Ba will debut in the continental tournament on March 1st against Auckland City from New Zealand. The Men in Black are in the group alongside with Auckland City, AS Vénus from Tahiti and Lupe o le Soaga from Samoa.
It was reported that Lautoka also had the opportunity to have their match against Nadi postponed. However the Bluez requested to face Nadi this weekend.
Lautoka will debut in 2020 OFC Champions League on February 15th against Malampa Revivors from Vanuatu.
New Zealand international Bill Tuiloma is expected to miss the next two months due to a right calf strain. He was in Costa Rica with Portland Timbers’ preseason squad but he went back Portland to start the recovery process.
Bill Tuiloma
The central back is going to miss the first matches of Portland Timbers in the 2020 MLS as the season is expected to begin on February 29.
Tuiloma is currently 24 years old and he has already played 25 matches for New Zealand National Football Team.
The preliminary round of 2020 OFC Nations Cup is finally confirmed. It is going to be held in Cook Islands from 21 to 27 March 2020.
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga will face each other in the preliminary round. The four Polynesian nations will fight for a spot in the group stage of 2020 OFC Champions league that will be held in New Zealand in June.
OFC Nations Cup trophy. Source: OFC Media
Samoa won the preliminary round in the last edition (2016) and they are the favourites to qualify for the group stage.
Tonga is ready to begin the preparation for 2020 OFC Nations Cup Preliminary Round. According to a statement released by Tonga FA, there will be a trial for interested players today February 4th at 5pm (local time).
Charles Mani is heading back to New Zealand. The 17 years old forward from Solomon Islands must study at Long Bay College that is linked to Glenfield Rovers for one more year.
He had a good 2019 season with Long Bay and he was named the team’s MVP in the Rex Dawkins Tournament, a traditional youth tournament in New Zealand.
Mani holding his MVP award.
Mani played for Kossa in the 2019-20 Telekom S-League while he was on vacation in his homeland. He scored five goals in seven matches in the national football league from Solomon Islands. He also took part of Solomon Islands U17 National Team that played 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup held in Brazil.
He will turn 18 this week so he will become eligible to play official matches for overseas club which means that we can see Mani playing the New Zealand winter leagues this year.
The Brazilian midfielder Vinicius Reis was not able to take the pitch for Hekari United since he signed for the club. It was known both Brazilians Erick Joe and Vinicius had initial problems to be registered by Hekari United in PNGFA. With the problems cleared, the players received the greenlight to debut for his new club in their previous match against Kutubu in Goroka.
Both players traveled with the team, but only the central defender Erick Joe made his debut. Some questions were raised by media and fans due the condition of Vinicius, since the player was with the team – members of staff posted pictures in social media where the player appeared and also the official social media of the club reported his presence in Goroka.
Vinicius Reis (center) training with Hekari – Hekari Media
The mystery came to an end: the Brazilian sustained a minor injury and could not be available for the coach Jerry Allen in the match in Goroka, where his side won by 4-1 the locals of FC Kutubu. It is known the injury is not serious and he might be available in Hekari’s next game, when the team travels to Lae to face Morobe United.
Solomon Islands international Atkin Kaua recently lived one of the most important moments of his football career when he travelled to Europe for trialling with professional clubs, with hopes to sign the first ever full-professional contract of a Solomon Islander in Europe. Despite all his efforts, a work permit prevented Kaua to sign with Santa Verena from Malta, but the player still has chances to have a new opportunity in a near future.
Oceania Football Center talked to the 23-year old midfielder that is set to move back to Solomon Islands this week after his experiences in the little European nation of Malta.
Atkin Kaua defending Solomon Islands national team – NOSF
“It was a great experience; It was good to be in Malta and test their level“, said Kaua, “I had trials with three professional clubs in Malta” added the midfielder. Kaua was impressed with the facilities of the Maltese clubs: “If we had these good facilities in Solomon Islands, we would get better and better and surely we could compete against the football level they have in Malta”.
