James McGarry sees a return to Wellington Phoenix as a real possibility

James McGarry is back to New Zealand. The 22-year-old left back returned to his homeland after his contract with Willem II from Netherlands was terminated after spending two years in Europe.

McGarry arrived in Netherlands back in 2018 after being a regular starter in the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the ISPS Handa Premiership for four straight seasons. He did not have many opportunities to show his talent at Willem II’s senior squad.

He is not linked to any team at the moment, but he has already shown his interest on returning to Wellington Phoenix – “If I got another opportunity to go back to the Phoenix, absolutely I’d love to grab it with both hands and finish some unfinished business. If it comes up, the door’s definitely not closed on my end,” he stated in interview to NZ Herald.

James would be a huge addition for Wellington Phoenix. However he must find a hard opponent in the fight for the left back: Liberato Cacace. Cacace is one of the most promising players from Oceania and it seems that he will not stay in the Phoenix for so long, which turns McGarry into a very good option to replace him.

McGarry was part of the U20 National Team squad that played the 2017 U20 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea. He made his official debut for the New Zealand National Football Team at senior level last year in the 1-0 loss against Lithuania.

Henry Fa’arodo back to training in New Zealand

Football players are allowed to resume training in New Zealand in groups of a maximum of ten people. Hamilton Wanderers’ players have resumed training this week in order to start their preparation for the winter football season in the country.

Solomon Islands legend Henry Fa’arodo is one of these players that are back to the pitch this week – “Good to be back training in a team environment […] It still feels amazing to be back amongst it again,” he pointed in social media. Some other players like Kohei Matsumoto and Brad Whitworth were also in this training session.

Despite the players are slowly returning into training, there is no scheduled date for the beginning of the New Zealand’s winter football season.

Fa’arodo returned to New Zealand some months ago after coaching Solomon Warriors in the 2019-20 Telekom S-League. He made his debut for Hamilton Wanderers in the 3-3 draw against Tasman United in the 18th matchweek of the 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season, the main football league in the country.

Max Mata promoted to Grasshopper’s first team

Max Mata is promoted to Grasshopper’s first team in Switzerland. The 19-year-old forward from New Zealand is now part of the main squad after spending some months with the U21 team. It was reported that he is going to wear the number 15.

He arrived in Europe last year to join the U21 squad of the Swiss team. He spent six months on loan at Nõmme Kalju from Estonia. He scored eleven goals in twenty matches during this stint before moving back to Switzerland. On the other hand, his countryman Nando Pijnaker remains in the Grasshopper’s U21 squad.

Max Mata (in blue and white) playing for Grasshopper U21 squad. Source: Grasshopper’s Media

Mata is one of the hottest prospects from New Zealand. He was part of the U20 National Team squad that reached the knockout stage in the FIFA U20 World Cup last year. He has recently debuted in the senior squad in the 1-0 loss against Lithuania.

PNG National Soccer League season close to resuming

After a Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) announcement that 2020 Telekom S-League is set for August, more good news is coming from Oceania: the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is close to resuming.

According to reliable sources, the national league can return next month. Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) will meet PNG Sports Foundation CEO Peter Tsimalili Junior and the COVID-19 State of Emergency (SoE) team this week to discuss about the league’s return.

Papua New Guinea National Soccer League season is close to resume. Source: PNGFA Media

Clubs have not been allowed to resume training yet. However once the situation is defined, the clubs will be advised to resume their activities in order to get ready for the remaining matches of the 2019-20 season.

Vitiaz United is the current leader of the league with 25 points in ten matches, followed by Hekari United and Lae City with 23 points each. You can check the full standings by clicking here.

Kurukuru will need to wait: FIFA Futsal World is postponed

COVID-19 pandemics forces one more major sport tournament to be postponed; and it will directly affect Solomon Islands most succesful sport. The FIFA Futsal World Cup that was scheduled to take place this year was postponed by FIFA to 2021. “The Bureau of the FIFA Council made the decision to following a thorough assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recommendations made by the FIFA-Confederations COVID-19 Working Group“, mentioned SIFF Media.

The Kurukuru – Solomon Islands national futsal team – is qualified for the tournament for the fourth time in a row after beating New Zealand in the penalty shootout in the grand final match last year in the OFC Futsal Nations Cup held in New Caledonia. Recently, SIFF had already announced a provisional squad for trainings in order to prepare for the World Cup – but now they will have plenty of time to get ready for this very important challenge.

FIFA Futsal World Cup 2020 - News - Jubilant Solo retain crown but ...
Alvin Hou, Elliot Ragomo and Arnold Maeluma celebrate Solomon Islands win – OFC Media

“The Solomon Islands national futsal team, Kurukuru will have ample time to prepare for the World Cup as FIFA has postponed the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania and rescheduled the tournament to run from 12 September – 3 October 2021“, wrote SIFF Media.

