The Ni-Vanuatu duo John Alick and Tony Kaltack were crowned champions of the Telekom S-League in Solomon Islands after their team won a match by forfeit agianst Guadalcanal. They just needed one more point to seal their titler, but the forfeit of their opponents made them win the league without even entering the field of play.
Alick and Kaltak doning Warriors jersey
The both Ni-Vanuatu internationals were crucial in the battle for the title against Henderson Eels, being the former Erakor Golden Star Tony Kaltack the top goalscorer of the team in the league with 19 goals.
The duo is set to represent the S-League champions in the upcoming 2020 OFC Champions League.
The Kurukuru member James Egeta that recently took part in the OFC Futsal Nations Cup won by Solomon Islands – competition that qualified the country for that 4th FIFA Futsal World Cup in a row – achieved one more glory in his professional career.
The Solomon Islander and his team Gold Coast Force were crowned champions of Craig Foster International Cup 2020, a very traditional international competiton held in Australia that is played for around a decade in the country. Gold Coast Force won the grand final match by 4-1. The competition invites futsal clubs from various countries in Oceania and Asia.
A very important weekend of football has ended in New Zealand with the current the top-tabled side with the same margin they had in the start of the week. Auckland City could not score any, but also prevented to suffer any goals in their decisive clash for the season against Team Wellington at David Farrington Park. Eastern Suburbs finds their balance as they beat Hamilton Wanderers in Auckland and Hawke’s Bay United suffered shock defeat imposed by Phoenix Reserves.
Southern celebrates their winning goal – NZF Media
In the first clash of the round, Southern United faced Canterbury United in Dunedin. The things were not well for both sides, as the teams came from 5-goal margin defeats in the previous round. The story of the game was not good at the starting for Southern as the good George King once again found the nets for Canterbury United in the season putting the visitors upfront after a well-taken free kick.
The things changed in the second half when the defender Danny Ledwith tried from long distance; he hit the bar and the ball rebounded inside the goal, after some seconds of hesitation the referee awarded the goal for the home side. The subtitute James Pendrigh was sent-off after a hash tackle in Garbhan Coughlan, what allowed the home side to pressure to find their winning goal. Southern got their so needed goal after a corner, that Andrew Cromb the rounded and scored the winning goal in the 85th minute of play.
The defeat made Canterbury United to drop in the table, being now the last-ranked team with just nine points. Southern recovered from their 5-0 defeat against Tasman in the last weekened and keep pursuing the top-four position.
Burfoot scored the winning goal of Waitakere against Tasman – Simon Harmer
Waitakere United had another win in the season and is back to the top-four of the table, but they had once again to battle to confirm their victory. The things did not start when Tasman United scored the first goal with just three minutes of game through Jean-Phillipe Saïko – his 4th goal in the league this season.
Waitakere controled the rest of the first half looking for an equalizer, it came just before the half time break through the Spaniard Gerard Garriga Gibert. The 1-1 was the final scoreline in the first 45 minutes, but the story was not much different in the final part: once again Ben Watson scored a thunderbolt free kick at the 49th minute of game to put Tasman again in the lead. The team from Nelson could not celebrate for long their advantage as Jack Porter put the home side again leveled at Seddon Fields just four minutes later their goal.
The winner would come through the captain Sam Burfoot; the former Auckland City player scored the third for Waitakere at the 72th minute to give the final numbers to the clash, giving his team the second victory in a row.
Othman scored once again for Phoenix Reserves – Phoenix Media
Hawke’s Bay received at Bluewater Stadium the Phoenix Reserves and did not have the result they expected. The team coached by Bill Robertson and Chris Greatholder could not perform as they did usually – putting them now three points away from the four best four-placed teams.
The second half had all goals of the match: the good performer so far in the season Ahmed Othman scored for his side at the 55th minute of the match and Ben Old ended the account with a goal in the 64t minute of play. The result kept Phoenix Reservers out from the bottom spot in the standings, being now Canterbury United the last ranked team.
