Oceania Football Center

Ivan Kumar shines in his debut in New Zealand winter football season

The NRF Men’s Conference started this weekend with four matches. South Auckland Rangers went to Starling Park to face Ranui Swanson and took home all three points as they won the match by 3-2.

Fijian midfielder Ivan Kumar was one of the best players in the match and he played an important role on Rangers’ win by delivering two assists for his teammates. Rangers’ goalkeeper Raid Khan – who is also from Fiji – was also a key player in the game by making some great saves to seal their win – “We want the promotion to Lotto NRFL Division 2,” said Kumar after the match.

SEE ALSO
Charles Mani officially debuts for Hibiscus Coast in New Zealand
Darcy Knight scores for Onehunga Mangere in Lotto NRFL Division 2 opening round

South Auckland Rangers players before the match against Ranui Swanson

This is Kumar’s first experience in a foreign club and he showed that he is able to perform in a good level for his brand new club. The 23-year-old midfielder last played for Suva in Fiji before joining Rangers.

Brian Kaltak’s Central United win in NRFL Premier opening round

Central United grabbed their first three points of 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s season after beating Melville United by 4-3 in a breathtaking match held at Gower Park.

Kieran Richards opened the scoreboard for Melville but Central managed to take the lead as Angus Kilkolly and Emiliano Tade scored once each. Campbell Brown tied the match but he saw his teammate scoring an own goal a few minutes later to give Central United the 3-2 lead before the halftime.

SEE ALSO
Tommy Semmy scores twice in Hamilton Wanderers’ loss in NRFL Premier opener
Auckland United win their first ever match in Lotto NRFL Premier
Kishan Sami officially debuts in New Zealand as Manukau United lose in NRFL Premier opener

Kaltak played the whole 90 minutes against Melville United

Kilkolly scored his second goal in the 74th minute while Riku Soejima came from the bench to score Melville’s last goal in the contest. At the final whistle the score was 4-3 in favour of Central United.

Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak played the whole 90 minutes while Fijian defender Shuiab Khan was replaced by Alfie Rogers in the second half.

Central United will receive North Shore United at Kiwitea Street while Melville United will visit Eastern Suburbs AFC at Madills Farm. Both matches will be played on next Saturday.

Indian media confirms that Fijian-star Roy Krishna will stay in Kolkata

Fijian football legend Roy Krishna has already a new home to play football; well, it is not so new for the striker as he already played for this club in the past season. According to The Bridge, Roy Krishna has already signed a contract extension to ATK-Mohun Bagan to continue in the current title holders of Indian Super League. “Roy Krishna, Indian Super League’s (ISL) highest scorer last season, has committed his future with ATK-Mohun Bagan, having agreed a new contract with the club, The Bridge understands“.

ATK has merged with also Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan to compete in the following editions of Indian Super League: “ATK-MB embark on a new journey come next season, playing as a singular entity in the ISL, and another good run in the league as well as the Asian challenge is what they will be looking at. Securing Roy Krishna, along with other key foreign stars will surely be a big boost for Habas and his team.” The local source explained that his current team was always interested to keep the player due his fantastic performances in the past season that led the club to win the Indian Super League – “Krishna had signed on a one-year deal initially with the Kolkata giants when he had signed last year, but on the back of his performances, ATK-Mohun Bagan were always keen on offering him an improved deal […],” said The Brigde.

The player also attracted interest of his former club Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand, but it is reported the Fijian international refused the offer of his former team. Krishna was also linked to Mumbai City, also from the Indian Super League, and even scouted by European clubs.

See More:
Phoenix fans want Roy Krishna back;
A number of clubs shown interest to sign Roy Krishna;
Roy Krishna and Labasa’s IDC glory.

Roy Krishna is currently in Fiji during the football break due COVID-19 while he expects all the situation to be solved as the Indian football season returns. ATK-MB is still to announce officialy the player, but according to recent news the 32-year-old star-striker is really set to keep his talent in Kolkata. The club is set for their first participation at continental stage as they are going to play AFC Cup in 2020/21 season – the second most important club football tournament of Asian Football Confederation.

Auckland United win their first ever match in Lotto NRFL Premier

Auckland United could not have a better start in 2020 Lotto NRFL Premier Men’s. The newest team from the league – created after an amalgamation between neighbouring clubs Three Kings United and Onehunga Sports FC – beat Waitakere City by 3-0 in the opening round of the league.