The Solomon Islands head coach, the Brazilian Vinícius Leite, told recently in interview to RNZ that “as soon as we are able to train together we can hopefully bring the team over to Australia and continue with our preparations and to at least have two international overseas training camps“.

Solomon Islands government until imposes barriers that do not allow the team to train due COVID-19 concerns. According to William Lai, SIFF president, it is expected that travel restriction is lifted by the government in the following weeks, allowing the Kurukuru to get back to action.

Da França para a Oceania: uma nova aventura está por começar

Uma nova aventura está prestes a começar para o jornalista Vladimir e o empresário Guillaume. Amigos de infância, eles encararão juntos uma grande jornada rumo a realização de um sonho: jogar a Liga dos Campeões.

Nascidos na França, ambos devem reforçar o Pago Youth, da Samoa Americana, para a disputa da Liga dos Campeões da Oceania de 2021. Eles mantiveram contato com o presidente da equipe, Sila Samuelu, que já está aguardando pela chegada dos europeus junto com sua equipe técnica.

Entretanto, há um fator que torna esta jornada ainda mais interessante, não só para eles, mas também para os amantes de futebol, uma vez que será gravado um documentário sobre a aventura de Vladimir e Guillaume na Oceania. Ambos já iniciaram a preparação para chegarem ao Pago Youth em boas condições físicas e técnicas.

A Samoa Americana é um território não incorporado dos Estados Unidos localizado na Polinésia, com aproximadamente 65 mil habitantes. A seleção nacional ocupa a 192ª no ranking da FIFA que conta com 210 seleções ao todo.

Guillaume (esquerda) e Vladimir (direita) estão na França se preparando para este desafio

Entretanto, há um fator que torna esta jornada ainda mais interessante, não só para eles, mas também para os amantes de futebol, uma vez que será gravado um documentário sobre a aventura de Vladimir e Guillaume na Oceania. Ambos já iniciaram a preparação para chegarem ao Pago Youth em boas condições físicas e técnicas.

Este documentário certamente será uma grande produção para aqueles que gostam de futebol alternativo, pois os fãs terão a oportunidade de acompanhar um pouco da realidade do esporte em um pequeno território da Polinésia. Porém ainda há um empecilho para a concretização desta jornada: o dinheiro. Os franceses deram início, recentemente, a um crowdfunding para arrecadação de fundos para que tudo isto se torne real e eles possam de fato vivenciar uma experiência única para ser compartilhada com todos quando o documentário for lançado.

A equipe de jornalismo da Oceania Football Center já está em contato direto com Vladimir e Guillaume e acompanharemos de perto tudo que envolve esta incrível aventura que está por vir.

France to Oceania: a new adventure ready to begin

For two Frenchmen, a new adventure lies ahead. Vladimir Crescenzo and Guillaume must join the Pago Youth Squad for the OFC Champions League 2021, but it is more special than it looks – Vladimir is a journalist and Guillaume is an entrepreneur. Both are 28 years old and have been close friends since childhood. Now they are ready to embark on the greatest adventure of their lives: playing in the Champions League for an American Samoa club.

Both were in contact with Sila Samuelu, the president of Pago Youth. Samuelu and his staff are awaiting their arrival to join the team for the next edition of the OFC Champions League. This trip will be an exciting one for everyone – players, staff and fans – as the entire journey will be recorded and started as a documentary.

Guillaume (left) and Vladimir (right) are getting ready for this challenge

This documentary will be a huge entertainment for those who want to know more about the reality of football in American Samoa. Money is the biggest problem for them right now, so they have started a crowdfunding campaign to support this project. You can find out more and donate to this project by clicking here.

The Oceania Football Center is already in direct contact with Vladimir and Guillaume. Our team will keep up with every step the French take in this amazing adventure.

BREAKING: STOP AU FOOT A TAHITI

Source FTF

La FTF a décidé de suspendre définitivement toutes les activités footballistiques de cette saison. Une réunion a eu lieu hier en présence du président fédéral et de tous les présidents des clubs de Tahiti.
Les membres du COMEX ont pris les décisions suivantes:

“Les Championats: Arrêt des championnats de la saison 2019-2020 de Tahiti pour toutes les catégories. Classements des championnats de Tahiti figés pour toutes les catégories, à la date de suspension des compétitions, soit le 17 mars 2020. Non attribution des titres de champions.

