Recently, Chow stated in his social media that the players of Lae City decided to stick with club – only Peter Gunemba is leaving. According to local sources, the most important players of Lae City were not happy with the departure of Peter Gunemba and were also considering to leave the team alongside their coach. “The players revolt and walk out? I gave the ultimatum. You play for Lae City FC or your play for your coach? What did they choose? The whole team picked Lae City FC! They all returned before I released them. They all know they have been on the wrong side and taking advantage of our slackness. It showed in their games. What I said was all true! They needed a big reality check! They were all heading for football oblivion“, stated Chow.
Ian Chow also strongly added: “My money, my team my decision. I made it clear to all players. I pay your salary so you are working for me. You are all professionals, so whoever is the coach you still have to follow. We are not holding or forcing any of you to stay“.
Peter Gunemba helped Lae City to win the last five PNG National Soccer League editions, but failed to make his former team to progress at OFC Champions League 2020 – something that did not make Chow happy, the Lae City boss also stated he aims to see Lae City winning OFC Champions League, so he was forced to make the changes he had done.
The local supporters of Lae were not happy with the shocking news and certain allegations of Ian Chow, but he seems determined to leave the past behind and create an even stronger Lae City for the rest of the season – seeking to qualify once again for the most important club football tournament of Oceania.
The transfer window period is already closed in Papua New Guinea, but we are still receiving confirmations about the signings and departures of players and now it is time time for the 3rd placed side Vitiaz United to announce new moves in their squad.
Vitiaz signed five new players to boost their squad for the second round of PNG National Soccer League, they are: the goalkeeper Andrew Baniau coming from FC Boungainville, the PNG international Jonathan Allen – the striker signs from FC Boungainville -, the midfielder Donovan Murray coming from Gulf Komara and two players coming from the current national champions Lae City: the defender Peter Dabinyaba Jr and the attacking midfielder Matthew David.
Peter Dabinyaba Jr is one of the signigs of Vitiaz United – OFC Media
Vitiaz also announced the departure of four players form their team: Rayan Albert, Isaac Agapi, Russel Nirik and Darius Edwin. Albert was sent to a partner local team in Lae for further trainings, while Agapi and Edwin left the club to faster their recovery from injures. Russel Nirik left the team due personal reasons.
The most important football league of New Zealand is going to have a very important matchweek. Just three matches are remaining for each of the teams in contention – just one out of the ten sides has no chances to qualify for the semifinals: the bottom ranked Canterbury United.
Waitakere United will have a decisive clash against Hawke’s Bay – NZF Media
The 3rd placed side Waitakere United will have a hard clash against the Napier-based side Hawke’s Bay United in Auckland. Waitakere wants to confirm their spot at the semifinals and a win is instrumental for the team captained by Sam Burfoot in the process.
The remaing two clashes of Waitakere are against Auckland City and Team Wellington – the top-two teams in the table so far -, so their best chance to seal their spot is winning Hawke’s Bay United at home. Even a win can not guarantee the team in the decisive stage of the league, but it will them really close.
Hawke’s Bay, if they want to keep their chances alive in the process, they will need to beat Waitakere away from home, hoping Ahinga Selemani and his teammates can have another very good day.
Team Wellington is already qualified for the ISPS Handa Premiership semifinals – NZF Media
Team Wellington will travel to Dunedin to take on Southern United; Team Welly is already qualified for the semifinals, but they will come certaintly hungry for an away win over a good side of Southern.
The Dunedin-based side is in another very different situation than their opponents: they will desperate for a home-win to maintan their chances of top-four alive in the process. Southern team know they will need to look after of players as João Moreira and Jack-Henry Sinclair if they want to get a much needed win. The likes of Garbhan Coughlan and Cody Brook will need to be in very good form to help their side in a very hard challenge.
Hamilton Wanderers will have take on Tasman at Porritt Stadium – NZF Media
Hamilton Wanderers will have another chance to get closer Eastern Suburbs in the process as they take on Tasman United at Porritt Stadium. Tasman is the same situation of the Wanderers – both sides have 19 points in the process, three behind the fourth-placed Eastern Suburbs – and the two teams will be playing for a win this Sunday.
Derek Tieku and Tommy Semmy will need to be back to their goalscoring form after losing their previous match in the run. Wanderers does know they really need a win against Tasman, but their opponents are ready to make the home crowd advatange not enough for the Hamilton-based side.
Tasman will expect another important win, despite their bad performance against Phoenix Reserves in their last match in the league. The likes of Jean-Philippe Saïko and Jesse Randall can be instrumental for the team coached by Jess Ibrom to record a much needed over Hamilton.
