Minnesota United will be definitively the most Oceanian team of the entire America in 2020! The third New Zealander has signed for the club, now playing alongside Michael Boxall and the recent drafted player Noah Billingsley. The former Fulham and Phoenix Rising defensive midfielder James Musa moved to the MLS after some seasons playing at United Soccer League. He achieved recognition as player of Phoenix Rising, where he played 54 games scoring 2 goals.
James Musa as Phoenix Rising player – MLS
The 27-year old player has plenty of experience in United States and also holds a green-card – what means Minnesota will not have to field Musa as a foreign player. The midfielder that can also play as central defender has only played three times for the All-Whites and he is looking to impress the new coach Danny Hay in order to take place in the New Zealand call-ups in the future.
One very important move in Oceania football is set to happen in the following days: the Samoan internatinal Vito Laloata is set to move from Lupe o le Soaga in his country in order to strenghten the squad of the Papua New Guinea powerhouse Hekari United.
Laloata already has experience in OFC Champions League with his former club in Samoa and impressed Hekari direction with his performances in 2019 Pacific Games held in his homeland. Laloata scored all goals of Samoa in the competition, a brace in a 2-0 win against Tonga and a famous goal against New Zealand in a 5-1 defeat.
Laloata will be the second Samoan ever to represent Hekari United – Andrew Setefano that currently plays at Lupe o le Soaga also played in the Papua New Guinean club in 2011. Local sources believe Setefano was influential for the signing of Laloata in his former club.
The Hekari United fans have reasons to be happy with the new signing of their club; Oceania Football Center talked to Ken Kerewi, midfielder of Lupe o le Soaga, and the player described Laloata as “an impressive player, that was a threat for New Zealand defence in the last Pacific Games“.
Roy Krishna is one of the best players ever produced in Pacific; the Fijian made history for his country in Olympic Games and especially at the New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix. The forward scored 51 times for the club what makes him the top goalscorer ever for the unique full-professional side in Oceania.
It is known that the countryman of Krishna – Esala Masi – also made success in Australian leagues in the past; Krishna and Masi currently are the 1st and 2nd players that most scored goals for their national team, but before the Fijian there was another Pacific Islander that signed a professional contract for Phoenix and turned himself the first islander to sign for the Kiwi club – only the second Solomon Islander to play in the Hyundai A-League, following the steps of Henry Fa’arodo that played for Perth Glory in the inaugural season of the Australian new top-tier league.
Benjamin Totori with Phoenix colours – Dave Lintott
All the story started when Benjamin Totori represented his country at OFC Nations Cup in 2012 held in his home nation. The tournament that was won by Tahiti – after a shocking defeat of New Zealand in the semifinals against New Caledonia – was the key point for the historical signing of Totori with the Phoenix. In 2012 the New Zealand national team coach was Ricki Herbert that in the period was also the head coach of the Phoenix. With the defeat of the All-Whites they were forced to play the 3th/4th places match against the home side that lost to Tahiti in the other semifinal game.
Lawson Tama Stadium was the venue for the clash, where Totori shown all his class with a fantastic goal. His performance in the match was prolific – Herbert decided to sign the prospect for his team and Solomon Islander made himself the first Pacific Islander to sign with the Phoenix.
Four years later of his first chance at professional football in United States, Totori had another go in Wellington Phoenix. He played the 2012/2013 season for the club, appearing in 15 matches – but could not keep in the club in the next season. Totori played part of 2013 for the Australian NPL side Oakleigh Cannons and made the most of career in New Zealand, playing for clubs such as Waitakere United.
The fourth round of the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League takes place this Saturday, with Hekari United, Lae City and Vitiaz United leading the way on nine points each. However, the race for the Golden Boot also has some interesting names leading the way, and below we’ve taken a deeper look into the players in red-hot goalscoring form in the PNG domestic league so far.
