Football is slowly returning to normality in Oceania; New Zealand, one of the countries that has responded best to the COVID 19 pandemic, has already allowed teams to start training with some restrictions. After speculation, New Zealand football – in agreement with the New Zealand government – announced that the winter football league could start next month, June.
The Central League, that counts on clubs from central and southern parts of North Islands in New Zealand, is set to start in the weekend of June 13-14th. One week later all other Capital Football leagues will also kick-off – Central League is the most important league organised by Capital Football.
Napier City Rovers are the currently winners of Chatham Cup
The Lotto NRFL football leagues could start on 20 June, but confirmation from the organisation of the leagues is still awaited. The NRFL competitions are played by clubs from Auckland and region.
The ISPS Handa Premiership, New Zealand’s premier league, had to end three weeks ahead of schedule due to a COVID 19 pandemic that forced the New Zealand government to adopt a restrictive policy of self-isolation.
In the past few months Fiji faced two big problems simultaneously: COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold. The worst is gone and they are now ready to come back to normality. However there is a specific class that is suffering a lot during this period: football players.
According to Fiji Football Association (FFA) official media, more than 400 people linked to local football – including players and officials – applied for assistance. “We have analysed the applications. There are some extreme cases whereby football seemed to be the only form of income earned while there are many other moderate cases,” said Rajesh Patel, current FFA’s president.
Footballers ask for assistance in Fiji. Source: Fiji FA Media
Fiji FA successfully applied for OFC Solidarity Fund. The OFC Solidarity Fund was created to support the football community in Oceania during the COVID-19 pandemic – “I believe Fiji FA has a duty and responsibility to reach out and assist the needs of the football family who are affected by the current health crisis and by Tropical Cyclone Harold that recently had a major impact in Fiji,” stated Patel.
The current Vodafone Premier League’s season is going to resume in July. You can check the league standings by clicking here.
One of the good surprises of the season in Papua New Guinea’s top league, the Madang-based Tusbab Stallions, are slowly returning to normality after the forced suspension of competition in the country due to COVID-19 concerns. After much speculation, the national league is expected to return to action this July, giving clubs a month to prepare for the season’s remaining matches.
The team, led by coach Rachel Wadunah, expects to continue their good run – they are currently ranked 4th in the PNG National Soccer League standings. According to the team’s management, no new players will be added to the squad for the remaining matches of the season, and the players were already called back for training in the last week.
Tusbab Stallions squad before match against Hekari United – PNGFA Media
Although they have lost good central defender Nigel Malagian to FC Lae City, the Stallions can count on players such as Stahl Gubag, the young striker who is currently the season’s top scorer, and Ricky Wadunah in midfield, a highly-rated youth player who already represented Papua New Guinea at youth level.
According to the team’s management, the club expects to arrange a friendly match with Lae City to prepare the team for league games that are about to restart for the only Madang-based side in the 2019/20 PNG National Soccer League season.
Spanish LaLiga is one of the biggest national football leagues in the world. But their success is not only inside the pitch as LaLiga is also a very strong brand outside the pitch. They run lots of offices and projects around the world in that help the development of the sport worldwide. One of these projects is based on a partnership with Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF).
The partnership between LaLiga and began in June 2016 and since then the Spanish side has been helping the Pacific Islands’ country to develop its football – specially at youth levels. The first act of this partnership was promoted by Fernando Sanz – LaLiga’s MENA office manager and director of international projects – with the objective of selecting a national team coach and preparing the U20 team for 2016 OFC U20 Championship held in Vanuatu.
Pedro Mateo travelled to Oceania with the mission to take charge of the team by LaLiga’s Sporting Projects. He holds a degree in Sports Science and led the U20 team for a month before the 2016 OFC U20 Championship. During this period they played friendlies against some local teams, the full Solomon Islands National Team and some clubs from Australia who viseited the country – “This project marks the first step towards future collaboration between the two countries. Very strong links have been established, and not solely on the sporting side of thing,” said Mateo after returning from his stint in Oceania.
Mateo (circled) with Solomon Islands youth team in 2016. Source: LaLiga Media
This project is part of LaLiga’s internationalisation strategy, takes its place alongside the other programmes that the organisation is currently working on with various leagues and federations across the world, which relate not only to on-field issues, but also to aspects of security, the fight against piracy and violence, and best practice on governance, transparency, marketing and management (Source: LaLiga.com)
The second big act came in the upcoming year when Felipe Vega-Arango was appointed as Solomon Islands Football Federation’s Technical Director – “I sent my curriculum to LaLiga because they have collaboration agreements with various federations around the world… There the possibility arose of becoming the Technical Director of Solomon Islands Football Federation and I did not think twice about taking the charge,” he told to Spanish newspaper Marca.