Fighting for pride, Canterbury Dragons – NZF Media
Canterbury United is already out of contention for a top-four spot, but the last placed team in the process know they need to make something to let their fans proud. They will be taking on Phoenix Reserves at English Park – a good chance to improve their bad records in the season so far.
Phoenix Reserves recorded an important win over Tasman United thanks a hattrick of Ben Waine. Phoenix can not qualify for the semifinals as they are a reserve squad of Wellington Phoenix, but they will certainly want to upset the big teams in the process. They still have 17 points in the league, a away-win over a shaken Canterbury can keep their chances alive to be placed inside the top-four.
Auckland City hopes to continue their good run – NZF Media
Auckland City is already there in the semifinals, but they are still to confirm their spot as premiers of the league – the best ranked team during the regular season -, the Navy Blues are just three points upfront the second-placed Team Wellington.
After a succesful campaign in Tahiti at OFC Champions League, the team coached by José Figueira is ready for the Gridlock derby against the current champions Eastern Suburbs at Madills Farm Reserve. Despite the good moment, Auckland recorded their first defeat since 2017 in the national league in their previous match in the season against Tasman United – when they were defeated by 2-1.
Eastern Suburbs will hope the top goalscorers of the season so far, Martin Bueno, can score more goals in this decisive clash as their team is just three points away the 5th placed side in the process – having their semifinal spot in danger in case they can not avoid a defeat for the powerful side of Auckland City.
Le match amical international Nouvelle-Calédonie contre Estonie qui était prévu pour la fin du mois de mars a été annulé. L’épidémie actuelle de coronavirus a de nouveau été la raison de l’action; récemment, le gouvernement estonien – où le match allait être joué – a décrété l’état d’urgence en raison du COVID-19.
Estonia vs Nuovelle Caledonie en 2017 – OFC media
Les cagous allaient également jouer un autre match amical contre une sélection locale, mais ces incroyables possibilités d’exposition ne se réaliseront pas en raison de problèmes de santé. La Nouvelle-Calédonie FA étudie une autre possibilité pour l’équipe nationale, puisqu’elle a déjà publié les convocations pour les matchs amicaux, qui ont été annulés.
La ligue de football la plus importante de Nouvelle-Calédonie va demmarer. La saison de la Mobil Super Ligue 2020 débutera cette semaine avec 5 matchs lors de sa première journée.
L’AS Magenta va commencer sa campagne – après un bon tournoi de la phase de groupes en OFC Champions League – contre les nouveaux venus des divisions régionales AS Kunié au Stade Numa Daly. L’autre match, qui se tiendra au stade le plus important de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, sera opposé au Tiga Sport et à l’AS Mont-Dore. Tiga mettra en vedette Joseph Tchacko et Richard Sele – Sele a récemment signé pour Tiga Sports après des années réussies à l’AS Magenta. Les deux matchs joués au Stade Numa Daly seront retransmis par TV Caledonia et diffusés sur sa chaîne YouTube.
Les actuels détenteurs du titre, Hienghène Sport, s’attendront de jouer beaucoup mieux qu’en OFC Champions League, ou il sont sortie dans la phase de groupes, lorsqu’ils commenceront leur campagin à domicile contre Horizon Patho. Après quelques années dans les divisions régionales, le JS Baco est de retour au premier niveau de le foot neo-caledonien et entamera sa campagne contre l’AS Wetr au Stade Yoshida, Koné.
A Lifou, au Stade Hnasse, l’AS Lössi affrontera à domicile le SC Ne Drehu, lors du dernier match du 1er tour de Mobil Super Ligue. Ce sera un match très intéressant car Ne Drehu a signé des joueurs importants pour la saison, comme les anciens joueurs de l’AS Magenta comme Léon Wahnawe et Yorick Hnautra.
The most important football league of New Caledonia is set to start; the Mobil Super Ligue 2020 season is going to kick-off this weekened with 5 matches in its first matchday.
FCF Media
The traditional AS Magenta is going to start their campaign – after a succesful group stage tournament at OFC Champions League – against the newcomers from the regional divisions AS Kunié at Stade Numa Daly. The other match to be held at most important stadium of New Caledonia wil be between Tiga Sport and AS Mont-Dore. Tiga will feature the likes of Joseph Tchacko and Richard Sele – Sele signed recently for Tiga Sports after succesful years at AS Magenta. Both matches played at Stade Numa Daly will telecasted by TV Caledonia and streamed in its YouTube channel.
The current title holders Hienghène Sport will expect to play much better than at OFC Champions League when they start their campagin at home against Horizon Patho.