Counting on a galactic squad with some great players like Clayton Lewis, Leon van den Hoven and Monty Patterson, Auckland United did not have big difficulties to beat their rivals.

SEE ALSO
Brian Kaltak’s Central United win in NRFL Premier opening round
Tommy Semmy scores twice in Hamilton Wanderers’ loss in NRFL Premier opener
Kishan Sami officially debuts in New Zealand as Manukau United lose in NRFL Premier opener

Former New Zealand U-20 National Team player Andrew Milne scored all goals in the match to write his name in club’s history. United’s next clash is on next Saturday against Western Springs at Keith Hay Park.

Kishan Sami officially debuts in New Zealand as Manukau United lose in NRFL Premier opener

After some delay due to COVID-19 pandemics, the 2020 season of Lotto NRFL Premier League has finally kicked off in New Zealand and Fijian youngster Kishan Sami made his official debut for Manukau United.

Sami was in Manukau’s starting eleven against Forrest Hill Milford in the first matchday of the season. However the Fijian player could not avoid the loss. After a 1-1 draw in the first half, Manukau United suffered goals in the second half and lost by 5-1.

SEE ALSO
Auckland United win their first ever match in Lotto NRFL Premier;
Brian Kaltak’s Central United win in NRFL Premier opening round;
Tommy Semmy scores twice in Hamilton Wanderers’ loss in NRFL Premier opener.

Nigerian striker Sanni Issa scored their only goal in the match while Jaydyn Englefield netted a hat-trick to give three points to Forrest Hill. Manukau United’s next challenge is against Bay Olympic at Mangere Centre Park on next Saturday.

Solomon Islands’ Javin Wae signs with Basi Futbol

Solomon Islands’ youngster Javin Wae signed a contract with Basi Futbol Agency. The 17-year-old player joins his countrymen Raphael Lea’i and Leon Kofana that also have their careers manages by Basi.

Wae is a talented and versatile player who can play both as a defensive midfielder and as a defender. He played all Solomon Islands U-17 National Team’s three matches at FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Brazil last year.

Wae represented Solomon Islands in 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup

Basi Futbol is a football agency focused on football players from Solomon Islands. The agency recently took Lea’i and Kofana for trials with Melbourne Victory youth squads in Australia.

Chris Wood to miss Burnley’s clash against Manchester City

Burnley’s head coach Sean Dyche confirmed that New Zealand international Chris Wood is not going to play against Manchester City on Monday. The 28-year-old striker has been hampered by an Achilles problem since returning to training after lockdown.

According to Dyche, Wood is not fit enough and he is not going to travel to Manchester to face The Citizens on Etihad Stadium.

Wood is Burnley’s top scorer in 2019-20 Premier League season with eleven goals scored in 26 matches.

Kris Naicker: Fijian blood representing New Zealand

Currently playing for Lower Hutt City AFC in New Zealand winter football season Kris Naicker is one of the most talented players from Wellington Phoenix Academy. The 17-year-old defender had some opportunities to play for Wellington Phoenix Reserves in 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership.

Born in New Zealand, Naicker represented his homeland at FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil last year. He was in the starting eleven in all three matches played by New Zealand in the tournament and he is probably going to represent the country in the U-20 tournaments as well.

Naicker was a key player for New Zealand U-17 National Team

As his surname can not hide, Naicker has Fijian heritage. He is one of thousands of people born in New Zealand with Fijian ancestry which means that he has the possibility to represent Fiji internationally if he wants to but the chance of that happening is almost nil.

Current winter football season will be such an important one for him to show his talent. A good level of performance and hard work can put him in a higher position at Wellington Phoenix for 2020-21 ISPS Handa Permiership season.

He is definitely a good player from this amazing generation of young players from New Zealand. However if he does not have an opportunity to represent the All Whites at senior level, he still has the possibility of representing Fiji.

Fiji: Vodafone Premier League resumption close to be delayed

Bad news for Fijian football. After being announced that Battle of the Giants, FIJI Fact and Inter-District Championship may not be held this year, Fiji Football Association (FFA) Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Yusuf revealed that changes will be made in accordance with government decisions on easing COVID-19 restrictions on contact sports.

The 2020 Vodafone Premier League season was initially scheduled to resume on July 1st but its resumption is likely to be delayed in one or two weeks.

SEE ALSO
Lami FC to miss 2020 Vodafone Senior League
Kavaia Rawaqa: I am ready to be back to National Team

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.

The teenage dream of Fijian forward Leroy Jennings

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.

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 to FTBL.

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.