Vega-Arango arrived in Solomon Islands in March 2017 to be the SIFF’s Technical Director. However after six weeks he also became the National Team’s head coach – “I had to ask the OFC and FIFA for special permission because the technical directors could not be coaches,” he explained.
Vega-Arango became Solomon Islands National Team’s head coach
He led the Bonitos in eleven matches, including the two clashes against New Zealand in the OFC 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. LaLiga paid his salaries and flight tickets during his 15-month stint in Oceania while SIFF met his housing allowance.
Now that this partnership is about to complete its fourth birthday it is possible to check their effectiveness on Solomon Islands’ development. In 2018 the Young Bonitos booked a spot in the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup – the Solomon Islands’ first ever appearance in a 11-a-side FIFA World Cup – after reaching the 2018 OFC U16 Championship final against New Zealand.
It is very important for Oceanian nations to establish contact with bigger countries in order to go through the next level in the sport.
Unlike some countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea, football leagues in Vanuatu still do not have a scheduled date to resume. Despite being cleared to resume since last month, football activities have not resumed yet.
The current situation of the sport in the country begins to annoy the clubs. Ifira Black Bird recently asked for Port Vila Football Association (PVFA) an Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) to state their position about resuming the leagues.
Ifira’s complaining is endorsed by financial reasons. Despite not being a professional club, the players are paid so it is being hard to help them as football does not resume. Ifira Black Bird is the current leader of 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League season. You can check the current standings by clicking here.
Vanuatu has always produced very talented players throughout its footballing history; players such as Richard Iwai, Moise Poida and Etienne Mermer have helped Vanuatu achieve various successes in the past – as their win against New Zealand at 2004 OFC Nations Cup. The three former players mentioned above are still active in football today, but in the coaching field. Iwai recently coached Yatel FC, Poida coached various teams in Vanuatu and is currently associated with ABM Galaxy FC, and Etienne Mermer coached Vanuatu’s U23 side in past OFC U23 Olympic qualifiers and is one of the favourites to take on the senior national team still vacant head coach role.
The past generation has now left room for new players to continue carrying the Vanuatu flag in football competitions. The current captain of the national team, Brian Kaltak, is showing the potential of Vanuatu football in Oceania’s most successful club: Auckland City. The central defender has already represented clubs such as Lautoka of Fiji and Hekari United of Papua New Guinea, but his best time is currently spent defending the colours of Auckland City FC in New Zealand.
After so much success, Kaltak seems ready to follow in the footsteps of another successful islanders in international football, such as Roy Krishna and Micah Lea’alafa, who have played professional football in other confederations; the strong central defender of Vanuatu deserves a chance to demonstrate his skills on a fully professional level.
According to reliable sources, the Ni-Vanuatu international received a number of offers from clubs outside Oceania before the start of the 2019/20 season, but for unknown reasons Kaltak decided to stay in New Zealand – something that proves the player has what it takes to advance to the next level of football.
Only time will tell how the still young central defender’s career will unfold, but it is safe to say that the player is among the best in his current position at OFC level and the scouts around the region are already assessing the skills of Vanuatu’s captain.
Cook Islands football continues to strive for development in football; counting on various players currently based in New Zealand – such as Harlem Simiona and Ishaq Nazeem who repersent the men’s national team – the 17,000 people self-governing island country hopes for better results in the sport. The Cook Islands are well known because of their fantastic tourist attractions and their good performances in rugby sevens tournaments, but their success in OFC-level football could be bigger if they could rely on a well-known attacker who has already represented the country at U-17 level, but he still needs to be covered by the senior national team. His name is Maro Bonsu-Maro.
Maro has played for clubs in the Cook Islands, where his mother comes from, including Puiakura and Tupapa Maraerenga in previous editions of the OFC Champions League. Maro’s father is from Ghana, but he grew up in New Zealand and it gives him the possibility to represent three national teams: Cook Islands, Ghana and New Zealand. Most recently, the striker also played in the OFC Champions League, but in a far more famous side: Auckland City. In the 2019 edition of the regional tournament, Maro met his former club Tupapa Maraerenga and helped his side to in a massive 15-0 win in by scoring four goals coming from the bench.