Jonathan Allen
Current Club: FC Bougainville D.O.B.: 3/1/2000 (age 20) Senior Caps: 1
At just 20 years old, Jonathan Allen is the youngest of the five players currently on three goals for the season, but already he looks to be a hot prospect for the national team, and could fire Bougainville to playoff qualification should he maintain his current form. Allen has scored in each of the three game weeks so far, helping his side to a 3-2 opening day victory against Gulf Komara, before scoring the consolation goals in the 2-1 defeats to Hekari United and Tusbab Stallions.
Allen first came to prominence in early 2017 as part of the national U-17 side that took part in the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship, under head coach Harrison Kamake. Allen started all three of PNG’s group games in the competition, scoring a vital equaliser against Tahiti in their final group game, before Emmanuel Simongi hit the winner, which put the side through to the semi-finals. Despite losing 3-2 to New Zealand in the semis, it was a historic performance for the youth side, becoming the first U-17 side in the nation’s history to reach the semi-finals of that particular competition.
Following the competition, Allen represented Besta PNG United in three editions of the National Soccer League: 2017, 2018 and 2019, and was an integral part of the side which came second in 2018, losing in the Grand Final to Toti City. Allen also made the step up to U-20 level internationally, earning two caps at the OFC U-19 Championship in 2018, scoring once against Tonga, and at just 19 years of age, he was called up for the senior squad for the 2019 Pacific Games, coming on as a substitute for his first senior cap in the 8-0 win against Tonga.
With Besta PNG withdrawing from this season’s competition, Allen was forced to search for opportunities elsewhere, and has found a home at FC Bougainville. Thus far, it seems to be a match made in heaven, with three goals from three consecutive appearances. Can this bright young starlet help lead Bougainville to victory? And what sort of future will he have as an international footballer? Whatever happens this season, this young man has bags of potential just waiting to be unleashed.
Eliud Fugre
Current Club: Vitiaz United D.O.B. 15/3/1989 (age 30) Senior Caps: 0
At the opposite end of the spectrum is a 30-year-old journeyman who has never quite made the breakthrough into the national side despite a promising youth career. Eliud Fugre also has three goals in three games for brand new side Vitiaz United, but most of his career has been defined by his time at Morobe United.
With records sketchy pre-2009, the first season that we find reports of Fugre playing at NSL level is the 2009/10 season, where, aged 20, he was already a key man for Morobe United, then named Gigira Laitepo Morobe. That season, Fugre helped the side to the Grand Final, where they lost 5-0 to Hekari United – but that remains the only season Morobe United have finished as runners-up in the National Soccer League. Another season in Morobe followed before a move to Eastern Stars emerged for the 2011/12 season, which allowed Fugre to pick up his second league runners-up medal.
In March 2012, Fugre was called up to the Papua New Guinea U-23 side for the Men’s Olympic Qualifying competition, and it was at this time that the midfielder-cum-striker picked up what are still his only international appearances. Fugre played in all four of the nation’s group games, with the side losing three times and Fugre unable to get himself on the scoresheet in any of the games.
For three of the next four seasons, Fugre played with Morobe United, with the exception of the 2015 season, which saw him briefly turn out for Admiralty FC. It was in 2015 that Fugre earned his first ever call-up to the senior national side for a friendly against the Phillipines, but the striker was left on the bench.
After the league split in 2017, Fugre played for Jessa Nawaeb FC in the breakaway National Premier League, before returning to Morobe last season. This year, he was poached by new club Vitiaz United, and thus far, Fugre’s goals have been crucial to the success of the new side, with Vitiaz having won three out of three so far. Is it too late for Fugre to earn a late international cap? Could a continuation of this form see him in contention for the OFC Nations Cup this summer? Only time will tell.
Another star of the future, Stahl Gubag has been working his way up through the ranks both domestically and internationally since 2015, which, if you take a closer look, is mightily impressive.
