Oceania Football Center

Brian Kaltak: I had the best season of my career

The 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season is over as Auckland City was claimed the champions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unexpected end, it was a wonderful season for Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak that was named for the ISPS Handa Premiership Team of the Season for the first time in his career.

The 26-year-old central back has really played an important role in Auckland City by being a very strong defender and helping the team in attack by scoring some important goals in the last matches of the season and he showed his happiness – “I am really happy to help Auckland City to win another title. Hope we can do the same in the OFC Champions League […] We have a good team spirit, that is why we keep the winning mentality going,” pointed Kaltak.

Auckland City has only allowed fifteen goals in sixteen matches throughout ISPS Handa Premiership season, the best defensive record in the league alongside with Team Wellington. The solid defensive system built by José Figueira gets even stronger when the Ni-Vanuatu defender is in the pitch – “He is a fantastic coach. He knows how to prepare us tactically and mentally very well,” said Brian – “The club has a good environment and I like it. They are so professional,” he added.

It was Kaltak’s second season in the Navy Blues and it he keeps improving his game. At 26, Kaltak is one of the best defenders in Oceania – “I would say it was my best season. I kept the positive attitude and worked hard on and off the pitch,” he explained. However he still has many years to show his quality. He is in a high level but it is not his career’s peak yet.

Despite living in New Zealand, he always keeps an eye on Vanuatu’s football and congratulated Galaxy and Malampa Revivors for the good campaigns in the 2020 OFC Champions League – “Both teams are doing good. I would like to wish them both all the best for the remaining matches,” he said. It is the first time ever that there are two teams from Vanuatu in the OFC Champions League quarter finals.

Anyway he knows the importance of staying focused to win the main club football competition in Oceania when the football activities return to normality – “Winning the Champions League is my dream. I know we will do this,” pointed the 26-year-old defender that helped Lautoka to reach the continental final in 2018 when the Fijian side lost to Team Wellington in the final.

Everything is unclear at this moment in the world due to COVID-19 pandemic as many important events are being cancelled or postponed just like the Euro 2020 that was postponed to 2021. The OFC Nations Cup is scheduled to take place in June but it can be rescheduled.

Vanuatu National Team has been improving in the last years and Kaltak is a key player in this process. Current National Team’s captain, he showed his concerns about the COVID-19 but he shows confidence for his next challenge in football with his country – “I am looking forward for the Nations CupWe need to be strong. I hope we will have a good team this year […] with a good preparation we can do good things,” he stated.

Kaltak representing Vanuatu in 2016 – *OFC Media*

He also pointed the importance of being confident and left a message for Ni-Vanuatu footballers – “It does not matter who you are. Your mindset says who you really are […] Keep being yourselves and work hard on and off the pitch. Stay positive all the time and be professional on whatever you do.”

New-looking Lae City: what comes next?

It was widely reported that head coach Peter Gunemba is not Lae City’s head coach anymore. However he was not the only one who is gone as lots of players left the team alongside the coach Gunemba.

Former Lae City’s captain and Peter’s son Raymond Gunemba has already told that Lae City Dwellers must be revived so it is very probable that we will see two different teams from Lae in the next National Soccer League.

SEE MORE:
Raymond Gunemba: we are bringing Lae City Dwellers back
Lae City: who left and who stayed?

The whole situation was quite stormy and it could affect Lae City directly in the 2019-20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League but things did not become worse because all football activities were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lae City starting eleven against Malampa Revivors in the 2020 OFC Champions League. Source: OFC Media

Anyway it is obvious that there is light at the end of the tunnel – Bob Morris was appointed as the new head coach and experienced Emmanuel Simon was named the new team captain. Other known players like Philip Steven, Jacob Sabua and Joshua Oscar have also remained in the team.

While many important players left the club, there are another good ones that have arrived to strengthen Lae’s squad like the Komolong brothers Felix and Alwin. Felix has already debuted for his new team in the 1-1 draw against Tusbab Stallions on March 14th.

Two goalkeepers arrived to replace Ronald Warisan and Matheson Nasa who left the team alongside Peter Gunemba. Jordan Tobem and Charles Lepani are the newest keepers in the squad while Ishmael Maddang was the starting keeper in Lae’s last official match. Young and talented defender Nigel Malagian came from Tusbab Stallions and made his debut against his former team.

Malagian (middle) is one of Lae City’s newcomers

There are also rumours that a third player from Ecuador could be joining the team for the second half of the National League but there are no official confirmation about that.

Good players arrived to strengthen the team’s defense but it seems that the new-looking squad might be facing some offensive problems as they will count on some remaining players that have been warming the bench in the first half of the league – “Basically it is a new team […] It has a lot of potential compared to the old one,” explained head coach Bob Morris.

