Uncertainty still hangs over Fijian football as there is no scheduled date to resume the national football leagues. However it does not mean that everything is stopped outside the pitch – the local teams can look for new players to strenghten their squads.
According to reliable sources, Rewa got his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) right before the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, so the Brazilian forward might be joining the Fijian side when football actitivies are cleared to resume.
Matheus has some European experience in his curriculum – he has already played in Moldavia and Romania. He has also played for Brazilian clubs at regional level.
While some countries are still facing strict restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, other countries are resuming their activities. However both situations converge at a common point: We miss football.
Most football players are trying to stay fit during the pandemic so they could be ready to play as soon as possible and it is not different in Papua New Guinea that the 2019-20 National Soccer League season must resume in July. Players and staff are excited to return to the pitch and work hard as a team, but a legendary footballer is more than ready for the battle: David Muta.
The legendary player from Hekari United kept himself active during this “forced offseason”. Now that the restrictions are getting loose in Papua New Guinea he is finally able to come back to the pitch and train on the sacred ground of footballers –“I feel an endless need to learn and improve. To evolve not only to please the coach or the fans, but also to feel satisfied with myself,” he expressed on social media – “There is no limit to learn […] no matter what our age,” he added.
Despite being 32 years old, he is still a key player for Hekari United and he needs to work the extra mile alongside his teammates and coaching staff to win the National Soccer League. Hekari is currently in the third position with 23 points, two points behind current leaders Vitiaz United. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
Seiloni Iaruel is one of the most important footballers from Vanuatu. Currently playing for Galaxy FC, the 24-year-old goalkeeper started to show his talent when he represented his country in the 2011 OFC U17 Championship when he was just 15.
His incredible quality for a goalkeeper from a Pacific Island’s country really impressed and he made his debut for the National Football Team at senior level when he was just 17. He was called-up to represent his country at the 2012 OFC Nations Cup held in Solomon Islands. Iaruel played only one match in the tournament – the 5-0 win against Samoa.
While he was making his debut for the National Team, an European club was already watching him closely. Earlier this year Iaruel was part of Vanuatu U23 squad that played the OFC Olympic Qualifier held in New Zealand. The Ni-Van side spent a while in Australia training and playing some friendly matches before departing to New Zealand. The goalkeeper had great performances in these matches which put him on the radar “The last friendly match in Australia, I only played the first half and had to leave with Stoke City representative to go to another stadium for a test,” he said in a talk show back in 2012.
Iaruel called the attention of Stoke City from England
Andrew Parkes was the one who discovered Iaruel for European football. The Stoke City’s agent in Australia also expressed his optimism about taking the Ni-Vanuatu goalkeeper for a trial in England – “I am personally very excited for him and do hope he makes us all very proud,” he told to Vanuatu Football Federation’s media.
Iaruel left his country on August 2. After flying to Australia and Singapore, he finally arrived in Europe to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He was received there by Stoke City FC Academy Recruitment Manager Kevin Scott and David Jarvies – “We are very happy to have a player from the Pacific Islands […] He can play in Europe if he do well in his trial with our goalkeeper coach,” said Scott.
Iaruel arrived in England in August 2012 for trials.
He had the opportunity to train and play with the U18 squad of Stoke City. His first challenge was a friendly match against Brentford Youth Team. The Ni-Van goalkeeper had a good performance and helped his side to win by 4-1 – “I enjoyed my first game with Stoke and I think I made some good saves […] I am so glad to be here on trial, it’s a great club and the staff, coaches, volunteers and fans are great. They have made me feel at home even though I am far away from Vanuatu,” he said after the match.
Iaruel really impressed in this match and he was offered an extension to his trial period which meant that he remained in the English club for one more month – “We are happy to have a Pacific Island boy with us and if he works hard enough we will decide if we can sign him,” revealed Kevin Scott.
Iaruel playing against Brentford
Unfortunately Iaruel did not have the opportunity to sign a contract with the English club and he returned to his country. However he surely became a better player after his stint in England as he had the opportunity to have access to good facilities and good staff – “He did really well. He was great size and very athletic goalkeeper […] A player with great attitude and very hard working,” said Kevin Scott to Oceania Football Center. Scott left Stoke City a couple of years ago. He currently works as an independent fit all consultant with clubs from the whole world.
Since then, Iaruel stayed in Vanuatu representing local clubs. He played for Tafea and Amicale and now he is the starting goalkeeper of Galaxy. Despite playing at his homeland, he keeps the good level as one of the top keepers from his country. His last official appearence was a couple of months ago in the 2020 OFC Champions League before the football activities in Oceania have been suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Iaruel was Galaxy’s captain in 2020 OFC Champions League
Iaruel stayed away from the Vanuatu national team from 2016 to 2019. Last year he was called up for a friendly match against Solomon Islands in March. However, he must be included in the upcoming call-up if he keeps his level when football resumes.
