Oceania Football Center

Jacky Ruben back to his roots in Vanuatu

The current PVFA Independence Cup is being a very good tournament with interesting matches and many talented players. A good example is Tafea’s forward Micah Tommy who recently returned to Vanuatu. However there is another player that returned to the country that must be highlighted: Jacky Ruben.

Ruben officially left Suva and he is now free to join any team as his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) is not with the Fijian club anymore. The 23-year-old midfielder is playing the 2020 PVFA Independence Cup for Erakor Golden Star – a club that he knows very well.

Besides being the team’s captain in the tournament, he is also coaching Erakor Women’s Team – ‘The passion of this game is something different that is why we hardly quit it,” revealed Ruben to Erakor Golden Star’s media.

Ruben (in the middle) is back to his roots

Back to Vanuatu, he is probably going to stay with Erakor at least until the end of the current season. However it is not something confirmed yet as he is not officially attached to the club. It is important to remember that the Independence Cup is not an official tournament like the PVFA Premier League.

Ruben and his teammates will have a tough challenge tomorrow when Erakor will fight for the first position of Group A against Galaxy FC. You can check the current standings by clicking here.

Hughes and Nabenia to lose Rewa’s crucial match against Suva

Oceania Football Center recently stated that the Rewa will count on Rawaqa and Tamanisau that recently recovered from injuries in their next clash on Vodafone Premier League against Suva this weekend. Despite the good news, the Delta Tigers will also miss two very important players of their squad when they take on Capital City Boys: Bruce Hughes and Samuela Nabenia.

Nabenia is suspended for the next match due yellow card accumulation; Bruce Hughes was directly sent-off by a red card in the previous match of Rewa in the Vodafone Premier League before the forced break due COVID-19 pandemics. Both players will not be available for the head coach Marika Rodu that will hope their recovered players Simione Tamanisau and Kavaia Rawaqa can be instrumental in this very important clash in national league.

Nasinu to miss Solomon Islands’ duo in clash against Ba

Nasinu fans will miss two very important players this weekend when the Giant Killers take on Ba. The team coached by Fijian football legend Tagi Vonolagi will not count on the Solomon Islands international Atkin Kaua and his compatriot Jared Rongosulia.

Both players are currently in Solomon Islands and duo Fiji is still with their borders closed as measure to prevent coronavirus to enter the country, both players will not a chance to move back Fiji to represent Nasinu in time. In fact, both Atkin and Jared does not have a fixed date to return Fiji as Fiji government did not give an schedule on when the borders will reopen.

Kaua is one of the most important players of Nasinu, the attacking midfielder already scored three goals in the Vodafone Premier League this season. Jared Rongosulia is also an important part of Nasinu’s midfield, the former player of Kossa and Laugu United was an usual starter in Vonologi’s coached team. The other Solomon Islander in Nasinu’s squad, Marlon Nonone, will be available for the match against Ba as the attacker continued in Fiji due study commitments.

Four months later, Phoenix is back to action

After more than four months, the only Oceania full-professional football club is back to competition. The Wellington Phoenix, current ranked 3rd in the Australian top-tier Hyundai A-League, will take on the top-tabled Sydney FC this Friday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney at 7:30pm local time – the match will kick-off the resumption of A-League after the forced break due COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: A-League to continue behind closed doors, Wellington ... — Phoenix is finally back to action – *BeSoccer*

The team coached by Ufuk Talay just regrouped this month; recently Phoenix won by 3-0 a friendly match against Western Sydney Wanderers in preparation for their return to the A-League competition. For this clash against the league 1st-placed side, Talay will not count on three players: Tim Payne and Oli Sail that were suspended by the club after breaking the quarentine and Cameron Devlin that is also suspended, but for yellow cards accumulation.

The last match of Phoenix was in March, 15th against Melbourne Victory where they played a fantastic match winning the Melbourne-based side in Wellington by 3-0 – goals of David Ball, Gary Hooper and the Mexican wonder Ulises Davila. Counting on for the league, the Nix had won their last four matches in the process.

For the rest of the season, Phoenix will not be able to play anymore in New Zealand as only six venues will host the remaining clashes of the season – all of them in Australia – as a measure to protect players and all people involved in the matches from coronavirus infection. “The remainder of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season will now see the 27 matches played over 34 days with the Hyundai A-League 2020 Finals Series moved back a week,” said Greg O’Rourke, FFA’s Head of Leagues.

New Zealand and Belgium likely to clash in October

New Zealand Football (NZF) announced that the National Football Team is set to travel to Europe to play a friendly match against Belgium in October. However it still depends on the COVID-19 situation in both countries.

Belgium is currently the world’s number one ranked in FIFA Ranking so the All Whites will have an unique opportunity to face one of the best National Teams in the world. Also it is going to be the first clash between these countries in football’s history.