Well it is clear that Lae City faced a huge storm but it seems that it is gone. Now it is time to think about the future, and it is look brightful.

Ronil Lal: very proud to be part of Labasa

Ronil Lal is surely having a great time in football. The young head coach of Labasa has already written his name in the history of Babasiga Lions by leading the team to lift three tournaments in less than a year.

His bright job combined with a good management brought Labasa back to the top in 2019 when they were crowned the champions of Battle of the Giants and Inter-District Championship. The icing in the cake arrived this year when Ratu Anare scored twice to bring the Champion vs Champion Series to the district.

The year of 2019 was surely one of the brightest seasons in the team’s history and being part of this is something very special to Ronil Lal – “I am very proud to be part of this exciting team. I am originally from Labasa so for it is very special for me and my family doing something for my home team,” he stated.

Lal with 2019 Inter-District Championship trophy. Source: Fiji FA

Despite winning three trophies and being in the spotlight, the Babasiga Lions was not so active in the last Fijian transfer window as they prioritized homegrown players instead of bringing extra power from outside the district – “The youth coaches are working very closely with me and we are following the philosophy that we have designed for Labasa FA. We are also trying to implement the team model from our under-16 to the the senior team which will enable the players to understand their player task and our system of play,” explained Lal. It is such a great example of good management that could be observed by other Fijian teams.

Labasa’s glowing year was recognized in Fiji as they dominated the Vodafone/Fiji FA Awards Night by winning the Team of the Year award while Atonio Tuivuna received the Player of the Year award.

Lal highlighted Tuivuna’s importance to the team and he has also reinforced that Atonio Tuivuna deserves a spot in Fiji National Team – “He does deserve a spot in the national. He is a very intelligent player and surely is the backbone of Labasa FA team and a great team player,” he said.

Atonio Tuivuna receiving the 2019 Inter-District Championship Golden Ball Award. Source: Fiji FA Media

It is important to point that Labasa did not have many players in the Fijian National Teams in the last recent years but things can change after the recent success of Babasiga Lions – “With a consistent performance these players have proven themselves and the players have been working very hard. And a national call up will be a fitting reward for them,” Lal added.

All hopes are renewed for Fijian players for the next call-up as Flemming Serritslev was recently appointed as Fiji National Team head coach – an appointment that is very appreciated by Lal – “Coach Flemming brings with him a ton of experience and knowledge which will be very valuable for players and coaches as well.”

Lal (holding the trophy) is confident that Serritslev can do a good job. Source: Fiji FA Media

Ronil has already proven his quality as a head coach and now it is time to keep his great job. Now it is time to use the football stop due to COVID-19 to plan the next steps to recover in the 2020 Vodafone Premier League as Labasa won only one of five matches in the league so far.

Tommy Semmy recognised as one of the best players in New Zealand top-tier league

The former Hekari United player Tommy Semmy had another good season in New Zealand playing for Hamilton Wanderers. The forward was, alongside the MVP of the season Derek Tieku, the most important players of his team in the most important football league of New Zealand, the ISPS Handa Premiership.

Semmy had a good season representing Hamilton Wanderers

Tommy, after scoring ten goals in the 2018/19 season of ISPS Handa Premiership for Hamilton Wanderers and being the the top scorer of NRFL Premier, was chosen into the best starting XI of the 2019/20 in the New Zealand top-tier.

See more:
Brian Kaltak selected in ‘Team of the Season’of New Zealand top-league;
Raymond Gunemba: we are bringing Lae City Dwellers back;
Wrong choices made Hekari pay a huge price at OFC Champions League.

Wanderers finished 6th in the table, just two points away the 4th placed team Eastern Suburbs in the process. Semmy was a key figure for his team in the season; he also trialled in the full-professional outfit Wellington Phoenix in the New Zealand capital before the start of the national laegue, but he was not offered a contract.

Semmy represented Papua New Guinea in the previous OFC Nations Cup in 2016 held in home country, where he and his team finished in the 2nd place after suffering a heartbreaking defeat imposed by New Zealand in the penalty shootout. The attacker is a very important part of PNG Kapuls and will certainly represent his country once again in the upcoming OFC Nations Cup to be played in New Zealand.

A number of clubs shown interest to sign Roy Krishna

Roy Krishna had one of his best seasons when playing of ATK in the Indian Super League; he helped the Kolkata-based side to win their third title of the most important football league of India being one of the best players of the league.

Before joining ATK, Krishna had also a stellar season playing for Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand at Hyundai A-League – the forward as chosen the best player of the league and as well collected the golden boot prize.

