Oceania Football Center

The rise of Ronaldo Wilkins

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.

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.

SEE MORE:
TBT #07 – When Vanuatu faced the world;
Ronaldo Wilkins profile.

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.

This article is part of the series ‘Brazil and Oceania: a Football connection‘.

Europe can be Roy Krishna’s next step

Legendary Fijian player Roy Krishna is currently in Fiji during the COVID-19 pandemic. However he still thinks about his next steps as a professional footballer. The 32-year-old forward had an outstanding 2019-20 season by helping ATK to clinch the Indian Super League title.

Krishna is living a wonderful time on his career by scoring 34 goals in his last 59 official matches for clubs throughout the last two seasons. He was the 2018-19 A-League top scorer with eighteen goals and finished the 2019-20 Indian Super League’s Golden Boot race in the second position.

SEE MORE:
Roy Krishna: making Fiji proud
Roy Krishna endorses the importance of youth development for Fijian football
Krishna leads ‘Team of the Tournament’ of Indian Super League

As his contract with ATK is reaching its end, Krishna told to Stuff from New Zealand that he is not going to take his decision by now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the current situation is over and the football returns, he will take his final decision about his future.

According to Stuff, the Fijian legend will have many options to choose as his next club. It was reported that clubs from North America, Europe, Asia and A-League have expressed interest on signing with him.

He could be the third Fijian player in Europe. Scott Wara (Stoke City U23) and Nicho Prasad (Bischofswerdaer FV 08) are the other Fijians currently attached to European clubs. Krishna started his career as a footballer in Labasa before moving to New Zealand in 2008 to play for Waitakere United. Click here to check his full profile.

Galaxy FC players help to repair Port Vila Stadium

The sporting activities were recently allowed to resume in Vanuatu and some teams are slowly resuming their training sessions. During this months without football due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tropical Cyclone Harold, the Port Vila Stadium did not receive so much attention.

Actually it seems that no one cared about the football stadium that hosts all matches of the Port Vila Premier League, the main football league in the Vanuatu’s capital. However it changed today when Galaxy FC players went to the stadium to take care of the pitch.

SEE MORE:
Malampa Revivors is back to training in Vanuatu

Kensi Tangis (left) and Seiloni Iaruel (right) cutting the grass in the Port Vila Stadium. Source: Galaxy FC Media

With their help the Port Vila Stadium is ready to host training sessions and matches. Galaxy FC has recently resumed their football activities as it was reported in their official Facebook account. They are currently in the third position in the 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League, one point behind Tafea and Ifira Black Bird.

Half-Fijian player Adrian Mariappa tests positive for COVID-19

The English Premier League received some bad news this week as six people related to the main football league in Englnd tested positive for COVID-19. The name of all these six people were not announced yet, but the first player who tested positive is already known: Adrian Mariappa.

Mariappa is a 33-year-old central back that plays for Watford. There are two other players from Watford with Coronavirus. The half-Fijian footballer talked to Telegraph Sport about the diagnosis – “Ever since I got my positive result back on Tuesday I have been scratching my head trying to work out how I might have got coronavirus […] My lifestyle is very quiet, certainly no parties or going out or anything, so I really do not know how I got it,” he revealed.

SEE MORE
Adrian Mariappa: Fijian blood in the Premier League

Mariappa was born in England but his father is from Fiji. However he decided to represent Jamaica internationally as his mother was born there. He played his whole career in England and he has represented Watford in 334 official matches so far.

TBT #07 – When Vanuatu faced the world

This week is a very special one for football fans in Vanuatu. Three years ago they had their first opportunity ever to face the world in a FIFA-sanctioned World Cup competition. Despite losing all their matches, their youth players really made Ni-Vanuatu people proud.

Vanuatu managed to book a berth in the 2017 U20 FIFA World Cup after reaching the 2016 OFC U20 Championship final with the help of some key players like Bong Kalo, Godine Tenene, Ronaldo Wilkins and Jason Thomas. However the biggest hero was Frederick Massing, who scored a goal in the 94th minute in the semifinal against New Caledonia to put them into the final match against New Zealand – “I am so happy to score the winning goal for Vanuatu,” said Massing to OFC media after the semifinal’s clash.

