Good news for Lautoka fans! After losing team captain’s Poasa Bainivalu who left the team to play in New Zealand and Shazil Ali due to a broken leg, it was confirmed that Vanuatu international Alex Saniel will remain in the team until the end of the current season.
According to reliable sources, two teams from Australia and some others from New Zealand showed interest on signing with Saniel after 2020 OFC Champions League but COVID-19 pandemics prevented him to join a new club as the borders are currently closed.
Saniel was approached by some clubs from Australia and New Zealand
Saniel joined Lautoka in the beginning of the year after helping the Bluez to clinch 2019 Pacifc Cup title in New Zealand. He played six matches and scored three goals so far in the season. You can check some highlights of the 23-year-old forward by clicking here.
Oceania Football Confederaton (OFC) is the only continental confederation where football is not professional and it needs to change in order to develop the sport in the region. There is a big gap between other confederations and OFC and making football a professional sport in Oceania will surely help to reduce this gap.
Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) and OFC president Lambert Maltock revealed in an exclusive interview with Oceania Football Center that one of his plans for Vanuatu is a feasibility to set a task for initiating professional football platform in the country along with OFC in 2021 which means – at least in theory – that the march towards professionalism has started and they want it to happen in the whole OFC region.
According to abc.net, Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) president John Kapi Natto says plans to turn football a professional sport at the highest level in the country are on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clubs from Oceania are slowly marching towards professionalism – OFC Media
Fiji Football Association (FFA) chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf revealed that the first professional men’s football league is likely to kick-off in 2021 – “We are getting help from experts running the A-League (Australia’s highest level of professional football league) and also FIFA is backing us on this,” he said.
There are not reliable sources about this process in some nations like Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Tahiti. The Telekom S-League – the national football league from Solomon Islands – still struggle to have a better league due to lack of facilities while New Caledonia and Tahiti have better structured leagues as they are French territories and have the help of French Football Federation, but local clubs face the same difficulties that the other nations in Oceania.
Some other nations are still far away from this reality like American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga, but these nations are probably going to have a strong help from the confederation in order to strengthen their local leagues.
Having professional clubs is something really important to increase the level of the sport as football players will finally be able to focus on the sport without the necessity of having another job like the seasonal workers – but it is not enough: It is necessary to improve local facilities and provide good conditions for players’ development.
It is also important to understand that technology, science and football are walking together in the 21st century. Most countries in Oceania are still struggling to understand the importance of getting rid of old and wrong habits that prevent them to improve.
Oceania has a long way to go when it comes to football as they are some steps behind the rest of the world. Now it is time to keep up with their projects and check if professionalism will finally become a reality in OFC.
In the South Pacific region, football is a highly valued sport; the countries fight hard to develop their games to achieve results to make their people proud. We see a lot of talent in the region, coming from all the islands. Vanuatu is one of those nations that have already produced top-class players for Oceania football – their base seems to continue to function very well.
Claude Aru, a 23-year-old midfielder, player of the national champions of Vanuatu, Malampa Revivors, is not an unknown talent. The player took part in his country’s first FIFA tournament at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea; the playmaker even had an assist in the remarkable match against Germany, in which Vanuatu lost 3-2 and demanded a lot of fight from the European powerhouse to end up with a narrow win.
Claude Aru – OFC Media
The talented midfielder has already represented Malampa Revivors in the OFC Champions League and in this edition of the competition he helped his side qualify for the knockout phase of the regional tournament for the first time ever. Aru also helped Vanuatu to reach third place in the last edition of the OFC U23 Olympic Qualifiers, where they lost to Solomon Islands in the semi-finals. In this qualifying tournament, Vanuatu impressed with the quality of their football, even though they failed to reach the grand final.
Aru has played only one game for the senior national team – in the 10-0 win over Tuvalu in the 2017 Mini Pacific Games. The midfielder is a key factor in the success of the Malampa Revivors and played a major role in his country’s U23 national team in 2019.
Before joining the Malampa Revivors, Aru also played for the traditional Shepherds United in Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila. A player known for his passing accuracy and good ball distribution, Aru certainly has the talent to get a contract abroad and represent his country at the highest level. The still 23-year-old midfielder is a modern player – he can play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder or even as an attacking midfielder – his good line-up, vision of the game and passing allows him to create many scoring opportunities; definitely a player who can defend, pass and attack.