After some years in the regional divisons, the also traditional JS Baco is back to the first tier and will start their campaign against AS Wetr at Stade Yoshida, Koné.
In Lifou, at Stade Hnasse, AS Lössi will take on the home side SC Ne Drehu in the final match of the 1st round of Mobil Super Ligue. It will be a very interesting match as Ne Drehu signed some important players for the season, as the former AS Magenta players as Léon Wahnawe and Yorick Hnautra.
The 2020 edition of the OFC Champions League is very special for Samoan football: their national champion, Lupe o le Soaga, recorded the very first win of a Samoan club at OFC Champions League – Group Stage, after a schocking over the Fijian side Ba by 4-3 in the Group D of the tournament. Despite their superb victory, it was not enough for the Samoan side to proceed to the knock-out stage – but surely, they are not disappointed for not making it, since their remarkable performances already are enough to make a huge impact at Samoan football scenario.
Not only Lupe was there for Samoa; the Samoan international Vito Laloata also featured at OFC Champions League. The Samoan Gem represented Hekari United from Papua New Guinea in the tournament. Laloata and his team could not proceed as well as Lupe – his former team – to the knock-out stage, but it is already something to celebrate the presence of a Samoan player in high-level side as Hekari at Oceanian football stage. Laloata featured in the three matches of Hekari in the tournament – two coming from the bench – and provided one assist in the final match against Galaxy FC as his side won the match by 2-1.
The historical win of Lupe o le Soaga against Ba was not the only match the side impressed: despite losing its first match in the process by 6-0 against AS Vénus, Lupe hold the powerful Auckland City to only two goals in their final pool match, being only the second team from Samoa to allow a New Zealand to score only twice in a match.
Lupe o le Soaga players celebrating a goal against Ba
The level of football displayed by the Samoan side impressive fans and football related people all over Oceania – a good sign of the development of sport in Samoa. The team led by the experienced Andrew Setefano will have good memories to rememeber from their experience in Tahiti – but they need to make this a stepping stone to keep its development ahead. The same can be said on Vito Laloata presence at Hekari United – a possible path for Samoan players to rise and play their club football in better-developed leagues in the region.
The now former Tusbab Stallions captain is the new signing for Lae City. Certainly, the current champions will disappointed with the decision of the PNG National Soccer League top scorer so far in the season Stahl Gubag, the forward decided to stay in Madang. Gubag, while one of the most exciting young talents of Papua New Guinean football, also has study commitments in Madang and chose to keep his football in his hometown while also continue his studies at Madang Teachers College.
Gubag remains with Stallions
While Stahl Gubag continues in Madang, Nigel Malagian was already released by Tusbab Stallions and departed to Lae. Ironically, both Stallions and Lae will meet at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae in the next matchday of PNG National Soccer League.
Star Mountain expects a much better second round of PNG National Soccer League; the Port Moresby-based club is at the bottom of the standings and made several changes in its team to have better results in the second part of the season.
The well-known coach Percy Mataio, that already coach age-group Papua New Guinea national teams, signed for the club as the new head coach in order to guide the team to a different fate.
Percy Mataio – OFC Media
The OFC-B Licensed coach spoke to Oceania Football Center regarding his new challenge at Star Moutain: “The challenge for me is to help instill believe in this playing squad and create a system that can help us improve overall as a team. I understand the position this team is in, but as a coach, you need to find the right solutions that can help your team to perform and get the desired results for the club. The challenge is huge, yet it is exciting as well to see how the team reacts to change as we try to help improve the team’s approach and attitude towards each challenge that we face in the second round [of PNG National Soccer League]“.
Star Mountain also signed five new players to reinforce their squad: Sammy Cambell, John Ray, Toru Simoi, Riggie Togubai and Bernard Purari. Of the five new players, only John Ray and Bernard Purari already played in the current season of PNG National Soccer League: Ray represented Morobe United, while Purari played for Vitiaz United previously in the season.
Star Mountain will have a huge challenge ahead when they take on Hekari United at PNG Football Stadium this Saturday (14/03) – the first match for their new coach Mataio and the new signings.
The international friendly of New Caledonia vs. Estonia that was previously scheduled for the end of March was cancelled. The current Coronavirus outbreak was once again the reason for the action; recently, the Estonian government – where the match was going to be played – decreed state of emergency due the COVID-19.
Estonia and New Caledonia met in 2017 in Nouméa – OFC Media
The Cagous were also going to play another friendly against a local selection, but these amazing possibilities of exposure will not go ahead due the health concerns.
Oceania Football Center 