Oceania Football Center

Da França para a Oceania: uma nova aventura está por começar

Uma nova aventura está prestes a começar para o jornalista Vladimir e o empresário Guillaume. Amigos de infância, eles encararão juntos uma grande jornada rumo a realização de um sonho: jogar a Liga dos Campeões.

Nascidos na França, ambos devem reforçar o Pago Youth, da Samoa Americana, para a disputa da Liga dos Campeões da Oceania de 2021. Eles mantiveram contato com o presidente da equipe, Sila Samuelu, que já está aguardando pela chegada dos europeus junto com sua equipe técnica.

Entretanto, há um fator que torna esta jornada ainda mais interessante, não só para eles, mas também para os amantes de futebol, uma vez que será gravado um documentário sobre a aventura de Vladimir e Guillaume na Oceania. Ambos já iniciaram a preparação para chegarem ao Pago Youth em boas condições físicas e técnicas.

A Samoa Americana é um território não incorporado dos Estados Unidos localizado na Polinésia, com aproximadamente 65 mil habitantes. A seleção nacional ocupa a 192ª no ranking da FIFA que conta com 210 seleções ao todo.

Guillaume (esquerda) e Vladimir (direita) estão na França se preparando para este desafio

Entretanto, há um fator que torna esta jornada ainda mais interessante, não só para eles, mas também para os amantes de futebol, uma vez que será gravado um documentário sobre a aventura de Vladimir e Guillaume na Oceania. Ambos já iniciaram a preparação para chegarem ao Pago Youth em boas condições físicas e técnicas.

Este documentário certamente será uma grande produção para aqueles que gostam de futebol alternativo, pois os fãs terão a oportunidade de acompanhar um pouco da realidade do esporte em um pequeno território da Polinésia. Porém ainda há um empecilho para a concretização desta jornada: o dinheiro. Os franceses deram início, recentemente, a um crowdfunding para arrecadação de fundos para que tudo isto se torne real e eles possam de fato vivenciar uma experiência única para ser compartilhada com todos quando o documentário for lançado.

A equipe de jornalismo da Oceania Football Center já está em contato direto com Vladimir e Guillaume e acompanharemos de perto tudo que envolve esta incrível aventura que está por vir.

France to Oceania: a new adventure ready to begin

For two Frenchmen, a new adventure lies ahead. Vladimir Crescenzo and Guillaume must join the Pago Youth Squad for the OFC Champions League 2021, but it is more special than it looks – Vladimir is a journalist and Guillaume is an entrepreneur. Both are 28 years old and have been close friends since childhood. Now they are ready to embark on the greatest adventure of their lives: playing in the Champions League for an American Samoa club.

Both were in contact with Sila Samuelu, the president of Pago Youth. Samuelu and his staff are awaiting their arrival to join the team for the next edition of the OFC Champions League. This trip will be an exciting one for everyone – players, staff and fans – as the entire journey will be recorded and started as a documentary.

Guillaume (left) and Vladimir (right) are getting ready for this challenge

This documentary will be a huge entertainment for those who want to know more about the reality of football in American Samoa. Money is the biggest problem for them right now, so they have started a crowdfunding campaign to support this project. You can find out more and donate to this project by clicking here.

The Oceania Football Center is already in direct contact with Vladimir and Guillaume. Our team will keep up with every step the French take in this amazing adventure.

BREAKING: STOP AU FOOT A TAHITI

La FTF a décidé de suspendre définitivement toutes les activités footballistiques de cette saison. Une réunion a eu lieu hier en présence du président fédéral et de tous les présidents des clubs de Tahiti.
Les membres du COMEX ont pris les décisions suivantes:

“Les Championats: Arrêt des championnats de la saison 2019-2020 de Tahiti pour toutes les catégories. Classements des championnats de Tahiti figés pour toutes les catégories, à la date de suspension des compétitions, soit le 17 mars 2020. Non attribution des titres de champions.

Participation à l’OFC champion’s league 2021: Organisation par matchs en aller simple d’un tournoi triangulaire entre les trois premières équipes de la Ligue 1 VINI selon le classement arrêté au 17 mars 2020. Attribution de 3 points à l’équipe classée 1ère, 2 points à l’équipe classée 2ème et 1 point à l’équipe classée troisième selon le classement arrêté au 17 mars 2020. Les équipes classées 1ère et 2ème à l’issue du tournoi triangulaire participeront à l’OFC champion’s league 2021.
Le directeur des compétitions est chargé d’organiser le tournoi triangulaire avant le démarrage de la saison 2020-2021.