The support of the spectators was also very important as this tournament was held in Vanuatu. They may not have won the OFC Championship, but it was enough for something bigger, as they had the opportunity to touch the sky and be watched by people from all over the world.

Vanuatu players celebrating the spot in 2017 U20 World Cup

Preparation for the biggest challenge in the history of football in Vanuatu was intense both on and off the pitch, and included nutritionists and doctors. Dejan Gluščević was hired to lead them on the world stage as head coach. He had previously worked with Singapore’s youth national teams, which is why he played a number of friendly matches with the team there against Singapore’s U23 and U20 national teams – “We are mirroring the World Cup by playing all the matches in a row in Singapore. Here we will be able to identify the players who will be able to play this highly demanding and intense schedule at the World Cup,” he explained before travelling with the team to Asia.“

It was very important to have a foreign head coach and good staff to help the young players deal with the excitement and anxiety of a FIFA World Cup – “I am so happy to play against big teams. I think Germany will be the hardest because they are really good at football, but I am ready for it,” Ronaldo Wilkins said in an interview a few weeks before kick-off.

The first match against Mexico raised great expectations among players, staff and fans. After conceding two goals in the first half, Vanuatu managed to return to the second half in a more organised fashion, and they scored twice to tie the game, a very impressive moment in the history of football – they really touched the sky! Bong Kalo and Ronaldo Wilkins were the ones who found the net to make the people of Ni-Van proud.

Wilkins (left) and Kalo (right) celebrating a goal against Mexico

These young players saw their dreams come true, and the possibility of scoring a point in a world championship became more and more real as time passed. But Mexican defender Edson Álvarez struck the net in the 94th minute and broke their hearts. However, the defeat was a real reason for the people of Ni-Vanuatu to be proud of them: “I know they (the fans) are all very proud of us, that we struck back from 2-0 down and came so close to a draw. People watched the game in their homes, but some also came together to watch it on a big screen and they celebrated the defeat,” Bong Kalo said after the game.

It was only the first game, but everyone felt they could do more and win a game. However, the second match against Venezuela dampened their hopes after the South American side beat them 7-0. That defeat must have thwarted their dreams, but a very important person went public to support the squad: Lambert Maltock, President of the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) and current President of the Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC): “We already knew that South American football is very difficult, they are really good at improvising. Sometimes they do not play the plan they wanted to play, they play a new plan […] We know where we are now on the world map of football,” he explained.

Lambert Maltock is the current president of VFF and OFC

The third and last meeting in the group phase would be against Germany, one of the largest countries in the world in terms of football. The Ni-Vanuatu squad were able to hold on to their opponents in the early minutes, but they saw Germany score two goals in the first half and a third at the start of the second. It could have been another heavy defeat, but the Oceanian players did not give up.

After a defensive error, the Vanuatu attack gained possession of the ball, culminating in a goal from Bong Kalo, his second in the tournament. They still had time to find the net again when Kalo scored a fine free-kick in the 77th minute, reducing the German lead to just one goal.

Although they fought hard, they did not manage a third goal to equalise. This 2-3 defeat against the European team ended their participation in the tournament. Vanuatu left the tournament with three defeats in three games, but they knew they had fulfilled their mission with dignity and had no reason to complain. “As captain, I always tell the boys before every game that we are far from home and that we need to take something back with us,” Kalo explained. You can check the video with all four goals scored by Vanuatu in the tournament by clicking here.

Vanuatu players celebrating Bong Kalo’s goal against Germany.

And they certainly took something back with them. They learned a lot at the World Cup, and that made them better as footballers and as people. Head coach Gluščević explained that their performances exceeded expectations – “We did what we went there to do […] As their teacher, I’m glad my students passed their exams,” he said at the post-tournament welcoming event.

This World Championship was also very special for Bong Kalo and Ronaldo Wilkins, and not only because they scored in the competition. Both players had the opportunity to travel abroad to prove their talent. Ronaldo Wilkins travelled to Brazil that same year to spend fifteen days in Brazil with the youth team of São Paulo FC, one of South America’s biggest football clubs, known worldwide for its good work with youth players.

On the other hand Bong Kalo went to Europe and signed with FC Ascona from Switzerland. He also had a trial with Leganés from Spain. He played for three months at the Swiss club and scored a goal in eight official matches in the fifth tier of the Swiss league system.