Ten years ago, one of the most important moments in oceanic football took place when Papua New Guinea was brought to the top of Oceania by Hekari United. The Port Moresby-based side became the first non-Australian or New Zealander side ever to win the OFC Champions League trophy. Led by Jerry Allen, the team counted on the likes of Henry Fa’arodo, David Muta and Koriak Upaiga on their way to the final.
Earlier in the month, on 2 May to be precise, Hekari United celebrated ten years of their greatest memory, when they lost 2-1 away from home to New Zealand champions Waitakere United, a result that benefited the Papua New Guinea side who had won the first leg in Port Moresby 3-0. Star striker Kema Jack was crucial for Hekari United in both of these matches – Jack scored three of Hekari’s four goals in the finals.
The star Kema Jack – FIFA
While Group A of the 2009/10 OFC Champions League featured two New Zealand representatives – Auckland City and Waitakere United – plus Tahiti’s Manu-Ura and New Caledonia’s AS Magenta, Hekari did not have to play against a New Zealand side to qualify for the finals. The Port Moresby-side had Lautoka’s Fijian side, Ni-Vanuatu champions Tafea and Solomon Islands’ Marist FC in their group. The groups were played in a round robin system with home and away matches – a total of six matches for each team were played to determine the champions of each group.
Both finalists had to fight hard to qualify for the final: Waitakere United had the same number of points of Auckland City int standings, but the red-and-white team came out on top in the goal difference – +9 against +8 from Auckland City. Hekari led the group by just one point over Lautoka, the Papua New Guineans had won four games, drawn once and lost only one – the Fijians were the only team to beat Hekari in the group stage.
David Muta, Kema Jack, Henry Fa’arodo and Tumaisi Manuca celebrate after scoring in the finals – FIFA
After securing a historic title, Hekari travelled to the United Arab Emirates to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup. Although they lost in the play-off match against local champions Al-Wahda, Hekari made Papua New Guinea and Oceania proud of their efforts to represent their region in the world stage tournament.
The current year 2020 also marks the return of Hekari United after a four-year break in the OFC Champions League. The club finished as runners-up in the PNG National Soccer League in 2019 and earned a place in the regional tournament. Unfortunately, Hekari United were unable to advance to the knockout rounds even at home in the year that marks the tenth anniversary of the club’s most important title. The team, which was grouped with Eastern Suburbs of New Zealand, Hienghène Sport of New Caledonia and ABM Galaxy of Vanuatu, finished third in the group to complete their return to the competition.
Hekari United remained the only team from neither Australia nor New Zealand to win the competition until Hienghène Sport, one of Hekari’s opponents in the 2020 OFC Champions League, won the 2019 edition of the regional competition.
Oceania’s most successful national futsal team does not have a sports arena to call home. The Kurukuru, as the Solomon Islands’ national futsal team is known, enjoyed the region’s greatest fame after defeating New Zealand in the grand final of last year’s OFC Futsal Nations Cup. Success in the regional competition qualified Solomon Islands for their fourth consecutive FIFA Futsal World Cup – which, following the postponement, will now be held in 2021 in Lithuania.
The latest futsal tournament in Solomon Islands, the 2020 SIPA Futsal Championship, ended in March this year with Marist FC as champions after beating KF Gold in the grand final. The competition was held in Honiara’s Multi-Purpose Hall, a venue that does not match the quality of the players who took part in the competition – players like Elliot Ragomo, who has experience of playing futsal in Brazil, and the well-known George Stevenson certainly deserve better facilities.
Extended highligts of the grand final match between Marist and KF Gold – SIPA Futsal League
Several key Solomon Islands players have already complained about the situation on the country’s courts; a national team taking part in a FIFA Futsal World Cup for the fourth time really needs a better environment to develop talent and continue the legacy of the golden generation led by players like Jack Wetney, Micah Lea’alafa and Elliot Ragomo.
In 2017, “The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, pledged to build a proper facility for futsal development last year, as part of the country’s preparations to host the Pacific Games in 2023. The Solomon Islands Football Federation signed a contract in October with the government and FIFA to build the stadium in Honiara“, as told by RNZ. The article also mentioned that construction would begin at the end of 2017 – something that Solomon Islanders are still waiting for.
As mentioned above, Honiara will host the Pacific Games in 2023, which will force the Solomon Islands government to improve the country’s sports facilities to meet the criteria for hosting the Games.
