Nauti 1 has won the TNPF Champions League 2020, the first tier of Tuvaluan league system. Nauti 1 was the favorite at the beginning of the championship and kept the expectations by winning all the games and leaving only crumbs to his opponents. That is Nauti’s twelfth title in the league’s history.
Meanwhile, Tamanuku B was crowned as the the B-Division champion after a very hard-fought tournament against the third team of Nauti.
The final standings were not released yet. But once it is released you can check it in our website: A-Division, B-Division. Oceania Football Center congratulates all teams, specially the champions.
Football in New Zealand is slowly picking up speed again; after the ISPS Handa Premiership had to be ended three rounds earlier than planned due to the COVID 19 pandemics, the coming winter season in the country seems to be about to start.
The Hamilton Wanderers, the club of Papua New Guinea international Tommy Semmy, returned to training, but with a completely different style than before: “Yesterday was the first day of training. It was so great seeing my team mates and officials. It was new and fun: we are training in separate groups of nine“, said Semmy to Oceania Football Center.
Semmy in action for Hamilton Wanderers
“To be honest I did training a lot during the isolation. I was given strength and condition training by Wanderers coach Mauro Martins“, stated Semmy. The striker said it was good for him to have a break after so many efforts during the season: “I needeed a break since I am playing continuously, so it was great to have that break, but itsi been boring after 2 weeks“.
Semmy is unsure about how the game will be like after COVID-19, but we can certainly say he is eager to be back to the pitch and show what he is capable of: “All what I want is the season to get started. I can see boys are getting ready to training and play. I know we will have some different things when we are back, like no supporters in the stands, but I just can not wait to be back“, mentions Semmy. “I also would like thank family Cox for the good isolation period and the CJW Building Construction for the opportunity to work with them during this break“, added the Papua New Guinean.
Tommy is currently one of Papua New Guinea’s most celebrated players, finishing second in the Kapuls’ famous campaign for the 2016 edition of the OFC Nations Cup. The attacker also represented the national powerhouse Hekari United for several years before switching to the New Zealand football system.
Si è appena conclusa la conferenza stampa che la FTF ha tenuto presso il centro federale che si trova all’interno dello Stade Pater di Pirae. Tutti i membri del COMEX erano presenti. La conferenza è stata convocata per spiegare le ragioni che hanno portato alla sospensione di tutti i campionati, come abbiamo scritto qui.
Il presidente della FTF Thierry Ariiotima ha fatto una dichiarazione inaspettata: “Abbiamo convocato un incontro con i presidenti delle squadre della Ligue 1 Vini e della Ligue 2 per domani. Rispetto alla settimana scorsa le condizioni sanitarie sono cambiate. Il nostro presidente nazionale ha stabilito che tutte le attività sportive possono riprendere senza che ci sia rischio di una diffusione del virus. Perciò abbiamo deciso che tutti i campionati possono riprendere. Naturalmente questa decisione deve essere condivisa con i presidenti delle squadre, ma credo che non ci saranno problemi“.
Thierry Ariiotima, presidente della FTF e vice-presidente della OFC (fonte FTF)
Charles ARIIOTIMA, responsabile delle competizioni FTF, ha aggiunto che: “Le squadre avrebbero cinque settimane di tempo per allenarsi e che i concorsi dovrebbero iniziare il 1° luglio e terminare il 31 luglio”.
Come OFCe seguiremo l’evoluzione di questa notizia e già domani vi informeremo di quanto verrà deciso durante l’incontro tra la direzione della Confederazione e i presidenti dei club.
The press conference that FTF held at the federal centre of Pater Stadium in Pirae has just ended. All members of COMEC were present. The conference was called to explain the reasons that led to the suspension of all the championships, as we have wrote here.
FTF President Thierry Ariiotima made an unexpected statement: “We have called a meeting with the presidents of League 1 and League 2 teams for tomorrow. Since last week, the sanitary conditions have changed. Our national president has established that all sports activities can resume without risk of new infections. However, we have decided that all championships can resume. Of course, this decision must be shared with all presidents, but I believe there will be no problem.”
Thierry Ariiotima, president of FTF and vice-president of OFC (source FTF)
Charles ARIIOTIMA, director of FTF competitions, added a quote: “Teams would have five weeks to train and that competitions should start on July 1st and end on July 31st.”
As OFCe we will follow the development of this news and will inform you tomorrow of what has been decided at the meeting to be held between the federal management and the club presidents.
La conférence de presse que la FTF a tenue au centre fédéral du Stade Pater à Pirae vient de se terminer. Tous les membres du COMEC étaient présents. La conférence a été convoquée pour expliquer les raisons qui ont conduit à la suspension de tous les championnats, comme nous l’avons dit ici.
