Burnley received Sheffield United at Turf Moore in the 33rd matchweek of 2019-20 English Premier League – the top-tier league from England.
James Tarkowski opened the scoreboard or Burnley in the first half while John Egan scored for Sheffield United in the second half. The 1-1 draw was pretty bad for The Clarets as they lost the opportunity to reach the eighth position in the league.
The good news is that New Zealand international Chris Wood is back from injury. The 28-year-old striker came from the bench in the 69th minute to replace Matej Vydra. It was Wood’s first game since football resumed in England after COVID-19 pandemics.
Wood is back from injury
Wood missed three matches in June due to an Achilles problem. He is Burnley’s top scorer in the current Premier League season with eleven goals in 27 matches.
Navua is going to need battle hard if they want to improve in the standings of Vodafone Premier League. To ensure this, Navua’s management signed two well-known and experienced players to reinforce their squad ahead for the return of the national league after the forced break due COVID-19 pandemic.
According to reliable sources, Navua signed with former Ba and Nasinu goalkeeper Josaia Ratu. Ratu moved to Tavua this January and now makes his return to top-tier of football in Fiji. The 36-year-old Apisai Smith is back to Fiji football after a stint in New Zealand’s Geraldine FC in South Canterbury Men’s Division 1 League. Smith already played for Navua in the past and already represented Fiji National Team once – now the former Rewa and Lautoka player is going to be feature in Navua’s squad.
Apisai Smith and Josaia Ratu
Apisai and Josaia and will team up with players like Taniela Rakariva in order to improve the campaign of Navua in the national league. The team that just got promoted from the second tier is currently at the bottom of Vodafone Premier League. Navua is going to open the resumption of the national league in a hard clash against current champions Ba next weekend (11th Jul) at Fiji FA Academy Grounds.
There is something very important to come in Labasa’s region in Fiji: according to Fijivillage the Fijian Football Association is set to build a football academy worth $5.5 in Korowiri, Labasa. It is know the Fijian football star Roy Krishna had an important role in the process. “Fiji FA CEO Mohammed Yusuf says all elite athletes will be brought in to undergo specialised training as Fiji FA believes the Northern Division has the potential to produce many more Roy Krishna’s,” it is mentioned in local media report.
Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel (left) in Labasa – Fijivillage
“He [Yusuf] adds they [Fiji FA] hope to fully complete construction by March 2021 but as they are ahead of schedule, the academy will most probably officially open in January next year. Yusuf says the academy will have two grounds, a futsal court, accommodation, offices, a big hall as well as a fully fledged program like the ones in Suva and Ba. The CEO says FIFA has invested $4.6 million in the project while FIJI FA will be funding the rest,” as said in Fijivillage report.
Fijian star player Roy Krishna used his social media account to show his satisfaction with the news: “So glad that Fiji Football is setting up an academy in my hometown Labasa which is due to open in December. So happy to get a quick brief about their future plans and current initiatives. We definitely have a promising future ahead of us. I’m sure more young talents will be nurtured and groomed through this initiative and can expect to see more Fijians making a name in the world of football. Here’s to good leadership and foresight“.
Krishna (right) and Fiji FA officials
Undoubtely, the action of Fijian FA is a good call for support in the development of football in the country; despite the news, much football fans raised their concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and pointing Fiji FA input should be turned to support players that are suffering due the forced break in football activities instead to promote the building of the football academy at the moment. According to local sources, it is know Fiji FA promised help for Fijian players that were hit by TC Harold.