The Honiara’s Multi-Purpose Hall – SIPA Futsal League
In 2016, former Kurukuru head coach Juliano Schmeling said that “Solomon Islands futsal coach Juliano Schmeling says it’s a “miracle” the country will finally get a proper facility to develop the sport in the country. FIFA has pledged financial support for the construction of a new Futsal court in Panatina in Honiara” as told by RNZ.
The Solomon Islands futsal community is urging officials to provide appropriate facilities for the development of the game in the country. Solomon Islands were severely challenged by New Zealand in the last OFC Futsal Nations Cup grand final – they only beat the Futsal Whites on penalties – and their reign in the region could not go so far if they cannot maintain the level of recent years.
In the next chapters of this story we will learn how futsal will develop in Solomon Islands, but one thing we can already be sure of: in Solomon Islands, from shore to shore, there is plenty of talent to work for.
Questa è settimana molto speciale per gli appassionati di calcio di Vanuatu perché tre anni fa, per la prima volta nella storia dell’arcipelago oceaniano, una loro nazionale di calcio ha avuto l’occasione di affrontare il resto del mondo in una competizione ufficiale FIFA. Si tratta della Coppa del Mondo U-20 giocata in Corea del Sud e che ha visto trionfare l’Inghilterra. Nonostante i vanuatini abbiano perso tutte le partite, l’impegno che hanno dimostrato ha reso orgogliosi tutti i loro connazionali.
Vanuatu è riuscito a prenotare un posto per questa competizione dopo aver raggiunto la finale del Campionato OFC U20 del 2016. In quella squadra giocavano tra gli altri Bong Kalo, Godine Tenene, Ronaldo Wilkins e Jason Thomas. Però il giocatore che più si è messo in mostra è stato Frederick Massing, che ha segnato un gol al 94° minuto nella semifinale contro la Nuova Caledonia, che ha permesso alla squadra di raggiungere la finale contro la Nuova Zelanda. “Sono così felice di segnare il gol vincente per Vanuatu“, queste le parole di Massing rilasciate ai media dell’OFC dopo quella partita.
Il torneo oceaniano si è giocato a Vanuatu e questo ovviamente ha influito molto sulle prestazioni della nazionale di casa. Avere al proprio fianco i propri supporters non è mai cosa da poco. La finale non è andata bene, perché la Nuova Zelanda è stata implacabile, ma il secondo posto ha comunque concesso la possibilità a Vanuatu di toccare il cielo con un dito e di avere addosso gli occhi del mondo. Un’opportunità rarissima per loro.
I giocatori di Vanuatu festeggiano il raggiungimento della Coppa del Mondo U20 del 2017
La federazione calcistica di Vanuatu ha pensato di investire molti soldi in strutture e persone per preparare al meglio questo evento. Come allenatore è stato ingaggiago Dejan Gluščević, allenatore montenegrino che aveva già lavorato con le nazionali giovanili di Singapore. Questo gli ha permesso di far giocare la giovane nazionale vanuatina contro le rappresentative U23 e U20 della nazione asiatica: “Ci stiamo preparando alla Coppa del Mondo giocando tutte le partite di fila a Singapore. Qui saremo in grado di conoscere meglio i giocatori e di selezionare quelli che ritengo più idonei per affrontare questi mondiali “, queste le parole che aveva rilasciato prima di partire per Singapore.
Avere un allenatore straniero e un buon staff, composto anche da nutrizionisti e preparatori atletici di primo livello, è qualcosa che non si vede spesso in Oceania ma che garantirebbe un grande salto di qualità. La sua presenza e la sua esperienza hanno aiutato i giovani giocatori ad affrontare l’emozione e l’ansia di un Mondiale FIFA in modo del tutto differente. “Sono così felice di gicare contro le grandi squadre. Penso che la Germania sarà la più difficile da affrontare perché sono davvero bravi a giocare a calcio, ma sono pronto. Voglio godermi questa esperienza fino in fondo“, le parole di Ronaldo Wilkins in un’intervista poche settimane prima dell’inizio del mondiale.
A Vanuatu tutti aspettavano con ansia la prima partita contro il Messico. La nazione centroamericana ha messo subito in chiaro le cose segnando 2 goal nel primo tempo. Durante l’intervallo le parole di coach Gluščević hanno sorbito il loro effetto perché i ragazzi oceaniani sono entrati in campo con grande determinazione tanto da segnare 2 goal ed agguantare un miracoloso pareggio. I marcatori sono stati Bong Kalo e Ronaldo Wilkins.
