Mau Penisula: a Tuvaluan legend in Fiji

Mau Penisula is a 41-year-old player that represented Tuvalu in football and futsal. He is the player with most international caps for Tuvalu (14) and he played the Pacific Games for three times: 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Penisula signed with Nasinu this year but he has not made his official debut yet. He was added to the squad after having a great performance in the 2020 NZFFI International Veterans held in New Zealand. He helped Nasinu to finish the Grade 40s tournament in the second position after losing the final match to Nadroga by 1-0.

Despite being part of the team squad for 2020 Vodafone Premier League, he pointed that his age can be an obstacle to him – “This age is complecated to feat in the Premier League. This age (41) is good to play with a veteran team as we just came back from New Zealand where we played the Veteran’s tournament that had good level to play,” he explained.

Penisula (number 4) with Nasinu’s squad in the Veterans Tournament. Source: NZFFI Media


Penisula is one of the four overseas players in Nasinu’s squad for 2020 Vodafone Premier League and the only Tuvaluan in the tournament. Atkin Kaua, Jared Rongosulia and Marlon Tahioa from Solomon Islands are the other foreigners in the team. His presence can be felt through his experience and vision that can surely bring good things for the team – “We have some weakness on defense but we are working on that. The team is good in overall,” he said.

.His first contact with football was in Tuvalu where he represented FC Tofaga in the local tournaments for eleven years before moving to Fiji in 2011 – “I started playing football there (in Tuvalu). After some years learning the game I was called to represent the National Team,” explained Penisula.

In the meantime Penisula was part of Tuvalu National Futsal Team. He played 2008 and 2010 OFC Futsal Nations Cup that were held in Fiji which means that he was part of the first ever National Futsal Team from his country.
The year of 2011 was very special for Tuvalu in the sport as they played the Pacific Games for the third straight edition and one of the most important moments of Tuvaluan football happened in the opening round of the 2011 edition when they won American Samoa by 4-0, the biggest win of Tuvalu National Team’s history. Mau Penisula was the team captain in that unforgettable match.


The 2011 Pacific Games was his last tournament representing the country. He was not part of the national team squad in the last tournaments like 2018 CONIFA World Cup but he would be a great addition for the Tuvaluan side with his huge experience.



Fa’arodo confirmed in Hamilton Wanderers’ squad for winter season

Legendary Solomon Islands international Henry Fa’arodo is officially confirmed in Hamilton Wanderers’ squad for this winter football season in New Zealand. The announcement made through team’s Social Media.

The 37-year-old midfielder arrived in New Zealand in February to join the Wanderers. He played one match in 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership and now he is ready for a bigger role in the team.

SEE ALSO
New Zealand: winter football season ready to kick-off
Henry Fa’arodo back to training in New Zealand

Fa’arodo is confirmed for winter football season

Fa’arodo is one of the most successful footballers from the Pacific Islands. Wanderers’ is the fourth club from New Zealand in his career.

When the right knee prevented Benjamin Totori to make it big in America

Benjamin Totori is one of the most prolific players from Pacific Islands alongside Fijian star Roy Krishna. Both players had the opportunity to play professionally for Wellington Phoenix in A-League, the most important football league in Australia. While Krishna had his first full professional contract with Phoenix, Totori crossed the Pacific Ocean in 2008 to live this dream in America.

Totori was a sensation in Oceania in 2008. He helped Waitakere United to win New Zealand Football Championship and OFC Champions League in the 2007-08 season. The young Solomon Islander scored ten goals in 18 matches in the league and also scored an important goal in 2007-08 OFC Champions League final. He also won 2008 OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament‘s Golden Boot representing his homeland.

Totori was a very promising player by that time

In April 2008 it was announced that Totori would make it big by signing a professional contract with Portland Timbers from United States of America. He traveled to USA a few days after winning the Champions League. At that time the Timbers were not part of Major League Soccer (MLS) yet. The football team from Oregon was a member of United Soccer League (USL), a secondary tournament in the country.

Totori made his debut on May 26 against Miami FC by entering the game at the start of the second half adding life to a 10-man Timbers side. He also played a second match on May 30 against Montreal Impact but this match changed his luck: a sprained right medial collateral ligament – “The American League was a different style, a different atmosphere than matches here in Oceania. Everything went well in the Montreal match. I nearly scored in the last minute of the game. I even saw a Solomon Islands flag in the match against Montreal, it was great lift. Then I hurt my knee in injury time,” he said.