The traditional Independence Cup had kicked-off in Vanuatu’s capital with important matches in the starting matchweek of the competition. Four matches were going to take place in Port Vila Municipal Stadium, but the contest between Mauwia and Yatel were postponed to a date that is still to be determinated. In the Friday, the powerhouse Galaxy FC kicked-off the tournament with an emphatic win over the good side of Sia-Raga. Octav Meltecoin opened the scoreline for Galaxy in the 5th minute of play and the Brazilian midfielder Roberson Felipe doubled the margin in the 20th minute. Still in the first half, Yvong Wilson added another for the team coached by Moise Poida. Sia-Raga still managed to pull one goal back after a penalty-kick – the goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel defended the shot but in the rebound Iaruel had no chance to stop the finish from Juju Ala. The first 45 minutes of the match had all goals of the clash – Galaxy starts with a strong performance in their first official match after COVID-19 break.
Galaxy was captained by Nelson Sale in this clash – Vanuatu Sport
Erakor Golden Star had a very hard clash against Ifira Black Bird. The team counted with the punctual addition of the star defender Jason Thomas in the match, as well the Malampa Revivors’ players Dondy Kileteir and Tasso Jeffery. Jean Kaltack returned to EGS and opened the score for his team, but it did not take long as Tonly Kalotang equalised for Ifira BB. Erakor took the lead once again through the effort of Junior Daniel, but in the second half Jean-Marie Manuriki created a great chance for Sam Kalter that leveled the game once again. The 2-2 result reflected the good quality of both sides in the pitch. The Ifira Black Bird star player Jonathan Spokeyjack expressed his feelings after match: “It was very challeging; a tough match. Many fans came to support and enjoy the game this Saturday,” stated the winger.
Erakor and Ifira played an entertaining match in Port Vila – Vanuatu Sport
The final match of the day saw Tafea fight hard against a revamped side of Tupuji Imere. Alex Saniel added firepower to his former club Tupuji Imere; the same happened to Tafea that counted with the quality of Ba’s Micah Tommy in the clash. Both players are expected to return Fiji to represent Lautoka and Ba respectively as the Vodafone Premier League is set to restart in the next week.
Tupuji managed to take the lead in the first half through Mackenzie Malapa, but could not defend their goal in the second half: Evaristo Kapulu scored for Tafea in the first minutes of the second part of the match and the young Waiwo Kalmetscored the winning goal from the penalty spot for his team in the final stages of the clash, giving Tafea a hard fought victory in the final match of the day.
Micah Tommy (red) was an important addition for Tafea squad – Vanuatu Sport
As the various Independence Cups that are played in Vanuatu traditionally in the month of July – 30th July, the day of Vanuatu’s independence is when normally the competitions have their final matches – are not recognised as official tournaments, clubs can add players to their squads for the competition as it happened to Tafea, Erakor and Tupuji. Galaxy took the first place of Group A as Erakor Golden Star and Ifira Black Bird only draw in the first matchweek – Tafea is the first placed side of the Group B after beating Tupuji Imere while the match of Yatel against Mauwia is still to be played.
Former Suva player and Fiji youth representative Ivan Kumar continues to show his potential in New Zealand NFF Men’s Conference Division. As Kumar recently told Oceania Football Center, his team South Auckland Rangers is really aiming for the promotion to Lotto NRFL Division 2 as they smashed Puhoi at Puhoi Domain by 4-0. Kumar contributed with two goals for his side and with one assist – Kumar’s new club had won all matches in the season so far and the full-back already scored three goals in the league.
Team Captain Rinal Prasad and Ivan Kumar – NZFFI
South Auckland Rangers is captained by former Ba and Fiji National Team player Rinal Prasad. Prasad alongside Kumar are key members of squad – South Auckland counts with various Fijian players including also the former national team member Lorima Dau that also member of technical staff of the Auckland-based side. The club has a strong link with New Zealand Fiji Football Incorporated; an organisation that promotes football in the Fijian community in New Zealand, responsible for traditional tournaments such as Pacific Cup.
Roimata Karika joins Napier City Rovers from New Zealand. The 19-year-old defender will have his first opportunity to play in a club outside Cook Islands.
Karika was part of Cook Islands U-17 squad that played the OFC U-17 preliminary tournament held in Samoa in 2016.
