After beating Isabel United by 5-2 in the midweek, Kossa FC overtook Isabel to stay in the third position. However Isabel had their revenge this Saturday.
With two goals scored by Thomas Amasia, Isabel won Kossa by 3-0 and came back to the third position in the league. Nathaniel Moses scored the other goal.
Isabel players celebrating a goal against Kossa
In the other Saturday’s match, Malaita Kings thrashed Marist by 6-0 with three goals scored by Alfred Sade. Emmanuel Simon, Edward Hunieuhu and Henly Ramo scored one goal each. Huniuehu has now 13 goals in the league alongside with Raphael Lea’i from Henderson Eels.
You can check the current league standings and top scorers by clicking here.
After a heartbreaking draw away from home against Melbourne Victory having one man advantage for more than 20 minutes in the pitch, Wellington Phoenix will be back to WestPac Stadium to face a very harsh opponent: Sydney FC. The team in the top of the table just lost one match in the season so far and is having in their attack the likes of Adam le Fondre and Kosta Barbarouses.
Phoenix already faced Sydney in the season, in an away match, where they lost by 2-1. This time Phoenix comes from a five unbeaten series – three wins and two draws – and hopes to keep the good form in front of their fans.
Kosta Barbarouses is a threat to Phoenix defense – Neos Kosmos
The former Wellington Phoenix striker and All Whites member is one of the signings of the season for the current A-League champions alongside players as the important midfielder Alexander Baumjohann that also might be a real danger for Phoenix defense.
It is expected the youngster Cameron Devlin starts again for Phoenix – he impressed in his last game for the team after taking the place of the injured Alex Rufer. The marksman Gary Hooper still does not seem fully recovered to start the match as happened in all previous encounters.
Ulises Davila is the Phoenix topscorer – Goal.com
On the Wellington, Davila hopes to continue his prolific goalscoring form; the midfielder already scored six in the season and is one of the contenders of the golden boot of the season so far. Reno Piscopo is impressing in his matches alongside the hardworking David Ball upfront.
To stop the strong strike force of Sydney, the captain Steven Taylor will need to be in his best shape to secure Phoenix a very important win at home. The match will be telecasted at SkySport and also can be watched at MyFootball YouTube channel.
Shuiab Khan is a 24 years old left back who plays in New Zealand since 2015. He is from Fiji and played 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup.
After four years playing in New Zealand lower leagues he finally had the opportunity of his life by joining Waitakere United to play 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership. Waitakere is a team that already counted on some Fijian players in the past years like Salesh Kumar and Fiji’s legend Roy Krishna.
Khan (number 6) playing against Germany at 2015 U20 World Cup
Khan had a difficult beginning at his new team because he was not called up for the first four matchweeks. However his luck started to change in the fifth round against Southern United when he was called up for a ISPS Handa Premiership match for the first time ever.
He stayed on bench during the 90 minutes to watch his team’s loss. The upcoming match reserved good news for Khan and Fijian football: Khan was called up for the match and was in the starting eleven to face Hawke’s Bay United. He played the whole match in the 4-2 loss to Hawke’s Bay.
Khan (number 3 in red and white) playing for Waitakere United against Hawke’s Bay United. Source: Stephanie Gunther Photogrphy
It seems that Khan finally found his space in the team once he was in the Waitakere’s starting eleven for the second straight match this weekend against Team Wellington.
If he keeps a good level in New Zealand he will surely be called up for Fijian National Football Team. Good news for Fiji!
Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) has released a new tournament that is going to be played in January: the 2020 National League Championship that is going to count on eight teams (one from each football association in the country). There are two teams already qualified for this competition: Galaxy from Port Vila and Malampa Revivors from Luganville.
Galaxy FC squad. Source: Galaxy FC Media
This tournament is going to be a preparation for both teams once OFC Champions League group stage will be played between February and March. So Galaxy, one of the teams that is fighting for the title in 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League is going to have a full schedule in the first months of the upcoming year.