In January 2015, Gubag was just 15 years old, yet he started all of the five games that the U-17 national team played in the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship, even scoring, once, in a 5-0 win over Samoa. What is perhaps even more impressive was his key role in the U-20 side for the 2016 OFC U-20 Championship – when he had just turned 17. Following this impressive performance, Gubag was called up for the senior international side in November 2016 for the friendly against Malaysia, coming on as a substitute for his first senior cap, still aged just 17. Since then, Gubag has picked up a further three U-20 caps and one more senior cap, and one can’t help but think there is much, much more to come.
Gubag even already has experience in the OFC Champions League: he joined Madang FC ahead of the 2017 season, which saw him score his first ever continental goal in a 4-3 victory over Samoan side Lupe Ole Soaga. Madang finished runners-up in the National Soccer League that season, allowing them to qualify again for the OFC Champions League, with Gubag playing in all three of the club’s group stage defeats.
After Madang’s withdrawal from the NSL ahead of the 2019 season, Gubag moved to another local club, Tusbab Stallions. The 2019 was a quiet one for both player and club, but this year, the Stallions look like a young side with plenty of flair and passion. Gubag scored a brace last weekend against FC Bougainville to take his goal tally to three for the season, but he’s not an out-and-out striker, so we may well see him play a supporting role for the likes of Papalau Awele, who already has two goals, in the coming weeks. Make no mistake though: this kid has oodles of potential.
Kolu Kepo
Current Club: Hekari United D.O.B.: 15/6/1993 (age 26) Senior Caps: 6 (4 goals)
Aged 26, you would imagine that Kolu Kepo has had a decently long career at the top level of football, especially given he has more caps than anyone else on this list. In reality, though, Kepo didn’t make the breakthrough to the top level of domestic football until 2016 – when he was 22.
There are vague press mentions of Kepo pre-2016: in a local tournament in Kalo village in 2012, Kepo scored a goal for Kwalito in the third-place playoff, which helped them to a 2-0 victory. The year after that, he was named in the National Capital District squad for the regional qualifiers of the Besta FA Cup, alongside now-teammate Koriak Upaiga.
However, it wasn’t until 2016 that Kepo was finally scouted by a big club: Hekari United hosted the Hekari Central Cup tournament for the Hekari region (in Central Province) in May 2016, with Kepo picking up the Most Valuable Player award in the week-long tournament while playing for Kalo. Thereafter, Kepo, alongside his brother Ati, was selected as one of the 22 players invited to trial with Hekari United.
Kepo’s career has skyrocketed since that key moment in May 2016. By November 2016, he had already made his senior international debut as a substitute in a friendly against Malaysia, and he went on to score four goals in five games at the 2019 Pacific Games last summer. Domestically, he has been with Hekari United since they scouted him, and was a member of side during the National Premier League years in 2017 and 2018, before playing his first ever National Soccer League season last year.
Kepo will be 27 in June, so his career is at its peak, despite having only completed four full seasons at the highest level of football in the country. Can the late bloomer have a season to remember, and help Hekari finally wrestle back the league title?
Kolu Kepo at Hekari United. Photo: Hekari United FC – Red Army Nation
Russell Nirik
Current Club: Vitiaz United D.O.B.: 18/3/1989 (age 30) Senior Caps: 0
Of the five men on this list, Nirik is easily the least recognised in terms of career success. A brief search back through the media archives shows that Nirik was part of a preliminary U-23 squad back in 2012, and played for University in Port Moresby regional competition in 2013, but there’s not much else.
He has zero youth caps, zero senior caps and is already 30. But this year, he has come to prominence.
He spent the 2019 season with Morobe United, but was one of several players poached by new side Vitiaz United ahead of the new season, and he link-up play with teammate Eliud Fugre has led to the pair scoring 6 of Vitiaz’ seven goals this season, with the seventh coming from an own goal. It’s clear that the pair are in red-hot form, and the continuation of that form will be vital to the new franchise’s success this season. Is it too late for Nirik to earn a call-up for the OFC Nations Cup later this year? And can he continue his current superb form?