Participation à l’OFC champion’s league 2021: Organisation par matchs en aller simple d’un tournoi triangulaire entre les trois premières équipes de la Ligue 1 VINI selon le classement arrêté au 17 mars 2020. Attribution de 3 points à l’équipe classée 1ère, 2 points à l’équipe classée 2ème et 1 point à l’équipe classée troisième selon le classement arrêté au 17 mars 2020. Les équipes classées 1ère et 2ème à l’issue du tournoi triangulaire participeront à l’OFC champion’s league 2021.
Le directeur des compétitions est chargé d’organiser le tournoi triangulaire avant le démarrage de la saison 2020-2021.

Aucune équipe n’est rétrogradée en Ligue 2 pour la saison 2020-2021.
Les deux premières équipes de la ligue 2, selon le classement arrêté au 17 mars 2020, accèdent à la Ligue 1 VINI pour la saison 2020-2021. Le directeur des compétitions est chargé d’organiser le championnat Ligue 1 VINI de la saison 2020-2021 composé de douze clubs. Suppression du championnat espoirs pour la saison 2020-2021.

Les coupes : Poursuite de la Coupe de Polynésie pour désigner le représentant au 7ème tour de la coupe de France. Poursuite de la Coupe de Ligue 2. Poursuite de la Coupe du Président (féminines). Le directeur des compétitions est chargé d’organiser en septembre 2020 la poursuite de la coupe de Polynésie, de la coupe de la Ligue 2 et de la coupe du Président (féminines) avant le démarrage de la saison 2020-2021.
Annulation de la Coupe super Ligue 2 et Arrêt des coupes des jeunes“.

Au final, la FTF a également dû se rendre à covid19. La santé passe avant tout. Rappelons que le verdict du vainqueur des Vins de Ligue 1 est suspendu car l’AS Pirae est sous observation par la commission de contrôle parce que ils ont fait joué des jouers la journée 1 en Réserve et la journée 1 en L1. Nous suivrons la fin de cette histoire


Tuvalu: the only survivor in OFC

While the football activities are stopped in most countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a small nation in Oceania with some active leagues. And this Oceanian survivor is not New Zealand or another FIFA member, it is Tuvalu.

As it was mentioned above, Tuvalu is not a FIFA member, however they are affiliated to Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). There are two leagues currently actives in the island: the A-Division and the B-Division.

Eight teams are fighting for the title in the A-Division while five other teams are playing the second tier of Tuvaluan football. Nauti 1 is leading the first tier after five matchdays with fifteen points while Tamanuku is the current leader of the B-Division. You can check the current standings here: A-Division, B-Division

Nauti 1 players. Source: Tuvalu Island Football Association

While many leagues in Oceania do not have a scheduled day to restart, Tuvaluan football keeps pounding and you can keep up with the leagues in our website.

Nigel Malagian: representing the Kapuls has always been my dream

One of the most important players in the first half of 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, Nigel Malagian helped the Tusbab Stallions to reach the fourth position in the league. His great performances allowed him to join Lae City, one of the best football clubs in the country, for the second half of the season.

Malagian was one of he most important signings of Lae City for the remaining matches of the National Soccer League alongside with the Komolong brothers Alwin and Felix – “I had an awesome season with the Stallions, we have done very good in the first round. Moving to Lae was a had decision but I have to take this opportunity,” said Nigel.

The 24-year-old player is a versatile player that can play as a central back or as a left back and he surely can add a lot to the squad while Lae City is also a very good place to develop as a player – “Lae City is a well organized club and also very known in Oceania,” he pointed.

Malagian is one of the newest additions of Lae City

Malagian’s debut for Lae was quite special as he made his first ever appearence for his new club against Tusbab Stallions, his former team- “It was so emotional going against my former team but it was a great game,” he said. Both teams scored once and the final score was a 1-1 draw.

Nigel’s adaptation in his new club is not being that difficult as he knows very well the head coach Bob Morris. Both were part of the Papua New Guinea U-17 National Team delegation in the 2013 OFC U-17 Championship held in Vanuatu – “Bob is one of the best coaches in the country […] We have a great relationship, he is like a father to me,” he added.

Despite having some international experience at youth level, the former Stallions’ player has never played in the Senior National Team (Kapuls). However his good performances in the National Soccer League must be enough to book a spot in the upcoming call-ups – “Representing the Kapuls has always been my dream. If I have a chance it will be my dream coming true,” explained Nigel. It is important to remember that the Oceania Football Confederation has cancelled the 2020 OFC Nations Cup so it is not known when Papua New Guinea National Football Team will play their next international match.

Just like in almost every single country in the world, the football is currently suspended in PNG due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However the 24-year-old defender still believes that the 2019-20 season will resume so Lae City could fight for another national title – “Regardless some players left the team, there is still a great bunch of players and I still believe that we can win the National Soccer League if it return,” he said.