One of the biggest football teams in Finland, HJK faced Gnistan from second division in a friendly match at Bolt Arena on Saturday. This match was part of HJK’s preparation for 2020 Veikkausliga – the top-tier of Finnish football.
Papua New Guinea international David Browne was in the starting eleven as left winger and he had an important role in the 4-0 win by delivering two assists in the first half. After a cross from the right side, Browne headed the ball to Kai Meriluoto who opened the scoreboard for HJK. The second goal also had the participation of the 24-year-old winger as Riku Riski found the net after Browne’s cross. You can check the first goal here and the second goal here.
Browne (left) delivered two assists in the match
The Papua New Guinean player was replaced in the second half and HJK scored two more goals after he left the pitch. Browne keeps showing his quality in Finland after leaving New Zealand powerhouse Auckland City FC.
Matthew Garbett is a talented 18-year-old striker from New Zealand who is currently playing for Falkenbergs FF in Allsvenskan – the top-tier of Swedish football. He recently joined Ner Era Global Sports, a football agency that has former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand as ambassador.
Since then he is being linked to some clubs from bigger football leagues. According to Football Insider, Manchester City and Everton from England are interested in the young striker.
Garbett celebrating a goal in 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Garbett is one of the most promising players from New Zealand. He represnted his country in FIFA U-17 World Cup last year and scored two goals in the tournament.
The 2019-20 season is over for Nicho Prasad. The 24-year-old Fijian defender is not going to play anymore in this European football season as Regionalliga Nordost – one of the legaues that compose the fourth tier of German football – was officially cancelled.
He joined Bischofswerdaer FV 08 in March and he played only one match as the league was suspended due to COVID-19 right after his official debut.
Maro Bonsu-Maro is another ISPS Handa Premiership player that is going to play New Zealand winter football season this year. The 23-year-old forward is going to represent Manukau United in Lotto NRFL Premier, the top-tier of winter football in Auckland region.
His choice to represent Manukau is a bit surprising as he played the last two seasons for Central United, a club that is known for having many players from Auckland City in the squad.
Bonsu-Maro is born in New Zealand but he has a Ghanaian father and Cook Islander mother. He represented Cook Islands at youth level but he did not take a final decision about representing them at senior level.
Three of the most important football tournaments of Fiji, the Battle of Giants, Inter-District Championship and Fiji Fact, already know their venues for the editions of 2020 season.
The Battle of Giants is set to be played in Lautoka at Churchill Park, the Inter-District Championship will take place in the Fijian capital Suva at ANZ Stadium and the Fiji Fact will be played at Subrail Park, in Labasa.
Labasa celebrating IDC title – Fiji FA
The competitions are still waiting to have a fixed date, but it is known BOG will be played this August, while IDC and Fiji Fact will be played in September and November respectively.
Labasa won both last editions of Battle of Giants and Inter-District Championship, while Nadi is the current title holders of Fiji Fact.
The Solomon Islands youth international Charles Mani and his side Hibiscus Coast AFC are preparing for their debut in the season in Lotto NRFL Division 2, in New Zealand. The 18-year-old attacker is already in the senior team of Hibiscus and played in a friendly match this Saturday (06th June) against Northland in Auckland.
The result could not be better for Mani and his new club: 6-2 in favour of Hibiscus. Mani could not have a better start for his side as the young Solomon Islander recorded three assists in the clash; Mani played the entire 90 minutes to end having a very good match. “It was a bit hard in the start, but me and my teammates managed to win in this preseason match,” said Mani.
Mani (left) and a teammate after the match
Mani also stated he is confident for the new season – their debut game will be against Takapuna in the next weekend: “I am 100% ready for the game, for the new season. I see all my teammates ready for the challenge,” explained the Solomon Islander player.
This is Mani’s first season out of New Zealand; the striker could not play any official matches in New Zealand in the past year when playing for Glenfield – a football player is only allowed by FIFA to play official games out of his country if he is at least 18-years-old, as Mani celebrated his 18th birthday in February he is now allowed to play.
Mani in Solomon Islands colours
In 2019, in the school break in New Zealand – Mani is also finishing his studies in the country while playing for Hibiscus Coast AFC – he came back to Solomon Islands where he played for Kossa in Telekom S-League, the top-tier football league in his homenation.
Charles helped Solomon Islands to qualify for their first ever FIFA football tournament as they finished 2nd in the 2018 OFC U16 Championship. The young talented played represented his country in Brazil at U17 FIFA World Cup featuring all three matches of the group stage against Italy, Paraguai and México.
Samuela Kautogais back to Western Springs after some months playing for Rewa in Fiji. The 33-year-old player is going to play the 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men, the main football league from Auckland region in New Zealand winter football season.
It is confirmed. Brian Kaltak will represent Central United in New Zealand winter football season for the second straight year. The 26-year-old defender from Vanuatu was an important player for Central last year.
Central United is well known because they always count on many players from Auckland City in their winter season squad. They are currently playing Lotto NRFL Premier Division, the top-tier of football in Auckland’s region.
Fijian Shuiab Khan is set to play for Central United in 2020 New Zealand winter football season. The 24-year-old left back is returning to Central after representing Waitakere United in 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season.
It is going to be Khan’s second winter season with Central United as he represented the club in 2019 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s tournament. He finished the last year’s winter season with two goals scored in 22 league matches. He also played one match in Chatham Cup, the biggest football cup in New Zealand.
The strong forward Jean-Philippe Saïko is back to the Mobil Super Ligue, the top-tier of football in New Caledonia. The player most recently played for Tasman United in New Zealand ISPS Handa Premiership, where the player helped the Nelson-based side to have their best campaign ever in the most important football league of New Zealand; Saïko scored eight goals in 14 matches for his former club, being one of the standout player in the last season.
Saïko, that already represented his country nine times and scored 11 goals, also made impact in New Caledonia when player of AS Magenta – but now the striker is going to represent a new club: AS Lössi. Mobil Super Ligue is about to restart after the COVID-19 break, despite there are still some regarding the new schedule of the competition.
Jean-Philippe Saïko celebrating a goal for Tasman United – NZF Media
After impressing in the last season in New Zealand, Saïko comes to be one of the most important players in the New Caledonian national league and a key figure for AS Lössi in their struggle to be back to be back to OFC Champions League – a competition the team already played in the past, but most recently the rivals Hienghène Sport and AS Magenta had dominated the spots for the regional tournament. In 2019 Lössi also ended up being beaten by Hienghène in the grand final match of the Coupe de Calédonie, Saïko and his new teammates will be looking to reset the club to the top of New Caledonian football.
Oceania Football Center 