Krishna confident on home soil | Oceania Football Confederation

After two superb seasons in a row – combining 33 goals scored at club football – Krishna caught even more attention in the football market. According to Transfermarkt ratio, Krishna transfer fee is around 700.000 USD Dollars – not the highest mark of Krishna in his career – being its last update at 28th February; the player might have an ever bigger market value at the moment.

See more:
Krishna helps ATK to clinch Indian Super League title;
Europe can Roy Krishna’s next step;
Roy Krishna: making Fiji proud.

But any team interested in the Fijian will not be worried about the transfer fee values; Krishna signed for just one season with ATK in India, unless he renews his contract with the Indian side he can leave free of costs to another club. Krishna had himself a very profitable contract in India, being reported as the 4th highest paid player ever in Indian football.

As reported recently by local Fijian media, the Fijian Flyer now aged 32 is set to have another very interesting move in the new transfer window period. According to Fijivillage the Fiji national team captain has various teams interesting to acquire his services for the upcoming season – currently the player is analyzing all his options before to have a final say.

Krishna is already in Fiji and already gave an important statement for the Fijian football community; he is in a 14-quarantine due the COVID-19 pandemic alongside his wife Naziah Ali after travelling from India to his country – they are not showing any symptoms of the disease as currently reported by local media.

Brian Kaltak selected in ‘Team of the Season’of New Zealand top-league

A fantastic season of Brian Kaltak is proven by the records the Vanautu internatinal achieved in the 2019/20 season in the New Zealand top-league ISPS Handa Premiership. Kaltak scored two goals in the process helping his side, the mighty Auckland City, to win once again the most important football league of New Zealand and the most competitive national league of Oceania.

The Ni-Vanuatu central defender was selected six times for the ‘Team of the Week’ award of the ISPS Handa Premiership. Kaltak was a great-performer during the entire season what made him to be inside the best starting XI of the league in the 2019/20 season.

See more:
Brian Kaltak crowned national champion in New Zealand top-league;
Brian Kaltak was key for Auckland City win over AS Vénus;
Vanuatu: who will be next National Team head coach?.

Kaltak alongside other five Auckland City teammates will have more to celebrate than the team success, as they can enjoy individual recognitions as the best rasted players in InStat data – tool used by New Zealand Football to select the best performers in the game weeks and season.

Raymond Gunemba: we are bringing Lae City Dwellers back

The now former Lae City man Raymond Gunemba talked to Oceania Football Center and stated him and his teammates that left the team after the departure of the coach Peter Gunemba are set to revive Lae City Dwellers. “For the good of our team Lae City Dwellers we have made our move. We are bringing Lae City Dwellers back” said Raymond Gunemba.

PNG National Soccer League back in action — Gunemba with Dwellers outfit – *Phototek*

See more:
Raymond Gunemba responds to allegations of Lae City’s boss Ian Chow;
All change at Lae City: why did it happen, and what happens next?;
Terry Stephenson: a Papua New Guinean in England.

Finally, we might see Lae City and Lae City Dwellers as separated teams in the PNG National Soccer League in the next edition of the national league in the country. Despite the statement his crew is set to bring back the glorious Lae City Dwellers, Gunemba recently talked to The National where he stated him and his teammates wanted to continue to have game time in the second part of the 2019/20 season of the PNG National Soccer League: “The coach’s sacking a day prior to the close of the transfer window was planned in a way to leave us with no choice,” Gunemba told The National. “Former Lae City players are calling on Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) and Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League (NSL) board to grant them late transfers to join other clubs” wrote The National. The newspaper also confirmed that Emmanuel Simon and Jacob Sabua continues as Lae City FC’s players – being also known that Simon is the new team captain as stated by Oceania Football Center.

Raymond Gunemba also told Oceania Football Center he expects to represent Papua New Guinea national team in their upcoming challenges internationally, as the OFC Nations Cup that is set to be played this year in New Zealand: “I do not know at the moment because of this situation, but whatever happens I will still play the game I love for the PNG Kapuls“, added the star-player.

Junior David: Solomon Islands’ talent flourishing once again at Hekari United

Hekari United is the most known football club from Papua New Guinea; their eight national titles and the fact to be first ever team that does not come from Australia or New Zealand to win the OFC Champions League are the most remembered achievements about the Port Moresby-based team.

Hekari also recruited the best of Pacific Islands’ talent to achieve their goals during the past decades: the likes of Osea Vakatalesau, Pita Boleitoga and Alvin Singh – historical players of Fiji national team – took part in the most important match of Hekari United history; the 3-0 loss against Al-Wahda from UAE at 2010 FIFA Clubs’ World Cup.

Historically, Hekari also developed a strong relationship with Solomon Islands; many historical players from the country also helped the Papua New Guinean powerhouse to achieve glory, just to mention few of them: Stanley Waita, Gideon Omokirio and Henry Fa’arodo.