Wilkins (sinistra) e Kalo (destra) celebrano un goal contro il Messico
Il sogno di guadagnare un punto al loro primo appuntamento mondiale sembrava realizzarsi più passava il tempo. Il Messico non aveva più le forze per controbattere e anzi la nazionale di Vanuatu è andata più volte vicina a segnare il 3 goal. Ma come spesso succede nel calcio le favole sono destinate a interrompersi bruscamente. Sugli sviluppi di un calcio d’angolo il difensore messicano Edson Álvarez ha segnato al 94° minuto e ha risvegliato tutto il popolo vanuatino dal proprio sogno. Tuttavia una sconfitta ottenuta in questo modo è stato motivo di orgoglio per la gente di Ni-Vanuatu: “So che loro (i tifosi) sono tutti molto orgogliosi di noi, per come abbiamo recuperato la partita dopo essere andati sotto 2-0. La gente ha guardato la partita a casa o insieme nei bar o nelle piazze sono e hanno festeggiato la sconfitta“, ha detto Bong Kalo dopo la partita.
Viste le premesse tutti speravano di poter vincere almeno una partita. Purtroppo la seconda partita contro il Venezuela ha smorzato le speranze dopo che la squadra sudamericana ha vinto ampiamente per 7-0. Dopo quella sconfitta si è presentato al campo Lambert Maltock, presidente della Federazione Calcio Vanuatu (VFF) e attuale presidente della Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC): “Sapevamo già che il football sudamericano è a un livello superiore al nostro. Riescono a modificare durante la partita le tattiche che avevano preparato e così hanno disorientato i nostri ragazzi. Adesso tutti sanno dove siamo sulla mappa del mondo“, ha spiegato.
Lambert Maltock è il presidente della VFF e della OFC
Il terzo e ultimo incontro della fase di gruppo era il più proibitivo di tutto. Vanuatu doveva confrontarsi con la Germania, una delle nazioni guida del calcio mondiale. La squadra del Ni-Vanuatu è riuscita a tenere testa ai suoi avversari nei primi minuti, poi la Germania ha preso il sopravvento e ha segnato 2 gol nel primo tempo e il 3° all’inizio del secondo. Si stava per materializzare un’altra pesante sconfitta, ma i giocatori oceaniani non si sono arresi.
Dopo un errore difensivo tedesco, l’attacco di Vanuatu ha recuperato il pallone , che è arrivato a Bong Kalo che l’ha depositato in fondo al sacco. Il goal ha decuplicato le forze dei giovani vanuatini che hanno avuto ancora il tempo di accorciare ulteriormente le distanze con un’altra rete di Kalo che ha segnato direttamente su calcio di punizione al 77′, portando il suo score complessivo nel torneo a 3 goal e fissando il risultato sul 3-2 per la Germania.
Vanuatu ha lasciato il torneo con tre sconfitte in tre partite, ma con la consapevolezza di aver disputato un torneo al di sopra delle aspettative. “Come capitano, dico sempre ai ragazzi prima di ogni partita che siamo lontani da casa e che dobbiamo portare qualcosa con noi“, ha spiegato Kalo. Potete controllare il video con tutti e quattro i gol segnati da Vanuatu nel torneo cliccando qui.
Celebrazione di uno dei goal di Bong Kalo contro la Germania
Questa esperienza li ha resi migliori come calciatori e come persone. Il coach Gluščević ha spiegato che le loro prestazioni hanno superato le aspettative – “Abbiamo fatto quello che siamo andati a fare lì […] Come loro allenatore, sono contento che i miei ragazzi abbiano superato questo test alla grande”, ha detto alla manifestazione di benvenuto post-torneo.
La rassegna mondiale è stato speciale soprattutto per Bong Kalo e Ronaldo Wilkins. Entrambi i hanno avuto l’opportunità di trovare un ingaggio all’estero.
Ronaldo Wilkins ha fatto uno stage di quindici giorni in Brasile con la squadra giovanile del São Paulo FC, una delle più grandi squadre di calcio del Sud America, conosciuta in tutto il mondo per il l’ottimo settore giovanile.
Bong Kalo è andato in Europa e ha firmato con l’FC Ascona, squadra svizzera che milita nella seconda divisione regionale. Ha giocato per tre mesi nel club svizzero e ha segnato un gol in otto partite ufficiali, poi, dopo aver fatto un provino in Spagna con il Leganes, è tornato in patria nel Nalkutan FC.
Ronaldo Wilkins (sinistra) durante il suo soggiorno in Brasile e Bong Kalo (destra) mentre firma il suo contratto con la FC Ascona
Molti dei giocatori di questa U-20 fanno ora parte della squadra nazionale senior e hanno la possibilità di rendere di nuovo orgogliosi tutti i loro connazionle. Siamo di fronte a una delle nazionali più forti della storia oceaniana. Dall’alto di una età media di 23 anni si apprestano a dominare la scena dei prossimi anni?