Ronaldo Wilkins (left) during his stint in Brazil and Bong Kalo (right, wearing black shirt) signing a contract with FC Ascona

Many players of this U20 generation are now part of the national team at senior level and have the chance to make the people of their country proud again. We have to wait for the next chapter in this story, as the oldest players of this generation are still only 23 years old.

Football Federation Samoa leads by example

Football activities in Samoa are current stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However it does not necessarily mean that players are not being physically active. The local federation had an outstanding idea: posting some videos with exercises so the players can follow it to stay fit.

Every week a new video is published in Football Federation Samoa (FFS) official account on Facebook with some exercises so players can keep training at home during the social isolation period.

Oceania Football Center congratulates FFS for this great initiative. That is an outstanding idea of the current federation’s administration that has been doing such a great job to promote fooball in the country.

James McGarry sees a return to Wellington Phoenix as a real possibility

James McGarry is back to New Zealand. The 22-year-old left back returned to his homeland after his contract with Willem II from Netherlands was terminated after spending two years in Europe.

McGarry arrived in Netherlands back in 2018 after being a regular starter in the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the ISPS Handa Premiership for four straight seasons. He did not have many opportunities to show his talent at Willem II’s senior squad.

He is not linked to any team at the moment, but he has already shown his interest on returning to Wellington Phoenix – “If I got another opportunity to go back to the Phoenix, absolutely I’d love to grab it with both hands and finish some unfinished business. If it comes up, the door’s definitely not closed on my end,” he stated in interview to NZ Herald.

James would be a huge addition for Wellington Phoenix. However he must find a hard opponent in the fight for the left back: Liberato Cacace. Cacace is one of the most promising players from Oceania and it seems that he will not stay in the Phoenix for so long, which turns McGarry into a very good option to replace him.

McGarry was part of the U20 National Team squad that played the 2017 U20 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea. He made his official debut for the New Zealand National Football Team at senior level last year in the 1-0 loss against Lithuania.

Henry Fa’arodo back to training in New Zealand

Football players are allowed to resume training in New Zealand in groups of a maximum of ten people. Hamilton Wanderers’ players have resumed training this week in order to start their preparation for the winter football season in the country.

Solomon Islands legend Henry Fa’arodo is one of these players that are back to the pitch this week – “Good to be back training in a team environment […] It still feels amazing to be back amongst it again,” he pointed in social media. Some other players like Kohei Matsumoto and Brad Whitworth were also in this training session.

Despite the players are slowly returning into training, there is no scheduled date for the beginning of the New Zealand’s winter football season.

Fa’arodo returned to New Zealand some months ago after coaching Solomon Warriors in the 2019-20 Telekom S-League. He made his debut for Hamilton Wanderers in the 3-3 draw against Tasman United in the 18th matchweek of the 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season, the main football league in the country.

Max Mata promoted to Grasshopper’s first team

Max Mata is promoted to Grasshopper’s first team in Switzerland. The 19-year-old forward from New Zealand is now part of the main squad after spending some months with the U21 team. It was reported that he is going to wear the number 15.

He arrived in Europe last year to join the U21 squad of the Swiss team. He spent six months on loan at Nõmme Kalju from Estonia. He scored eleven goals in twenty matches during this stint before moving back to Switzerland. On the other hand, his countryman Nando Pijnaker remains in the Grasshopper’s U21 squad.

Max Mata (in blue and white) playing for Grasshopper U21 squad. Source: Grasshopper’s Media

Mata is one of the hottest prospects from New Zealand. He was part of the U20 National Team squad that reached the knockout stage in the FIFA U20 World Cup last year. He has recently debuted in the senior squad in the 1-0 loss against Lithuania.

PNG National Soccer League season close to resuming

After a Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) announcement that 2020 Telekom S-League is set for August, more good news is coming from Oceania: the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is close to resuming.

According to reliable sources, the national league can return next month. Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) will meet PNG Sports Foundation CEO Peter Tsimalili Junior and the COVID-19 State of Emergency (SoE) team this week to discuss about the league’s return.

Papua New Guinea National Soccer League season is close to resume. Source: PNGFA Media

Clubs have not been allowed to resume training yet. However once the situation is defined, the clubs will be advised to resume their activities in order to get ready for the remaining matches of the 2019-20 season.

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.