Oceania Football Center

Au Début la Mobil Super Ligue en Nouvelle-Calédonie

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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.

Mobil Super Ligue set to start in New Caledonia

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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.

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 best ever OFC Champions League for Samoan football

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.

Stahl Gubag continues at Stallions as Nigel Malagian departs for Lae City

The strike is not going to be so big for the Madang-based side Tusbab Stallions; the team was set to lose two key players for the current Papua New Guinea national champions Lae City, but just one of them is heading to Lae: the central-back Nigel Malagian.

See more:
Lae City sacks Peter Gunemba as Bob Morris takes head coach job.

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.

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.

Percy Mataio takes head coach job at Star Mountain as new players sign for the club

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.

Image result for Percy Mataio PNG — 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.

International friendly of New Caledonia in Europe cancelled

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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.

Image result for New Caledonia 1-1 Estonia Ounei — 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.

The New Caledonian FA is studying another possibilities for the national team, since it was already released the call-up for the friendly matches.

SIFF to hold emergency meeting regarding COVID-19 concerns

Recently, the Solomon Islands Football Federation stated the governing body president William Lai is set to organize an emergency meeting to discuss about the concern around the Coronavirus outbreak. Despite not having any confirmed case in Solomon Islands, Lai is worried about the possibilities the outbreak to spread to his country: “We will try to see if the upcoming Youth Solomon Cup in April and Solomon Cup in June will go ahead or not. SIFF is responsible, transparent and cares about the game but we take the welfare and health of our players, officials at paramount importance. Whatever decision we make after the consultation with relevant health authorities“, explained SIFF’s president to the governing body media.

Image result for william lai solomon islands — William Lai, SIFF’s president – *Island Sun News*

Football was hit strongly by COVID-19 outbreak: many football matches were played at closed doors for supporters and in many other cases competitions were postponed. The fast-spreading virus forces the authorities to important decisions, as to not allow events with big crowds – as normally happens at football matches.

Recently, Oceania Football Confederation postponed until May all events coordinated by the confederation. The Fijian FA also postponed the Tri-Nations international friendly tournament, tournament that Solomon Islands national team was going to play.

The decisions by the Solomon Islands FA is set to be known soon.

Three players from Hekari United join FC Kutubu

Three players coming from the Papua New Guinean powerhouse Hekari United will boost the squad of the Goroka-based club FC Kutubu in the second round of the PNG National Soccer League.

Aisome Kila, Magalu Guena and Jonah Phillip have been released by Hekari United management and already sealed their path to Kutubu. The players already traveled to Goroka – being ready for their upcoming clash in the weekend.

The three players who are joining FC Kutubu

The Gorokans are not having a good season so far, winning just two of their nine matches in the process, sitting only 9th in the table of PNG National Soccer League.

The team coached by Mathew Witu will expect the three new signings coming from one of the most traditional teams in the country can help them to bounce back in the standings. The three players were not receiving proper game time in Hekari and decided to change the path of their careers by joining Kutubu.

Solomon Islands’ Royals Academy close to regional title in England

Royals Academy from Solomon Islands are very close to win a regional title in England. The Oceanian squad has reached the Sussex School Cup’s final after beating Thomas Bennett Community College by 3-2 at the extra time.

The academy managed by former footballer Joel Konofilia holds a partnership with Stars Football, a football academy from England. The young Solomon Islanders are having a great opportunity to get some exposure in Europe by training and playing there.

Royals are training in England since last year.

Thomas Bennett is one of the lots of schools linked to Chelsea as a Foundation Team. Royals had a difficult challenge against them as the English school opened the scoreboard in the 89th minute but the Solomon Islanders managed to tie the match in the upcoming minute with John Mana.

Things got worse for Royals/Stars because goalkeeper Michael was sent off. However the young players showed bravery to keep pounding and their effort was worthy as they have booked a spot in the final showdown.

Royals players celebrating after winning the match in the extra time. Source: Stars Football Media

Oceania Football Center team congratulates Royals and Stars for this accomplishment.

All Whites friendlies in Asia cancelled due to Coronavirus outbreak

It is confirmed that New Zealand National Football Team will not be travelling to Asia to play two friendlies that were scheduled to take place later this month due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

All Whites would face Oman on March 26th and Bahrain on March 30th.