Despite all his successes in the local and national leagues and more recently in the OFC Champions League and for Vanuatu’s U23 side, Aru is not constantly called-up for the national team and does not appear to be a key player for Vanuatu’s football ambitions at the moment. Certainly, Aru is a player who is willing to play an important role, play at the highest level for his country and achieve even greater success in his career – a real talent that has what it takes to break through.
After a lot of speculation around the major tournaments of Fiji football season, the Fijian Football Association informed the dates when the three traditional competitions will take place. According to local sources, the Inter-Disctrict Championship will be played from 6th to 11th October at the ANZ Stadium in Suva; the group matches of the Battle of Giants will be played from 7th to 9th August at Churchill Park in Lautoka while the Fiji FACT will be played from 25th to 29th November at Subrail Park, Labasa.
Match between Ba and Lautoka – FFA Media
It was also revelead it was expected the IDC to played at Govind Park, but it is now confirmed the stadium that is currently underdoing repairs after being hit by a natural disaster few years ago will not be fully ready to host the tournament.
Roy Krishna is back to training. The 32-year-old forward is currently in his homeland Fiji as he waits for the next season of Indian Super League.
He resumed training on this Wednesday as football activities were cleared to reusme in Fiji – “I am back here. Training sessions has started for me since restrictions have eased a little,” he said on social media.
It was already reported that Krishna is going to play one more season for ATK in the Indian Super League and now the Fijian legend is back to action in order to get ready for the upcoming challenges. He scored 15 goals in 21 games in the last Indian Super League season.
It is already known that 29-year-old forward Micah Lea’alafa is back to Solomon Islands after leaving Maritzburg United from South Africa. He is currently a free agent and there is speculation about the next step of his career as a footballer.
The Solomon Islands international played only eleven matches in the 2019-20 ABSA Premiership – the top-tier of South African football – as knee injuries prevented him to have more game time there. According to reliable sources, Maritzburg United head coach Eric Tinkler was interested on keeping Lea’alafa in the squad but these injuries made it impossible and led the team to release him.
Lea’alafa left Maritzburg United in January
Recovered from injury, Micah was approached by some clubs to play 2020 winter football season in New Zealand but he could not go due to COVID-19 pandemics as borders are closed in New Zealand. It was also informed that current Telekom S-League champions Solomon Warriors contacted him but they did not receive a positive reply.
Oceania Football Center published an article a couple of weeks ago pointing some possibilities for his career and playing the next Telekom S-League season was one of the possibilities but it seems that it is not going to happen.
Auckland City is another club that is interested on Micah. He played there from 2015 to 2019 and he helped the Navy Blues to win the OFC Champions League twice. A return to Auckland is a real and good option that must be highly rated by him.
A return to Auckland City must be considered by Micah if he has the opportunity to rejoin the club. Source: Auckland City FC Media
There is another possibility that should not be forgotten: the 29-year-old forward could return to a professional league. According to reliable sources, Western United showed interest on signing with Micah for 2019-20 A-League season and they could be still keen on having him for next season.
Lea’alafa was called to Solomon Islands National Team camp in March but he did not attend the training sessions. It is not known if he missed it due to injury or personal reasons but it was reported that he turned his focus to futsal as his country qualified to 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup that will be held in Lithuania.
Micah still has lots of options but it is time to take the right decisions. A wrong step can blow his chances to play professionally again.
Football in Australia is developing very well since they joined Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The National Team played the last four World Cups and won 2015 AFC Asian Cup after beating South Korea in the final.
Australia and South Korea are specially connected to a young and talented footballer with Fijian heritage: Mustafa Mohammed. The 15-year-old player was born in Australia and currently plays for Brisbane Roar Academy – one of the best football academies in the country.
Mustafa’s relationship with football came from the cradle. His father Ifraz Mohammed represented Fiji U-17 National Team in the 90s before moving overseas in 1998. Despite being so young he is highly rated to represent Australia National Team at youth level as he recently had the opportunity to be with U-17 National Team head coach Trevor Morgan – “He will fight his heart out to represent Australia because he was born here,” said Ifraz.
Mustafa Mohammed is working hard to represent Australia
The young player dreams about representing Australia but he does not discard the possibility of representing his father’s country.If he does not have the opportunity to represent Australia internationally then he will think about representing Fiji.
Mustafa has already signed with an agency that will manage his career. Football Connection Agency is based in South Korea but it also has connections with Australia as well. The doors of professional football are open to him and it would not be a surprise if we watch him on TV playing Hyundai A-League or Korean K-League in a few years.