Le président de la FTF, Thierry Ariiotima, a fait une déclaration inattendue: “Nous avons convoqué une réunion avec les présidents des équipes de Ligue 1 et de Ligue 2 pour demain. Depuis la semaine dernière, les conditions sanitaires ont changé. Notre président national ait établi que toutes les activités sportives peuvent reprendre sans risque de nouvelles infections. Pourtant nous avons décidé que tous les championnats pouvaient reprendre. Bien sûr, cette décision doit être partagée avec tous les présidents, mais je crois qu’il n’y aura pas de problème.“
Thierry Ariiotima, president de la FTF e vice-president de la OFC (source FTF)
Charles ARIIOTIMA, directeur des compétitions FTF, a a ajouté que: “Les équipes auraient 5 semaines pour s’entraîner et que les compétitions devraient commencer le 1er juillet et se terminer le 31 juillet.“
En tant qu’OFCE, nous suivrons l’évolution de cette actualité et vous informerons demain de ce qui a été décidé lors de la réunion qui aura lieu entre la direction fédérale et les présidents de club.
The current star of Henderson Eels – who helped the club qualify for the knockout phase of the OFC Champions League – intensified his training. With a mixture of training sessions on the pitch, on the beach and in the gym, Raphael is pursuing his dream of moving to the next level of football – something that is supported by his entire country.
Le’ai, whose football career is currently managed by Basi Futbol – a local sports agency – is considered one of the hottest prospects in Oceania. The 16-year-old has represented his country at futsal and football events, including the FIFA U17 World Cup held in Brazil last year.
Jason Thomas is currenty one of the most important players from Vanuatu. The 23-year-old defender has 16 caps for Vanuatu National Football Team and he has already played four editions of the OFC Champions League, the main football tournament among clubs in Oceania.
He was also part of the youth squad that made history by representing Vanuatu in the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup held in South Korea. Thomas was one of the most experient players in that squad, as he has already played in New Zealand and Cambodia before the World Cup.
Thomas played in New Zealand in 2013. He spent the year studying at Nayland College while he was linked to Nelson Suburbs. However the most curious story about his career comes from his stint in Cambodia back in 2015.
He arrived in the Asian country in March 2015 to train in the Phnom Penh Crown FC Academy. Phnom Penh Crown is one of the biggest clubs in the country. They won the C-League – the national football league from Cambodia – for six times which makes them the most successful team in the competition’s history.
Jason Thomas arrived in Cambodia in March 2015. Source: Phnom Penh Crown FC Media
He spent seven months there and he had the opportunity to play lots of matches for the youth team including a friendly match against Cambodia U23 National Team and the 2015 Asia Champions Trophy, a youth tournament that counted on eight teams from Asia, including Japanese powerhouse Kashima Antlers.
Phnom Penh Crown was in the Group B alongside with Kashima Antlers (Japan), Frenz United FC (Malaysia) and PVF FA (Vietnam). Thomas performed in a very good level there, showing his quality on defense and scoring goals including a goal against Frenz United FC.
Jason Thomas (fourth from left to right) with his teammates. Source: Phnom Penh Crown FC Media
He left the Asian country in October after spending seven months there. He had the opportunity to stay with a professional club and feel the difference from professional to non-professional football – “Cambodian football is very fast. They have their own playing philosophy […] The game is so intense and fast. My teammates were very skillful,” said Thomas.
Jason made his debut for Vanuatu National Football Team a few weeks later in the 1-1 draw against Fiji. Since then he never played for a club outside Oceania. However he has always been involved with big clubs in the continent like Lautoka from Fiji and Hekari United from Papua New Guinea.
The Ni-Vanuatu player is one of the most talented players in Oceania when it comes to defense. His quality and skills could easily take him away from the OFC region at club level.
Tuvalu is currently the only country in Oceania with active football leagues: The A-Division and the B-Division are the two tiers of Tuvaluan football league system. However both leagues are close to finish as the last matchweek will take place this weekend.
In the A-Division, current league leaders Nauti 1 will face last-placed Haápai. Nauti won all their six matches in the tournament so far and it does not seem that they will lose this weekend. On the other hand, second-placed Tofaga has a tough challenge against Niutao (NTO) that is currently in the third position.
A-Division fixtures. Source: TIFA Media
Meanwhile the B-Division, current second-placed team Nauti will not play because they have a bye week. Current leader Tamanuku will face Niukita while Tofaga is going to face Lakena that stands in the last position with zero points.
B-Division fixtures. Source: TIFA Media
Unfortunately we do not have any reliable information about the promotion/relegation system. You can check the current standings by clicking in the league: A-Division, B-Division.
Oceania Football Center wish good luck to all teams in the upcoming round.
The wait is finally close to its end in Papua New Guinea! The 2019-20 National Soccer League season is set to resume in July after being suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to reliable sources, the league was cleared to resume in June. However it is going to resume in July so the teams will have one month to come back into training in order to get ready for the eleventh matchday that must be played in some of July’s weekends.
Vitiaz United players celebrating a goal. Source: PNGFA Media
Another good news came from Papua New Guinea: the league will not suffer any kind of change. So there will be eight more matchweeks before the play-offs to decide the national champion and the qualified teams for the 2021 OFC Champions League.
Vitiaz United is the current leader of the league with 25 points in ten matches, followed by Hekari United and Lae City with 23 points each. You can check the full standings by clicking here.