Most recently, the likes the current Solomon Islands national team members Gibson Daudau and Tuti Zama Tanito helped Hekari to qualify once again for the 2020 OFC Champions League, after four years without taking part in the most important club football tournament of the region.

In the start of the year, two Solomon Islands players were signed by Hekari’s staff heading for the OFC Champions League and PNG National Soccer League: Robert Laua and the star-goalkeeper Anthony Talo. The two players met another compatriot, the 18-year old fullback Junior David, to restate the strong bonds of Hekari United and Solomon Islands football. Unfortunately, Laua and Talo already left Hekari United squad and only the young David represents the gold and green in the Port Moresby-based squad.

“It is my second season now, I started last year’s season at Hekari“, informs David. The young player spent one year with strong Solomon Islands’ side Marist FC at Telikom S-League back in his home country before joining Hekari United in 2019.

“It is a great experience to be playing in Hekari; in terms of training with well experienced players in the pacific, which gives a boost to my football, always working hard“, states the 18-year old. The fullback also added that “the OFC Champions League gave me a lot of lessons to learn and improve from. It also gave me experience and confidence“.

The experience at OFC Champions League was certainly crucial for the development of David’s football career; but the young player was not fully satisfied with his performance at his 1st ever OFC Champions League appearance: “It is my first appearence at OFC Champions League. The pressure and opponents are different from domestic league, so for me I am not at my best yet. But, comingom from this first Champions League appearence, I am looking forward for upcoming editions and I will do better. The team really played well, just unlucky for us. We hope to do well in next Champions League”, explains Junior David.

In 2019, David represented Solomon Islands at OFC U23 Olympic Qualifiers where his team reached the grand final match of the competition. Unfortunately for them, they were beaten by a very strong New Zealand side in the final and could not qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games Men’s football tournament.

Recently, Junior David was called up in a provisional squad of Solomon Islands to prepare heading for the OFC Nations Cup that is schedule to play this year in New Zealand: “For me it is a previllage to be named in the Solomon Islands national team camp. It is what I dreamed of, to be in the senior national team. Now, for me, I to work hard and train hard to be in the final squad. I am so thankful and happy“, mentions David.

Junior David tells his countrymen that are eager to see the big prospect he is that “I will continue to work hard and perform in the league and all competitioms” and adds that “playing in big clubs in other country is my next step I am working towards“; Also to his fans in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, David adds: “I am confident that I will peform to my best – reach my potential. I will just keep on working hard and improve from my mistakes“.

To finish his interview with Oceania Football Center, David responds one very important question especifically to Hekari United fans: Is Hekari United underperforming at PNG National Soccer League? David responds: “I think the team can perform well. It comes back to us players to make it happen. We just need to focus more and work hard to get back to the team expectation”, says David not denying the frustrating results Hekari United had before the break of the national league due the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solomon Islands football fans can be proud of the young talented Junior David; Hekari United is a very important team at Oceanian football scenario and the 18-year old fullback has a very good place to develop his football. The still very young player is already very useful for Hekari United – being a starter at OFC Champions League – and with his development can turn into one more Solomon Islands’ star to represent the Papua New Guinean powerhouse.

Ba president resigns

It was recently reported by Ba FA in its official social media that Rishi Kumar resigned from his position as Ba football president.

“Ba soccer President, Rishi Kumar has resigned from his position after being at the helm for the past 17 years. Kumar who is one of the most successful sports administrators in the country has won 43 titles with the Men in Black”.

Image may contain: 1 person — Rishi Kumar – Ba FA *Media*

“Under Kumar’s leadership, Ba represented Fiji 10 times in the OFC Champions League and they came close to winning the title in 2007, where they lost to Waitakere United on away goal rule. An emotional Kumar says he informed the Ba FA Board a few weeks ago that he will resign from his position as he wants to spend quality time with his family and business“, informed Ba media.

An official statement is still to be released regarding Rishi Kumar departure of Ba’s football presidency role, while it is still unsure who will take his spot to guide the most important football team of Fiji to even more glories.

Vitiaz United faces coaching staff changes

Current Papua New Guinea National Soccer League leaders, Vitiaz United is currently facing some changes at their coaching staff. It was confirmed by the team’s chairman Matthew Strach that head coach Trevor Ire has decided to leave the club to turn his attention to other personal projects.

Assistant coach Nathan Vincent must take the charge to lead Vitiaz in the remainder of the season.

Vitiaz United is currently leading the league. Source: PNGFA Media

The football season in Papua New Guinea has stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic as Vitiaz United leads the league with 25 points in ten matches.