Aucune équipe n’est rétrogradée en Ligue 2 pour la saison 2020-2021.
Les deux premières équipes de la ligue 2, selon le classement arrêté au 17 mars 2020, accèdent à la Ligue 1 VINI pour la saison 2020-2021. Le directeur des compétitions est chargé d’organiser le championnat Ligue 1 VINI de la saison 2020-2021 composé de douze clubs. Suppression du championnat espoirs pour la saison 2020-2021.

Les coupes : Poursuite de la Coupe de Polynésie pour désigner le représentant au 7ème tour de la coupe de France. Poursuite de la Coupe de Ligue 2. Poursuite de la Coupe du Président (féminines). Le directeur des compétitions est chargé d’organiser en septembre 2020 la poursuite de la coupe de Polynésie, de la coupe de la Ligue 2 et de la coupe du Président (féminines) avant le démarrage de la saison 2020-2021.
Annulation de la Coupe super Ligue 2 et Arrêt des coupes des jeunes“.

Au final, la FTF a également dû se rendre à covid19. La santé passe avant tout. Rappelons que le verdict du vainqueur des Vins de Ligue 1 est suspendu car l’AS Pirae est sous observation par la commission de contrôle parce que ils ont fait joué des jouers la journée 1 en Réserve et la journée 1 en L1. Nous suivrons la fin de cette histoire

Tuvalu: the only survivor in OFC

While the football activities are stopped in most countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a small nation in Oceania with some active leagues. And this Oceanian survivor is not New Zealand or another FIFA member, it is Tuvalu.

As it was mentioned above, Tuvalu is not a FIFA member, however they are affiliated to Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). There are two leagues currently actives in the island: the A-Division and the B-Division.

Eight teams are fighting for the title in the A-Division while five other teams are playing the second tier of Tuvaluan football. Nauti 1 is leading the first tier after five matchdays with fifteen points while Tamanuku is the current leader of the B-Division. You can check the current standings here: A-Division, B-Division

Nauti 1 players. Source: Tuvalu Island Football Association

While many leagues in Oceania do not have a scheduled day to restart, Tuvaluan football keeps pounding and you can keep up with the leagues in our website.

Nigel Malagian: representing the Kapuls has always been my dream

One of the most important players in the first half of 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, Nigel Malagian helped the Tusbab Stallions to reach the fourth position in the league. His great performances allowed him to join Lae City, one of the best football clubs in the country, for the second half of the season.

Malagian was one of he most important signings of Lae City for the remaining matches of the National Soccer League alongside with the Komolong brothers Alwin and Felix – “I had an awesome season with the Stallions, we have done very good in the first round. Moving to Lae was a had decision but I have to take this opportunity,” said Nigel.

The 24-year-old player is a versatile player that can play as a central back or as a left back and he surely can add a lot to the squad while Lae City is also a very good place to develop as a player – “Lae City is a well organized club and also very known in Oceania,” he pointed.

Malagian is one of the newest additions of Lae City

Malagian’s debut for Lae was quite special as he made his first ever appearence for his new club against Tusbab Stallions, his former team- “It was so emotional going against my former team but it was a great game,” he said. Both teams scored once and the final score was a 1-1 draw.

Nigel’s adaptation in his new club is not being that difficult as he knows very well the head coach Bob Morris. Both were part of the Papua New Guinea U-17 National Team delegation in the 2013 OFC U-17 Championship held in Vanuatu – “Bob is one of the best coaches in the country […] We have a great relationship, he is like a father to me,” he added.

Despite having some international experience at youth level, the former Stallions’ player has never played in the Senior National Team (Kapuls). However his good performances in the National Soccer League must be enough to book a spot in the upcoming call-ups – “Representing the Kapuls has always been my dream. If I have a chance it will be my dream coming true,” explained Nigel. It is important to remember that the Oceania Football Confederation has cancelled the 2020 OFC Nations Cup so it is not known when Papua New Guinea National Football Team will play their next international match.

Just like in almost every single country in the world, the football is currently suspended in PNG due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However the 24-year-old defender still believes that the 2019-20 season will resume so Lae City could fight for another national title – “Regardless some players left the team, there is still a great bunch of players and I still believe that we can win the National Soccer League if it return,” he said.