In the late 90s Ronaldo was shocking the world with his dribbles and goals. The legendary Brazilian forward won the Ballon D’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1997, two awards that are given to the best player in the world throughout the year.
At the same time, on the other side of the world, another Ronaldo came to the world in Vanuatu on December 30, 1999. That baby boy and his family did not know that the Ni-Vanuatu Ronaldo would have the opportunity to face the world in a FIFA World Cup like the Brazilian legend.
The years have passed and the Little Ronaldo had his first contact with football. He started playing futsal when he was just six years old, and while Wilkins was taking his first steps to become a football player, another Ronaldo – Ronaldinho Gaúcho – was ruling the world playing for Barcelona.
Wilkins grew a little more and started playing football when he was 12 years old while another Ronaldo – Cristiano Ronaldo – was reaching the top of the world alongside his rival Lionel Messi. The Ni-Vanuatu boy grew up watching Ronaldos making history and he was decided to make his own: play for Vanuatu National Football Team.
Ronaldo Wilkins had the dream of representing his country
It did not take so long for Wilkins to start showing his talents in the local football pitches. In 2011 he won the Best Player Award of a U13 tournament in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. Three years later he had the first opportunity to feel that his dream was coming true. Ronaldo was named for Vanuatu U15 National Team that played the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore. He was the team captain in all three matches contested by his squad in the tournament.
After that, the young Ronaldo has spent some time in New Caledonia’s Zimako Football Academy. The upcoming year was huge for him as he started to play for Shepherds United at senior level and soon he was rewarded with a call up to play the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship for his country. He scored four goals in six matches to help his side securing the bronze medal.
Things did not stop to become better and better for the 15 year old boy. Wilkins was given a scholarship overseas and moved to New Zealand in 2015 to study and play at Scots College, a college that is linked to Wellington Phoenix Academy.
Ronaldo wearing Scots College’s uniform
His dream was getting closer an closer to him and with just 16 years old, he was called-up to represent Vanuatu in the 2016 U20 OFC Championship. He was not intimidated and scored two goals in the tournament, making part of the biggest moment of Vanuatu’s history in football. That U20 squad finished the tournament in the second position after losing to New Zealand in the final. Despite the silver medal, those boys touched the sky by taking their country to a FIFA-sanctioned World Cup for the first time ever.
Another year was gone and he finally lived his dream. Just like the worldwide known Ronaldos, Wilkins was representing his nation in a World Cup. Vanuatu lost all three matches in the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup held in South Korea, but it was enough for him to make more history by scoring a beautiful goal against Mexico in the opening match. You can check his goal in the video below from 12th to 16th second.
Later that year, Ronaldo had the opportunity to know the country that legendaries Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho were born. The Ni-Vanuatu rising star travelled to Brazil for a 15-day trial with São Paulo Futebol Clube, one of the biggest clubs from Brazil. “I went for a trail in Brazil with São Paulo but I did not make it because I only had two weeks and could not perform well enough and that’s my background I think,” he lamented in an interview with the Oceania Football Confederation in 2019.
Despite Ronaldo lamented that he could not stay longer with São Paulo’s squad, it was reported by Brazilian sources that it was just an exchange for the Ni-Vanuatu player, and not a trial. Maybe we will never know the truth behind that. Anyway the 17 year-old rising star had the opportunity to feel how it is training in a professional club, even though he stayed with the youth teams.
Wilkins spent 15 days with São Paulo FC in Brazil
Coming back home after living the atmosphere of a pro club was not as bad as it might look. Some weeks later he made his debut in the National Team during the 2017 Pacific Mini Games held in Vanuatu. He could finally feel the emotion of representing his country at senior level and many other things that would come later.
The year of 2018 was special for him. He was part of the Erakor Golden Star’s squad that played the OFC Champions League that year. The young midfielder played all group stage’s three matches but Erakor did not make the knockout stage. That year also marked his return to New Zealand as he spent some time with Tasman United squad.
Wilkins (right) playing for Erakor Golden Star in the 2018 OFC Champions League
Unfortunately he did not have the opportunity to show his talent in the ISPS Handa Premiership and then he came back home. Since then he played for Shepherds United in the 2018-19 PVFA Premier League and for ABM Galaxy in the 2019 PVFA Premier League Top Four.
The last reported time that Ronaldo Wilkins has appeared in a football pitch was in July last year when he represented his country in the 2019 OFC Olympic Qualifiers held in Fiji. He scored one goal in the opening match against Papua New Guinea and helped his country to come back home with the bronze medal.
Since then he has been playing futsal. He was in Torba United’s squad in the Port Vila Futsal league and scored two goals in the 2019 OFC Futsal Nations Cup.
Wilkins (wearing yellow uniform) against New Caledonia in the 2019 OFC Futsal Nations Cup
There are some rumours that he must come back to 11-a-side football when the football leagues resume in Vanuatu. The 20-year-old midfielder must take a final decision about he wants for his career as a footballer or a futsal player. He has already shown his talent and now it is time to shine before it is too late.
Oceania Football Center 