Football is very close to resume officially in Vanuatu as 2020 PVFA Independence Cup is set to kick-off in the first week of July at Port Vila Stadium.
The eight teams from 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League were split in two groups of four teams each and you can check the complete draw by clicking here.
PVFA Independence Cup is ready to begin
The opening match is currently scheduled to be contested between Galaxy and Sia-Raga on July 3. Oceania Football Center wishes good luck to all teams!
The reigning national champions of Papua New Guinea have recently been involved in a series of incidents that have drastically changed the team’s structure and history: Lae City achieved success through the leadership of head coach Peter Gunemba, who counted on players such as Nigel Dabinyaba, Ronald Warisan and Raymond Gunemba – Lae City won the last five editions of the PNG National Soccer League.
However, after a bad campaign in the 2020 OFC Champions League, Lae City chairman Ian Chow decided to sack coach Gunemba and replace him with Bob Morris. The move enraged fans and players alike, with a number of players leaving the team, including their stars Dabinyaba and Raymond Gunemba. Of the victorious Lae City team, only a few players remained in the squad, the most famous of them being Papua New Guinea internationals Emmanuel Simon and Jacob Sabua.
In order to strengthen the squad after this turbulence, Chow brought a number of players into the club, the most famous of whom are defenders Alwin Komolong and Felix Komolong, both with national team experience. The Komolongs have played football in the United States college system; Alwin played in the German professional football league and Felix Komolong has played in New Zealand’s top league and also in Lae City’s rival Hekari United. The other top-signings of Lae City for the remaining of the season are also part of the defensive system: the goalkeeper Charles Lepani and the defender Nigel Malagian – and the Papua New Guinean international Philip Steven is also in the squad since the start of the season, another central defender.
Emmanuel Airem (left), Nigel Malagian (center) and Joshua Oscar (right); all part of the defensive system of Lae City
With Simon, Sabua and the team’s only two foreign players, Ecuadorians Gustine Icaza and Abdias Aguirre, in midfield, the only problem for Lae City seems to be in attack. With Gunemba and Dabinyaba having left the club, there are few options for new head coach Bob Morris in attacking positions. The best of these options at the moment seems to be the young Albert Morgan Jr., who has already scored three goals in the current PNG National Soccer League season; another recent signing from Lae may also come in handy at this time – Alu Awi has also scored for the reigning national champions this season.
If any team wants to score goals in Lae City, it will not be easy because of the quality the club has brought to its defensive system. Although the quality in the back and in the middle of the park is not a problem, Lae can only rely on very young players in attack, who are still far from the level Dabinyaba and Gunemba had in their golden age for the club they just left.
Felix and Alwin Komolong
Lae City will expect to continue their winning streak of national titles when the PNG National Soccer League returns to action this August after the break due COVID-19 pandemic. The club currently is the 2nd in the ladder of the national league sitting behind the surprising Vitiaz United.
Football has been played around the world for around a century; the game is changing and evolving from generation to generation, and new characteristics are being introduced by new players, coaches and all those involved in the creation of the sport. It is a must to always prepare the younger generations to perform more and better than previous generations so that football can continue to develop and create a good environment to achieve the expected results.
One of Oceania’s most promising young players, Raphael Le’ai, is already a reality for his club Henderson Eels, having already scored two goals in his club campaign in the current edition of the OFC Champions League. Le’ai was the top scorer of the Telekom S-League season in his country and has already played in tournaments on the world stage and received international recognition. The still 16-year-old was recently called up for a first training session with the Solomon Islands national team and had the most famous player in Solomon Islands football at the time, Micah Lea’alafa, at his side.
Le’ai meets Lea’alafa
Lea’alafa, a dual national team player, has represented Solomon Islands at three FIFA Futsal World Cups and also won the OFC Champions League, playing an important role for New Zealand giants Auckland City. Recently, the 29-year-old striker had a short stint with South Africa’s top club Maritzburg United.
The meeting between Lea’alafa and Le’ai means a lot; two important generations for Solomon Islands’ sport. Lea’alafa was in the first ever FIFA Futsal World Cup played by the Kurukuru in 2008, Le’ai was the star-player of Solomon Islands in their first ever FIFA football tournament in 2019 – the U17 World Cup in Brazil. The fans just can not wait to see both players playing together in the pitch – the development process has to keep going on.