Gimale Essacu graduates in US university of Western Illinois

The U23 Papua New Guinea international Gimale Essacu graduated from Western Illinois University in the United States, the midfielder represented his country in 2015 Pacific Games and also in the U23 Olympic Qualifiers last year in Fiji. Essacu did not have a graduation ceremony as usual due the threats of COVID-19 pandmics: “No graduation ceremony, but today after 4 years of study, I have officially secured a degree in Communications and Sociology. Blessed to have experienced this journey through the opportunity of playing the beautiful game in the U.S at the highest level possible for college“, mentioned Essacu in social media. The Papua New Guinean played for four years for the university football side in the NCAA system – the Western Illinois Leathernecks.

Gimale Essacu - Men's Soccer - Western Illinois University Athletics — Gimale Essacu – *Western Illinois University*

When asked about his future in the game, Essacu explained “once corona is out the way, I have some plans“. So, the solution of the pandemic will also bring news about the next step in Gimale Essacu footballing career – a move back to his country might be a possibility!

2020 Telekom S-League set for August

The upcoming Telekom S-League season has a proposed date to begin. It was reported by Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) that the main football league in Solomon Islands is set for August. The proposed date was defined in a staff meeting held at the Allen Boso Complex this week.

SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata also confirmed that the next season of Telekom S-League is proposed to begin in the eighth month of this year.

Lawson Tama Stadium – The home of Solomon Islands’ football. Source: SIFF Media

It was reported in February that the Telekom S-League’s board is looking for applicants for new clubs to join the main football tournament in the country. The 2019-20 season had nine teams fighting for the title including Isabel United and Laugu United that joined the league last season.

Solomon Warriors are the current league champions and they will surely be in the next edition alongside with current runner-up Henderson Eels.

Roy Krishna endorses the importance of youth development for Fijian football

One of the most relevant players from Oceania nowadays, Fijian forward Roy Krishna told FBC News about the importance of youth development in football, specially during childhood.

Despite the recent results in the 2020 OFC Champions League, the football in Fiji is growing. The U-16 and U-19 National Leagues are getting stronger while the Fiji Football Association is developing the sport through the Mom and Pop League program.

The Mom and Pop League is a program introduced for children under the age of 10 which includes both genders to enjoy fun football environment at this age. There are ten centers of Mom and Pop in the country.

Children playing football in the Mom and Pop League program. Source: FIJI FA Media

The Fijian star also pointed that the level of local footballers has been improving. However he asks for more support from the whole society to help football’s growth in the country.

It is very important for Fijian football to see Roy Krishna having very positive attitudes that are good examples for football players and society. The 32-year-old forward has recently won the 2019-20 Indian Super League title with ATK.

Roy Krishna with 2019-20 Indian Super League trophy. Source: ISL Media

Besides Krishna, Fiji National Football Team can count on players that have some experience playing overseas. There are some good players in Australia and New Zealand while defender Scott Wara plays for Stoke City U-23 squad in England.

Leon Kofana runs a football clinic in Honiara

One of the most promising players from Solomon Islands, 17-year-old defender Leon Kofana ran a football clinic in Honiara on May 2nd. He had the opportunity to share his international experience with some young players from his country.

Leon has been recently in Australia on trials with Melbourne Victory youth squad and he could be in contact with a high level of training and good facilities. The clinic ran by him counted on ten participants aged between 12 and 22.

Kofana (second from left to right) talking to some players in the clinic. Source: Basi Futbol

The event was promoted by Basi Futbol, an agency that is currently managing Kofana’s career. According to Basi’s Co-Founder Edgar Pollard, it is very important for a player to give back to the community since very young – “Kofana was pleased to be able to share his experiences from Melbourne with the young boys,” said Pollard. You can check a video with some moments of the clinic by clicking here.

Oceania Football Center congratulates Basi and Kofana for this successful event. Sharing experiences and knowledge are essential to help the development of local football.

Harry Edge close to represent Malaysia internationally

Born in New Zealand, the 26-year-old defensive midfielder Harry Edge is currently playing for Torslanda IK from Sweden. He went to Europe last year after helping the Eastern Suburbs to clinch the 2018-19 ISPS Handa Premiership title.

His father is Declan Edge, former footballer that represented New Zealand National Football Team from 1985 to 1991. Both are now together in Sweden as Declan is Torslanda’s manager. Unlike his father, Harry has never played for All Whites.

Currently in Europe, Harry has now a new chance to play internationally. It was reported that Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have been in contact with him. As it is known, Harry’s father was born in Malaysia which makes him eligible to represent the Asian country. He would be a huge addition for the Malaysian National Team with his European experience as he has already played for PEC Zwolle U21 Team (Netherlands) and he has been on trials with West Bromwich from England.

FAM have been looking for overseas players that could be available to represent Malaysia internationally. Thus we can expect some new names in their upcoming call-ups.