Nauti 1 has won the TNPF Champions League 2020, the first tier of Tuvaluan league system. Nauti 1 was the favorite at the beginning of the championship and kept the expectations by winning all the games and leaving only crumbs to his opponents. That is Nauti’s twelfth title in the league’s history.
Meanwhile, Tamanuku B was crowned as the the B-Division champion after a very hard-fought tournament against the third team of Nauti.
The final standings were not released yet. But once it is released you can check it in our website: A-Division, B-Division. Oceania Football Center congratulates all teams, specially the champions.
Football in New Zealand is slowly picking up speed again; after the ISPS Handa Premiership had to be ended three rounds earlier than planned due to the COVID 19 pandemics, the coming winter season in the country seems to be about to start.
The Hamilton Wanderers, the club of Papua New Guinea international Tommy Semmy, returned to training, but with a completely different style than before: “Yesterday was the first day of training. It was so great seeing my team mates and officials. It was new and fun: we are training in separate groups of nine“, said Semmy to Oceania Football Center.
Semmy in action for Hamilton Wanderers
“To be honest I did training a lot during the isolation. I was given strength and condition training by Wanderers coach Mauro Martins“, stated Semmy. The striker said it was good for him to have a break after so many efforts during the season: “I needeed a break since I am playing continuously, so it was great to have that break, but itsi been boring after 2 weeks“.
Semmy is unsure about how the game will be like after COVID-19, but we can certainly say he is eager to be back to the pitch and show what he is capable of: “All what I want is the season to get started. I can see boys are getting ready to training and play. I know we will have some different things when we are back, like no supporters in the stands, but I just can not wait to be back“, mentions Semmy. “I also would like thank family Cox for the good isolation period and the CJW Building Construction for the opportunity to work with them during this break“, added the Papua New Guinean.
Tommy is currently one of Papua New Guinea’s most celebrated players, finishing second in the Kapuls’ famous campaign for the 2016 edition of the OFC Nations Cup. The attacker also represented the national powerhouse Hekari United for several years before switching to the New Zealand football system.
Si è appena conclusa la conferenza stampa che la FTF ha tenuto presso il centro federale che si trova all’interno dello Stade Pater di Pirae. Tutti i membri del COMEX erano presenti. La conferenza è stata convocata per spiegare le ragioni che hanno portato alla sospensione di tutti i campionati, come abbiamo scritto qui.
Il presidente della FTF Thierry Ariiotima ha fatto una dichiarazione inaspettata: “Abbiamo convocato un incontro con i presidenti delle squadre della Ligue 1 Vini e della Ligue 2 per domani. Rispetto alla settimana scorsa le condizioni sanitarie sono cambiate. Il nostro presidente nazionale ha stabilito che tutte le attività sportive possono riprendere senza che ci sia rischio di una diffusione del virus. Perciò abbiamo deciso che tutti i campionati possono riprendere. Naturalmente questa decisione deve essere condivisa con i presidenti delle squadre, ma credo che non ci saranno problemi“.
Thierry Ariiotima, presidente della FTF e vice-presidente della OFC (fonte FTF)
Charles ARIIOTIMA, responsabile delle competizioni FTF, ha aggiunto che: “Le squadre avrebbero cinque settimane di tempo per allenarsi e che i concorsi dovrebbero iniziare il 1° luglio e terminare il 31 luglio”.
Come OFCe seguiremo l’evoluzione di questa notizia e già domani vi informeremo di quanto verrà deciso durante l’incontro tra la direzione della Confederazione e i presidenti dei club.
The press conference that FTF held at the federal centre of Pater Stadium in Pirae has just ended. All members of COMEC were present. The conference was called to explain the reasons that led to the suspension of all the championships, as we have wrote here.
FTF President Thierry Ariiotima made an unexpected statement: “We have called a meeting with the presidents of League 1 and League 2 teams for tomorrow. Since last week, the sanitary conditions have changed. Our national president has established that all sports activities can resume without risk of new infections. However, we have decided that all championships can resume. Of course, this decision must be shared with all presidents, but I believe there will be no problem.”
Thierry Ariiotima, president of FTF and vice-president of OFC (source FTF)
Charles ARIIOTIMA, director of FTF competitions, added a quote: “Teams would have five weeks to train and that competitions should start on July 1st and end on July 31st.”
As OFCe we will follow the development of this news and will inform you tomorrow of what has been decided at the meeting to be held between the federal management and the club presidents.