The Solomon Islander forward missed six official matches due to this injury. He returned to the team in July but once again he was forced to stop. He re-injured his right knee during a training session on July 16 and missed the rest of the season – “I recovered in three weeks but then I trained and played two exhibition games against a Mexican team, and in the second game the injury flared up again and it was no good. It took me the rest of the season to recuperate,” Totori recalls.

Totori did not give up on his dream of becoming a professional player

According to Portland Timbers official media, he returned to the Solomon Islands in late July to begin his rehab but he never returned to the team. The Timbers finished the 2008 USL season in the last position and Totori went back to Waitakere United. Four years later, in 2012, he had the opportunity to join Wellington Phoenix and play professionally again.

These injuries prevented him to make it big in the USA but it did not prevent him to become a true legend in Oceania specially in his country.

Shuiab Khan deserves a spot in Fiji National Team

While football leagues are slowly resuming, there are still doubts about international football. The situation in Oceania is currently unclear as 2020 OFC Nations Cup was cancelled so 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers will probably be the next international challenge for Oceanian countries.

It has been four months since Flemming Serritslev was announced as Fiji National Football Team’s head coach but he did not have the opportunity to lead the Bula Boys in an official match due to COVID-19 pandemics. The good point is that he is having plenty of time to know the players and study the best options for the National Team.

Actually there is a special player that deserves to be watched closely: Shuiab Khan. The 24-year-old left back was the only Fijian in the 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season, the main football league from New Zealand. He played six matches for Waitakere United and finished the season as a regular starter.

Shuiab is well known by Fijian football fans. He was part of the U20 squad that represented the country in the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup held in New Zealand but he has never represented Fiji at senior level.

Khan (right) fighting for the ball against Julian Brandt in 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup.

Khan is playing winter football leagues in New Zealand since 2015 but he had his first opportunity at ISPS Handa Premiership last year. The left-back proved his capacity and showed that is ready for Bula Boys. Now it is time to keep the hard working and wait for a Serritslev’s call-up.

Micah Lea’alafa: possible next steps of his career

Solomon Islands international Micah Lea’alafa recently left Maritzburg United from South Africa and returned to his homeland. Since then he was training to play futsal as he was in the Solomon Islands’ provisional squad for 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup that was schedule to begin in September.

However the Futsal World Cup was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemics and it changes everything when it comes to National Team’s preparation, specially for Lea’alafa who is currently a free agent.

Micah recently turned 29 and now the forward faces a new reality in his career as he is now forced to change his plans due to World Cup’s postponement. So what is next on his career?

Lea’alafa (left) has already played three FIFA Futsal World Cups

Football leagues are slowly resuming around the world including in Oceanian countries like Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and now he needs to think carefully about his next step as a footballer. Oceania Football Center appoints some possibilities:

1- Play 2020 Telekom S-League
Micah is already in Solomon Islands so it would be easier to keep himself active by playing the main football league from his homeland.

2- Return to New Zealand
He is well known in New Zealand and it would not be difficult for him to return as he has already proven his quality there. However the 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership is over which means that he would need to join a winter league’s club while he could aim a return to Auckland City.

Returning to Auckland City is a good possibility

3- Try a professional football league once again
Micah has recently left a professional league (in South Africa) and he is good enough to fit in some leagues in Africa and Asia. Obviously that moving into pro football is not so easy but he should not give in.

It is important to emphasize that many countries still have strict rules about immigration due to COVID-19. However time marches on and Lea’alafa is already 29. He must take a good decision soon in order to keep playing in a decent level.

2020 Pacific Cup is cancelled

New Zealand Football Fiji Incorporated (NZFFI) announced that 2020 Pacific Cup is cancelled due to COVID-19. It was scheduled to take place in Fiji later this year.

Despite not being linked to Oceania Football Confederation the Pacific Cup it is a very important tournament for Fijian football. Every single year some clubs from Fiji take part of this tournament to face some Fijian roots’ teams from New Zealand, Australia and United States.

SEE ALSO
Fiji: 2020 Vodafone Premier League resumes in July
Jason Thomas and Alex Saniel help Lautoka to win 2019 Pacific Cup

2020 Pacific Cup is cancelled

According to NZFFI the next edition of the tournament will be held in Fiji and hosted by America Fiji Sports Commission next year. You can check the full list of the senior tournament’s champions by clicking here.