Despite being positive about the possibilities of competition between his countrymen and the European side, Kaua stated there are still many sensitive differences from his nation in comparison to where he trained: “There are differences: this is Europe you know, we have to be professional in everything in the field and also outside the field. Indeed, it is much better football here than back in my homeland, I guess“, mentioned the player that also had experience of playing in New Zealand.
Even having these differences, Kaua stated that he could adapt well to the new environment he was introduced: “Yes, it takes time to adapt to the weather when we arrive in a so different place; to arrive on time but I could manage well“.
Kaua when player of Marist FC – OFC Media
“The technical level is high in Malta, but it is mostly due to the facilities they have. They are lucky to have so good venues to play football – when you train in so good facilities you can just get better and better“, stated Atkin Kaua.
Kaua could not keep in Europe for more trials, as Laugu United – his club in Solomon Islands that is funding his trip – could not keep him in Europe for more time. Kaua was close to sign a pro-deal in Malta, but a work permit could not be issued in time for him as the local league was close to an end and the transfer window was . Kaua stated that Paul Driessen, the responsible to arrange his trials and the president of Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation, did not stay for long with him in the country: “He stood here with me for three days and helped me with communication. After these three days he departed to a trip to Tahiti”, said Atkin Kaua.
Kaua defending Laugu United – S-League Media
After flying back his country, Kaua’s future might be linked with his homeland club Laugu United. Kaua is hopeful he can be back for another trials in Europe still in 2020: “Yes, maybe hopefully I can be back, but this is still uncertain“, said the player. “The plan is going back home and keep working, that’s it; that is what I can do to keep developing“, added Kaua.
The still young Atkin Kaua scored eleven goals in the last edition of the Telekom S-League, the national football league of Solomon Islands. He also took part of Marist’s squad in 2018, helping them to reach the semifinals of the OFC Champions League. The 23-year attacking midfielder made his debut for Solomon Islands national team in 2016, having 22 appearences for his country and scoring five goals.
FC Isabel United arrived in Port Vila, Vanuatu, to play two friendly matches against Tupuji Imere and Galaxy FC. They sent a 23-man squad and two officials for the tour.
They will face Tupuji Imere on Wednesday 5th and Galaxy on Saturday 8th February at Port Vila Municipal Stadium.
Isabel United squad
Isabel United recently played their first ever season in Telekom S-League, the national league from Solomon Islands. They had a good season and finished the league in the fourth position. According to team’s coach Gideon Omokirio, these two friendlies are parte of the preparation for 2020 Telekom S-League.
It is official! David Browne is the newest player of HJK Helsinki from Finland. The 24-year-old winger was on trial with the team and he is now officially a HJK player.
David Browne signed with HJK
He already played three matches for the Finnish club including two matches in the 2020 Finnish Cup. He netted his first goal for the club in the 3-0 win against TPS in the National Cup. It is going to be his second experience in Europe, as he played in the Netherlands from 2015 to 2018.
HJK’s next match is on Saturday against Inter Turku in the Finnish Cup.
An exclusive video handed to Oceania Football Center appears to show Lae City FC captain and Papua New Guinea international Raymond Gunemba, alongside a teammate, pushing the referee just after the final whistle in the club’s 2-1 defeat to Vitiaz United last weekend in Lae.
The video, roughly one minute in length, captures the controversial dying moments of the game, which saw five-time reigning champions Lae City suffer their first defeat of the season to newcomers Vitiaz United on 25th January, 2020.
Raymond Gunemba, Lae City FC captain – PNGFA Media
In the video, with Lae trailing 2-1, a throw-in is taken towards the Vitiaz penalty box. Gunemba tussles with a Vitiaz defender inside the box before being brought down, but the referee does not give a penalty. Seconds later, the referee blows the whistle for full-time, before Gunemba sprints towards him and angrily pushes him in the back, before engaging in a heated conversation. A teammate also seems to push the referee, with his arms clearly swinging backwards after the incident.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Was that a clear penalty for Lae City and Raymond Gunemba? Were Gunemba and his teammate justified in pushing the referee? Should he be punished for his reaction? And should FC Bougainville fans feel hard done by, given that Gunemba played such a key role in the 3-2 defeat this weekend? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
Oceania Football Center 