Maro Bonsu-Maro representing Auckland City – ACFC Media
Maro is a product of Auckland City’s Youth Academy, but he also played for other New Zealand clubs such as Central United. The reigning New Zealand champions currently compete for their tenth continental title as they qualified for the knockout stage of 2020 OFC Champions League.
Bonsu-Maro already represented the Cook Islands on an international level, as mentioned above. It was at the OFC U17 Championship in 2013 that the striker scored two goals for his side and helped the Cook Islands advance from the first qualifying round to the group stage. Although Maro’s only international experience has been representing the Cook Islands, the player is not cap-tied to the green-white team – in return he must be capped for the senior side at an official tournament.
Since Ghana seems to be an unrealistic goal for Maro, he may only have New Zealand and the Cook Islands to choose from, but whether he will represent either side is still uncertain. Recently, the player showed some doubts about his availability for the Cook Islands – ready to wait for a possible All Whites call-up. He is just 23 and he must wait a little more to analyse his career and then decide which side he is going to represent at senior level.
Despite all uncertainties, it is obvious that Maro’s inclusion in the Cook Islands squad would rise the national team’s expectations for the upcoming challenges, and the national football association – CIFA – has an important role to play at this stage on convincing him to represent the islander team.
Solomon Islands rising star Charles Mani is a hard worker. It has been one year since the 18-year-old forward move to New Zealand to pursue his dream to become a successful footballer. He was recently approved to join Hibiscus Coast AFC from NRFL2 Division after impressing the coaching staff during his trial period.
He did not have the opportunity to make his official debut for his new club due to the COVID-19 pandemic that postponed winter football season’s beginning in New Zealand. However he stayed focused during this period to get better and better to fight for his space at his new club – “Practice makes perfect. Anyway because of the lockdown the training of the club and school squad still locked up so I decided to do my own training […] when I do my own training the contact with the ball is bit better,” he said.
Charles also studies at Long Bay College so the young forward has a hard routine. He needs to train with two different teams – the school’s team and Hibiscus Coast. While the football activities are currently suspended in the school, he is already back to training with his new club once Hibiscus’ activities resumed last week – “The club training has started […] Keeping my own training helped me to stay fit and prepare for the winter league,” pointed Mani – “I want to do what I love the most. I keep doing my own and having fun with football, because that is what I love the most,” he added.
He was part of the Solomon Islands youth team that made history by representing Oceania in the FIFA U17 World Cup held in Brazil last year. Charlie is proving his quality day in day out and the combinig talent with hard working will surely help him in his chase to become a professional footballer.
While many countries are slowly resuming their football activities and scheduling dates to resume the local leagues, the situation in Vanuatu remains unknown. The country needs to deal with the COVID-19 threat as they are trying to recover from Tropical Cyclone Harold that devastated some islands.
However it is not a problem for football players from Port Vila keep their training routine to stay fit. One of these dedicated players that are working hard during this “forced offseason” is Erakor Golden Star’s captain Jackson Tasso. The 26-year-old midfielder is following a strict routine of exercises as he waits for the return of 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League season.
Training on sand is a trend for footballers. Beach training is considered ideal for developing not only strength but also proprioception, that is, being aware of the space your body occupies. It also increases metabolic demand of training and reduces muscle soreness.
Erakor Golden Star is currently in the fourth position in the 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League six points behind league leaders Ifira Black Bird. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
The wait is close to come to an end in Fiji. The Vodafone Premier League is currently scheduled to resume in July. Fiji Football Association (FFA) is still waiting for government’s advisory but it is expected that local schools will open up on June 15 which means that all activities must be allowed to resume from this day on.
FFA has amended the Vodafone Premier League’s calendar to get along the date mentioned above. If there is no surprising scenarios with the COVID-19 pandemic, the next league’s match must take place in July as the national league’s sixth matchweek must begin on July 18.
The 6th matchweek is scheduled to begin on July 18
However the first clash must kick-off before July 18. Current league champions Ba FC have their matches postponed before the COVID-19 pandemic in order to extend their preparation for 2020 OFC Champions League. They played only one match in the current Vodafone Premier League season and they must play all their late matches before July 18.
The Men in Black will face Lautoka, Suva, Nadi and Navua before the sixth matchweek’s beginning. You can check the current standings by clicking here.
