Ecuadorian Gustine Icaza debuts in Lae City defeat

The new recruit of Lae City FC in Papua New Guinea, the Ecuadorian Gustine Icaza, debuted for the club in their defeat against Vitiaz United in the PNG National Soccer League by 2-1 in the last Saturday (25th Jan). The winger received green light after some problems due his registering in PNGFA. Abdias Aguirre, the another Ecuadorian recruited by Lae is still waiting to be cleared by FA to represent his new club.

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Gustine in action for Lae against Vitiaz Unied – Junior Fred Cook

The 19-year old player did not play the entire match – being used just around 40 minutes by the coach Peter Gunemba – but played enough time to receive some praise from the local fans.

Micah Tommy scores in Ba defeat in Fiji

The Ni-Vanuatu forward Micah Tommy played the two-legged season opener Champion vs Champion series for his club Ba. The 20-year old player scored the equalizer for his side in the second half after Ratu Anare put Labasa upfront in the opening 45 minutes.

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Tommy (black) in action for Ba – FFA Media

In a brilliant play of the Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori, the Ni-Vanuatu player received ball and finished finding the nets of the oppenent goalkeeper. Despite his goal, Ba was defeated in the game as Ratu Anare scored once again for Labasa in the final minutes of the game to give the title for the red and white site.

The former Tafea player rejoined Ba after a sucessful season in 2019 when he helped the Men in Black to win the Vodafone Premier League title. You can watch Tommy’s goal in this match by clicking here.

Jarvis Filimalae: Samoan rising star

Jarvis Filimalae is one of the youngest players in the 2020 OFC Champions League Preliminary Round. Despite being only 16, Filimalae already has some good international experience.

That is the first time that he is playing the OFC Champions League. However he already debuted for Samoa National Football Team at senior level. He played two matches in the 2019 Pacific Games – against Tonga and Vanuatu.

Filimalae playing for Lupe o le Soaga in 2020 OFC Champions League. Source: OFC Media

The 16 years old player delievered one assist to Matthew Chant in the 2-0 win against Veitongo. Filimalae lives in New Zealand and he attends Hastings Boys’ High School in the Hawke’s Bay area on a scholarship and he also plays for Havelock North Wanderers AFC in the winter league.

His father was a football referee and he has been in contact with football since his childhood. He is getting ready to become one of the best Samoan players in this decade.

Nicholas Prasad thankful to represent Fiji

The Canadian-born Fijian defender Nicholas Prasad recently stated on social media his joy to represent Fiji at international level. The 24-year old player who most recently defended Tulsa Roughnekcs in the United Soccer League in United States, wrote “I wanted to thank coach Christophe Gamel for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to fulfill one of my dreams. You are not only a great professional, but also a great person. I wish you nothing but the best in the future!“. Prasad also mentioned he might be late for saying this since Gamel resigned for his post last year – and Fiji FA already announced their new head coach.

The defender already played nine international matches for Fiji and helped his country to earn bronze in the last edition of the Pacific Games in 2019. Prasad has experience of playing in Germany, in the university and professional football in United States and also in Canada – the defender is a product of the well-known Vancouver Whitecaps academy.

Lea’alafa once again out of Maritzburg matchday squad

For the third straight match of the South African side Maritzburg United, the Solomon Islands international Micah Lea’alafa is left out of the matchday squad of the team coached by Eric Tinkler. Lea’alafa played already 11 matches for the club he signed last year, but could make his path to the first team being dropped recently by his coach.

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Lea’alafa defending Maritzburg colours – MU Media

For the clash against Baroka, that ended with a defeat of Maritzburg by 1-0, only one of the three Oceanian players of the club took part in the match. The former Auckland City defender Dan Morgan played the entire game, while both Jeremy Brockie and Lea’alafa were left even out of the bench options for the technical staff.