Chris Wood (left) and Kevin de Bruyne (right)

Currently in the 122nd position in FIFA Ranking, New Zealand is the best ranked nation from OFC in this list. All Whites last official match was in November when they lost to Lithuania by 1-0.

Percy Mataio announced as FC Bougainville’s new head coach

The 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is two weeks away from its resumption and the local teams are already getting ready for the upcoming challenges. FC Bougainville will also have some new faces as Percy Mataio was announced as the new head coach of the team.

The experienced coach left Star Mountain earlier this week to take the charge at FC Bougainville – “I thank Selan and the team for giving me the chance to coach Star Mountain FC but I have my ambitions as a qualified coach to move on and I would like to advise that I am moving on as of this notice,” said Mataio in his official farewell from Star Mountain.

Mataio arrives in Port Moresby to replace David Passam in the charge. FC Bougainville is currently in the 6th position with eleven points in ten matches played at 2019-20 National Soccer League. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.

Micah Tommy: Ba’s management does not care about players

Ba lost many players in the past transfer window and now the Men in Black are going to lose another one as Ni-Vanuatu forward Micah Tommy confirmed that he is not going to stay due to conflicts with the team’s management.

Tommy is currently in his homeland Vanuatu and he is playing the 2020 PVFA Independence Cup – a festive tournament – for his former club Tafea. He revealed to Oceania Football Center that he intends to stay with Tafea – “I have requested for my ITC (International Transfer Certificate) because Ba did not pay me and they also do not care about after their players,” he said.

Tommy (right) claims that he was not paid by Ba – *OFC Media*

The 21-year-old forward returned to Vanuatu through a repatriation flight from the government a couple of weeks ago after living a period of uncertainties in Fiji – “After OFC Champions League no one from the team management talked to me and Darold (Kakasi) about how we would stay. We felt hopeless […] Now I need my ITC back to move my career on,” stated Micah. Another players also revealed to Oceania Football Center that were not paid by the club.

Micah joined the Fijian club in 2019 and was part of the squad that played 2020 OFC Champions League earlier this year.

Suva: Michael Boso unavailable for unknown period

Suva made some relevant changes in its squad for the remaining of the current Vodafone Premier League season by signing with Atunaisa Naucukidi, Beniaminio Mateinaqara, Laisenia Raura, Patrick Taroga, Ravnesh Karan Singh and Simione Nabenu.

The Capital City Boys will have strong side to face Rewa on Sunday. The biggest absence for this important clash must be Solomon Islands international Michael Boso who is not with the team at the moment – “I am still stuck in Solomon Islands due to border restrictions but I am training here to stay fit,” revealed Boso.

Boso is currently in Solomon Islands waiting to return to Fiji

The 28-year-old defender also expressed his thoughts about some of Suva’s new signings – “Taroga is very quick and smart, it is a huge addition for the team. Beniaminio is a very experienced goalkeeper. It is good to have a him at the back,” he said.

Boso’s team is currently in the third position in 2020 Vodafone Premier League with eight points in four matches – four points behind of current league leaders Rewa. The upcoming clash at ANZ Stadium is very important for Suva. If they beat Rewa they will get closer to the leaders – “We are eager to win all the remaining games in the league and in other tournaments,” stated the Solomon Islands international.

It is not known when he is going to return to Fiji as it depends on the reopening of borders. We hope it can be solved soon in order to see Boso back to action.

Star Mountain and Gulf Komara set to play a friendly match in Port Moresby

The PNG National Soccer League is close to restart after the COVID-19 forced break – the competition schedule says the kick-off will be on 1st August, as recently the PNGA stated. Two clubs based in Port Moresby decided to not lose any time in their prepartion for th recommence of the national league: the 8th placed Star Mountain will take on the 5h placed Gulf Komara this Friday in Papua New Guinea’s capital city.

The match will take place in Bava Park, 4pm this Friday (17th July). According to Star Mountain management, no spectators will be allowed to watch the friendly match between the two clubs from top-tier league of Papua New Guinea football due to COVID-19 protocols

Rewa: Rawaqa and Tamanisau recovered and ready to take on Suva

The Delta Tigers will receive an important boost when they take on Suva this weekend in their return after the forced COVID-19 break to Vodafone Premier League. The experienced players Simione Tamanisau and Kavaia Rawaqa will be available for the coach Marika Rodu as both Fijian international have recovered from injuries.

One of the most important matches so far in the Vodafone Premier League will count on two of the most important football players from Fiji; the defender Rawaqa and the star goalkeeper Tamanisau will seek for another win the league as the leaders Rewa will have a difficult encounter against Suva. Kavaia Rawaqa will make his debut in the season, Tamanisau played only one match that was against Ba in the only defeat the Tigers tasted so far in the national league.

Rewa will also count on the player such as Setareki Hughes and Anish Khem this weekend, but they certainly will have to work hard if they want to beat Suva – the Capital Boys will count on a new trio that was already cleared to debut for Suva, as well the top shot-stopper Beniamino Mateinaqara coming from Ba.