Karika joined Napier City Rovers
He also played OFC Champions League for Tupapa Maraerenga in 2018 and 2019. Two other young players from Tupapa Maraerenga are also playing in New Zealand: Avi Enoka and Lee Harmon. Both joined Ellerslie AFC and they are playing in Ellerslie’s reserve team.
Oceania Football Center got in touch with the team’s management and they denied these links. According to them they have not approached these players which means that they are not going to join Capital City Boys this month.
Mateinaqara joined Ba in 2020
It was also reported by FBC News that Benjamin Totori could be joining Suva in this transfer window. Suva’s management revealed that they have interest on signing with Totori but there was no successful contact with the player until the present moment.
The Capital City Boys are currently in the second position in 2020 Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier of Fijian football. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
One of the most celebrated footballers of the Pacific Henry Fa’arodo scored his first goal for Hamilton Wanderers since the star-player returned to New Zealand. The Solomon Islands international helped his new club to beat Western Springs by 3-2 away from home with a goal in the first half.
This was the first win of Hamilton Wanderers in the new season of the Lotto NRFL Premier. Derek Tieku and the Papua New Guinean star Tommy Semmy scored the other goals of Wanderers in the contest that took place at Seddon Fields, Auckland.
Henry Fa’arodo – OFC
Fa’arodo returned to New Zealand to compete at top-tier league ISPS Handa Premiership for Wanderers, unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to an end before as it was scheduled. In the last month the winter leagues started in the country after months of social distancing restrictions and finally the Solomon Islands that wears the 10. jersey for Hamilton Wanderers found the nets after four matches for the club.
OFC Champions League is the biggest club competition in Oceania. The current edition of the continental tournament was stopped due to COVID-19 pandemics and the upcoming matches are not scheduled yet. However, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) organized an on-line meeting with clubs and federations on Wednesday to discuss about this issue.
The 2020 OFC Champions League was initially scheduled to finish in May but everything has changed due to COVID-19 pandemics. Now the Confederation, federations and clubs are discussing the best way to resume the tournament.
OFC set some minimum conditions to resume the tournament like: borders open, commercial flights operating, no entry restrictions, no limit to gathering of people for sporting events and availability to train without restrictions. According to OFC, any variation of these minimum conditions will create unfair situations to affected clubs.
At the present moment there is a proposal to play the whole knockout stage in a “mini-tournament” in September. The eight teams qualified to quarter-finals would have two months to get ready for the next challenge in the continental tournament. Seven of eight teams support this idea.
The “mini-tournament” might be the best way to finish 2020 OFC Champions League – OFC Media
The “mini-tournament” would be played in only one location from 19 to 26 September with the same format: Winners of each Group Stage play a Runner up in a Quarter Final. Despite being accepted by most teams, it still depends on these minimum conditions that were mentioned above.
If travel restrictions for all teams continue until July 19, the final decision about playing or not 2020 OFC Champions League would be postponed to August 24. If the current OFC Champions League edition cannot be played due to the current situation impacted by COVID-19, and if the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 still goes ahead, OFC will be required to nominate a representative anyway.
An Executive Committee meeting is scheduled to take place on July 24 to keep discussing about the current issues. Oceania Football Center team is keeping up with this situation in order to bring the most accurate information to our followers.
Lucien Hinge is the newest player of Yatel FC from Vanuatu. The 28-year-old defender joined the team and he is already eligible to play. His first appearance with Yatel must be today against Mauwia at Korman Stadium in the first matchweek of 2020 PVFA Independence Cup.
Hinge was playing for Tafea FC before joining his new club. The transfer was approved by Port Vila Football Association (PVFA) and was confirmed by Yatel’s president John Stephens Tougon.
Lucien Hinge left Tafea and joined Yatel. Tafea FC Media
The former Tafea FC player has already represented Vanuatu National Team in three matches. His last appearance was in a 2-1 win against New Caledonia in 2017 Pacific Mini Games.