After the Solomon Islander left the pitch at the 38th minute of play with no aparent injury four matches back, he was note even calleup for any of the following matches Maritzburg United had. The fans start asking questions when the player will be back to the team or if he is out of Eric Tinkler’s plans after being dropped for so long time.

Le’ai and Kofana set to come back to New Zealand

Raphael Le’ai and Leon Kofana are ready to come back to New Zealand after playing for Henderson Eels on their vacations. They will take a flight to New Zealand on January 28 (tomorrow).

Both players still have one more year to play for Scots College. Their flights are being paid by Wellington Phoenix that holds a partnership wits Scots College.

Le’ai (left) and Kofana (right) playing for Henderson Eels. Source: SIFF Media

Le’ai is the current top scorer of 2019-20 Telekom S-League with 24 goals and Leon Kofana played an important role on Eels’ defense to qualify the team for 2020 OFC Champions League.

There are some rumours that both players might come back to play Champions League for Eels. However there is no official communication between Henderson Eels, Scots College and Wellington Phoenix.

Malampa Revivors thrash Luganville squad in a friendly match

Recently Galaxy FC won Port Vila squad by 5-0 in a friendly held in Port Vila, Vanuatu as part of their preparation for 2020 OFC Champions League. Malampa Revivors did something similar this weekend by facing Luganville squad.

Luganville squad was made of important players from some local teams like Vaum United, Santos and Sia-Raga Santo.

Malampa Revivors starting eleven against Luganville squad

Malampa Revivors smashed Luganville squad by 9-1. Forward Azariah Soromon scored a hat-trick in his debut for Revivors. Merge Damelip scored a consolation goal for Luganville.

Revivors is drawn in the 2020 OFC Champions League Group B alongside with Lae City (Papua New Guinea), Lautoka (Fiji) and Henderson Eels (Solomon Islands).

Cameron Hogg moves forward in Europe

Cameron Hogg keeps improving in his career. The 25 years old goalkeeper is the newest player of Umeå FC from Swedish second tier.

Cameron Hogg

He moves up to the second tier after having a good season playing for Nyköpings BIS from the Swedish third tier. He arrived in Sweden in 2019 after playing some years in the United States.

Oceania Football Center wish him good luck in his new club.

Telekom S-League: the last weekend

The 2019-20 Telekom S-League is amost over. Kossa will face Real Kakamora on Wednesday in the last match of the season. However the league champions are already decided. Scroll down and check what happened in the last weekend of Telekom S-League.

Henderson Eels still had small chances to win the league. They needed to beat Real Kakamora by 13 or more goals and cheer for a Solomon Warriors loss against Guadalcanal. Eels took it seriously and smashed Real Kakamora by 19-0. Wonderkid Raphael Lea’i scored 11 goals and he is the current league top scorer with 24 goals in seven matches.

Le’ai destroyed Kakamora defense – S-League Media

Eels had a lovely effort but it was not enough once Warriors won Guadalcanal by default to clinch the national football league for the sixth time in the history.

There is another exciting race that is not over yet. Isabel United and Kossa are still fighting for the third position and both teams won this weekend. Isabel came from behind to beat Laugu United by 2-1 while Kossa won Marist by 4-1.

Kossa are two points behind Isabel but they still have a chance to finish the season in the third position as they will face bottom placed Real Kakamora on Wednesday. You can check the current standings and top scorers by clicking here.

Solomon Warriors win Telekom S-League title

The Solomon Warriors are the Solomon Islands national football champions for the sixth time! They were crowned champions after winning Guadalcanal by default.

Warriors finish on top of the standings with 41 points ahead of Henderson Eels that finished in the second position with 38 points. They had a powerful attack led by Ni-Vanuatu striker Tony Kaltak that scored 19 goals in the competition.

The Warriors are drawn in 2020 OFC Champions League Group C alongside AS Magenta (New Caledonia), AS Tiare Tahiti (Tahiti) and qualifying stage runner-up.