying that he should start thinking about retiring from football. Until one day what everyone (or nobody) expected: Avinesh Suwamy left Ba to play for Nadi in 2020.
Suwamy left Ba to join Nadi in 2020
He debuted for The Jetsetters in a 6-0 loss against Lautoka but his next appearance was like the rebirth of a phoenix. Suwamy scored four goals in Nadi’s 5-0 win against Nasinu just one day after his 34th birthday. And it was his last official match so far as 2020 Vodafone Premier League was stopped due to COVID-19.
Avinesh still has time to build a good story playing for Nadi while nostalgia remains for Ba’s supporters. However it is never to late to remember his legacy when he was in Black.
Oceania Football Center 