It was reported by Fiji Football Association that Navua will bring three players from Lami: 2018 and 2019 Vodafone Senior League top scorer Taniela Rakariva, Matthew Charittar and Vinal Prasad.
Rakariva played some fantastic seasons with Lami in the second tier of Fijian football. Nobody scored more goals than him in Fijian football in 2019. The 23 years old striker is ready to prove himself in the main league of his country.
Lae City new players arrived in Papua New Guinea. Abdias Aguirre and Gustine Vergara came from Ecuador to play the 2020 OFC Champions League for them.
According to Lae City’s captain Raymond Gunemba these new players will increase the level of the team – “I believe that they are good players and they will really boost our team in the Champions League” – he said.
From left to right: Aguirre, Gunemba, Vergara and Nigel Dabinyaba.
Aguirre and Vergara are very young players and it is going to be the first time that they play for an overseas team. Both players do not speak English, but Lae City players are not having big communication issues – “We use a translate app so we can communicate with them” – explained Gunemba.
Lae is in the 2020 OFC Champions League Group B with Malampa Revivors (VAN), Henderson Eels (SOL) and Lautoka (FIJ) – the group will be hosted in Vanuatu.
The new foreign players of Lae City FC that will compete at OFC Champions League next month arrived in the country and they are ready to represent the club in the national and regional upcoming tournaments.
Abdias Aguirre (third from left) and Gustine Vergara (fourth from left) arrived in Lae
The players are the most important signings of the club in order to compete at the next regional challenge Lae will have. Lae is grouped with Malampa Revivors (VAN), Henderson Eels (SOL) and Lautoka (FIJ) – the group will be hosted in Vanuatu.
The second episode of Islanders Observer arrived! Oceania Football Center keep talking about the foreign islanders that are playing in 2019-20 ISPS Handa Permiership, the top national football league in Oceania. Now it is time to talk about a New Caledonian forward that is playing his first season in the league: Jean-Philippe Saïko.
Saïko is an experienced forward that played in the French football for some years. The 29 years old forward joined Tasman United for his first ever experience in New Zealand. He is a regular starter in the team and he is being an important player for Tasman.
Saiko playing for Tasman United. Source: NZF Media
Saïko scored two goals in eight matches to help his team to finish the first half of 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season in the fifth position with ten points in nine matches.
Right back Dylan De Jong is not an Eastern Suburbs’ player anymore. The 22 years old right back signed with Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona from Israel.
De Jong (middle) being presented by his new team. Source: Miroslav Nikolic
De Jong was being an important player for the Lilywhites in the 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership Season. He scored one goal in seven matches for Eastern Suburbs before leaving the club. Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona is currently in the 11th position in Ligat Ha’ai, the first division of Israeli football.
The OFC Executive Committee’s finally confirmed that the OFC Nations Cup will take place in New Zealand. In particulare the games will be held in Auckland from the 6th of June and the 20th of June. The Kiwis are the holders of the title. They won the last OFC Nations Cup that took place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in 2016. They defeated the host nation only at the penalty shootout. New Zealand will host the OFC Nations Cup after 18 years. A very long time for the leading nation of the oceanian football movement.
Winners ceremony in OFC Nations Cup 2016
In this new Nations Cup they’re will be 8 who will compete to win the title. 7 teams are automatically qualified: New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The last team will be decided in a qualifying round that will starts the 21st and ends the 27th March 2020 at the CIFA Academy in Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands. 4 teams will partecipate: the hosts, Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga.
Cook Islands where the qualifying tournament will take place
This will be the competion format: 8 teams / 4 teams in 2 group / the first 2 teams of each group will qualify for the semi-finals / 1A vs 2B – 1B vs 2A / final
Full match schedules will be out after the qualifying tournament on the OFC site.
Oceania Football Center 