Martin Bueno scored a brace to help the Lilywhites to win Wanderers – ESAFC Media
Martin Bueno was crucial once again for Eastern Suburbs as the top-striker scored a brace for his side in their 3-0 win over Hamilton Wanderes in Auckland. Bueno scored early for his side with a well-taken penalty. Adam Thurston scored his third goal in two matches with a fantastic free kick just in the edge of the box to double their advantage.
The attacking duo of Hamilton seemed not effective as usual, with Derek Tieku losing a penalty a in second half and Tommy Semmy not creating so much opportunities as usual. It was Bueno who scored again in the second half – his 7th in the season – to give final numbers to the clash.
Eastern Suburbs now seem to be back on track as they record their second win a row – the club is now back to the top-four with 16 points in the 3rd place. Hamilton dropped one position and sits now 5th.
Emiliano Tade made his comeback to Auckland against Team Wellington – ACFC Media
For the fourth time in the season Auckland City had a draw, being three of those draws goalless. The match marked the return of Emiliano Tade and Tom Doyle to the Navy Blues, but either of the players or his teammates were able to break the deadlock in David Farrington Park.
Team Wellington knew a defeat would put them nine points away Auckland in the run; they created opportunities to score but all of them were wasted, with the goalkeeper Conor Tracey in a good afternoon.
The margin that separate the two teams in the competition stands the same – 6 points – being now Team Wellington chased closely by Eastern Suburbs that is only three points away of them in the 2nd place spot in the ladder. To check the update standings, top goalscorers and all the results of the season, visit our session of the ISPS Handa Premiership.
Hekari United was leveled with the visting side from Madang after goals scored by Patrick Aisa and Stahl Gubag, when the Papua New Guinean international Koriak Upaiga scored a last-minute free kick – watch here – to give the home side their fifth win a row in the league. The atmosphere was high in the stadium with the visiting side receiving a lot of support from the stands, including with Madang locals taking place in the venue with Madang flags and shouting in support of Stallions.
An unacceptable attitude by Joseph Joe – Post Courier
In the celebrations of the winning goal, the 19-year old striker Joseph Joe made obscene gestures towards the supporters. The Madang fans in the stadium were furiours with the behaviour or the young player. In social media certain followers of the Madang club said they would receive Hekari in hostile atmosphere in Madang when they travel to face the same club in the second part of the season, but this time at Laiwaden Oval.
The action by Joseph Joe should not me tolerated and the player must face the consequences of his act; the Stallions fan base have their reasons to be furious, but violence nor a hostile atmosphere is the proper solution. The striker is still very young – 19 years old – and he has still a lot to learn from the game. The situation must be controled by Hekari and NSL boards, avoiding any more bad figures in the future. This is an example not to be followed, the lessons have to taught and so on to keep focusing in the game.
When interview by local sources, the new head coach of Ba said “I think it was solid really, I think it’s a typical pre-season game isn’t it pretty entertaining probably a bit of fatigue out there and players really not at the level that they will be going into the normal league season or the OFC Champions League”.
Herbert will officially take charge of Ba on 10th February. Ba starts their campaign in Vodafone Premier League next weekend (02th Feb) against Rewa in the same Ratu Cakobau Park.
The 23-year old Samoan international Vito Laloata made his debut in semi-professional football as he played the opening 40 minutes of the clash between his new club Hekari United and Tusbab Stallions in the 5th round of the PNG National Soccer League in the last Saturday (25th Jan).
The strong attacker provided an assist in the 7th minute of play when he entered the box and crossed the ball for the Papua New Guinean international Patrick Aisa to score a tap-in goal to open the account for the home side in Port Moresby. The opponents found an equalizer in the second half through Stahl Gubag, but the experienced Koriak Upaiga scored a last-minute free kick to give the Red Army their 5th win in the league in five matches in the league.
Laloata (red) battles for the ball in PNG National Soccer League – PNGFA Media
Despite leaving in the game in the first half – which is something not rare in the football of the country – the player received positive feedback for the local media and fans. “Considering it was his debut I’d say he did OK in his first game playing approximately 40 minutes as a Hekari player. Still needs to work on his combinations and pace“, said Hekari United fan base administrator.
Laloata is a full-capped international by Samoa, playing already four times for his country scoring three goals.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