PNG: 2020 Port Moresby’s football season is cancelled

The 2020 season of Port Moresby’s football is cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. The official announcement came from Port Moresby Soccer Association (PMSA) president Joseph Ealedona.

According to Post Courier, this is the outcome of the PMSA club delegates meeting and though it is a sad and hard decision, the executive management has endorsed this for best interest of the association, its members and players. Ealedona also pointed that it is going to be an opportunity to review PMSA competitions and management.

PMSA season is cancelled

Port Moresby Soccer Association is one of the local football associations from Papua New Guinea. This organization is responsible to manage the tournaments in Port Moresby region. It is not related to Papua New Guinea National Soccer League that is ran by Papua New Guinea Football Association.

Kina Likiliki: I am still keen on representing Tonga

Living in New Zealand, Anthony Likiliki keeps his path as a footballer. The 20-year-old player from Tonga moved away from his homeland last year and since then he is playing for Christchurch United FC in the Mainland Premier League.

Better known as Kina, he had his first contact with New Zealand when he was eight years old when he attended Coerver Academy in Auckland during his school holidays. He repeated this process a lot of times throughout the years before moving to New Zealand which helped him to improve as a player and get used to the country – “There are so many talented players that were way better than me but they did not get opportunities to further there game,” he said.

Likiliki has some good international experience for his age. He made his official debut for Tonga National Team at senior level when he was just 15 years old. He played two matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification five years ago. He also represented his country at youth level for several times including 2016 U-20 Championship and 2018 U-19 Championship. He had an outstanding performance in 2018 when he helped Tonga to advance to the tournament’s group stage.

Likiliki in action for Christchurch United.

Kina currently faces some problems when it comes to international football once Tonga Football Association (TFA) has not been in contact with him since he moved abroad. Actually it is a bad situation that many Tongan players face nowadays. There are many good players eligible to represent the country that are not contacted by the federation. A rare exception is Mohammad Rajani who is born in Australia and represented the country last year in the OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

SEE ALSO
Mohammad Rajani: Tonga football needs to grow

Likiliki (left) and Rajani (right) are close friends

Despite not being in touch with the federation, Likiliki still wants to play for Tonga National Team – “I am still keen on representing Tonga […] but have not heard anything from them,” he revealed. Tonga’s next official challenge must take place later this year in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification’s first round when they will face Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands. Samoa is the favourite to advance to the further round but Tonga can be a tough challenge if they count on these who play abroad.

The biggest problem – apparently – is that TFA does not seem interested on getting stronger internationally despite have conditions to become more competitive – “Hopefully one day it will change,” added Likiliki.



Vanuatu football leagues to resume in July

Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) had an extraordinary Execitive Committee Meeting this weekend in Santo island to discuss some important things related to the sport. One of the most important points from this meeting is that football leagues are finally cleared by the federation to resume in the country.

Last week Port Vila’s club Ifira Black Bird asked for VFF’s position on resuming the leagues and now Ni-Van football players, managers and fans finally have an official statement about this issue.

SEE ALSO

Fiji: 2020 Vodafone Premier League resumes in July
PNG National Soccer League set to resume in July

Football cleared to resume in Vanuatu. Source: Vanuatu Sport News

VFF allowed football matches to take place from 1st July on. Despite COVID-19 pandemics that stopped football in most countries in the world, Vanuatu was also affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold a few months ago.

AS Vénus qualified for 2021 OFC Champions League

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AS Vénus is qualified for 2021 OFC Champions League. The Tahitian side will be in the most important club competition in Oceania for another year after finishing 2019-20 Ligue 1 VINI in the second position.

It is going to be Vénus’ third appearence in four years in the tournament which shows that they have become one of the most powerful teams in Tahiti in the last recent years.

SEE ALSO
AS Tiare Tahiti qualifies for French Cup
Tahiti: 2020-21 season to have two more teams in local top-tier league
AS Pirae crowned as Ligue 1 VINI Champions

AS Vénus players celebrating a goal against AS Dragon in 2019-20 Ligue 1 VINI. Source: FTF Media

They are still alive in the 2020 OFC Champions League as they advanced to knockout stage and the tournament is currently suspended due to COVID-19 pandemics. Anyway we are going to see Teaonui Tehau and his teammates once again next year in the major club competition from Oceania.