Having this situation in mind, there are four possibilities: • PVFA may postpone all Galaxy’s league matches and they will play them after the Champions League but it can affect the title race directly because Ifira Black Bird and Tafea will have played their matches before the end of OFC Champions League group stage; • PVFA may postpone all Port Vila Premier League matches in order to not affect the title’s race; • PVFA may anticipate Galaxy matches but it would also affect the title race because Tafea and Ifira Black Bird will play their final games after Galaxy ones; • PVFA may not change anything in their calendar but it might be very harmful for Galaxy’s preparation because the high number of matches played.
PVFA should release a statement talking about this situation in order to clarify all doubts and show they can organize a football league properly. Oceania Football Center is keeping up with the situation in order to bring all updates about it.
New Zealand women’s national football team is one of the eight national teams that are going to play the 2020 Algarve Cup in Portugal. The Football Ferns are going to be the only non-european national team in the tournament.
Algarve Cup is one of the most traditional football tournaments when it comes to women’s football. The first edition was played in 1994 and it is contested every year since then.
New Zealand women’s national football team
Eight teams will fight for the title: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.
It is going to be the second time ever that the Football Ferns will take part on this tournament. Their first ever appearence was in 2016 when New Zealand finished in the fourth position out of eight teams. The competition will run from 4th to 11th March, 2020.
One of the most important teams from Vanuatu, Amicale FC ended their football activities in August. It was originally reported that they received a 6 million Vatu (Vanuatu’s currency) fine but there were not further details about the situation.
However things are starting to come up: According to local sources, the 6 million Vatu fine is actually a 6 thousand Swiss Franc (Switzerland’s currency). The irregularities were found out by FIFA because Amicale joined TMS (Transfer Matching System).
After joining TMS, FIFA could have access to all international transfers involving Amicale and they could check some irregularities that culminate in a sanction (6000 Swiss Franc fine) to the team.
Amicale players celebrating a goal in OFC Champions League
This fine refers to past years. As they could not pay this heavy fine, Amicale FC had no choice but ending their football activities. Amicale was OFC Champions League runners-up in 2011 and 2014.
The Vanuatu Football Federation launched this week a new tournament named National League Champioship, that will include all eight member associations of Vanuatu in a National Games-style competition.
According to VFF the league will start in the next January 23 and ends at 1st February and will be played in two venues: Port Vila and Luganville. The new tournament will not replace the National Soccer League – that is based in club level not provincial as National League Championship.
Competition logo – VFF Media
As Galaxy FC from Port Vila and Malampa Revivors from Luganville are qualified for the next edition of the OFC Champions League, the local federation invited them to represent their Member Associations in the tournament – both sides may pick players from other teams in their regions to get reinforcements for the contest. All other six Member Associations will select the best players of their regions and make a team to compete in the new championship.
The forward Micah Tommy made his way back to Vanuatu after a succesful stint in Fiji at Ba FC where he helped the Fijian team to win the Vodafone Premier League – the top tier of football in Fiji.
Tommy featured in the last match of the season in Port Vila, the friendly between Galaxy and Tafea which his side won by 2-1. The player was already in Vanuatu and ready to represent Tafea in the final matches of the PVFA Premier League this year, but his ITC (International Transfer Certificate) is not yet issued by his former side. Ba has 30 days to issue the papers and Tafea management is already in talks to make the process ready as soon as possible and allow the player to compete at PVFA Premier League next year matches.
Micah Tommy in Tafea colours – Tafea Media
Tommy was important for his former side Ba in the Vodafone Premier League sucess scoring twice in four matches played in the competition. He also scored a fantastic goal against Lautoka at IDC – watch here.
Tafea will need Tommy to continue at the top of the table of PVFA Premier League with hard matches to come against important sides as Ifira Black Bird, Erakor Golden Star and Galaxy FC.
The last matches of 2019 in the New Zealand top tier will entertain the fans and set the final positions before the Christiams and New Year’s festivals. The ISPS Handa Premiership will resume in 2020, but the final matchweek have very important matches as the 2nd placed Team Wellington facing Team Wellington at Seddon Fields and Hamilton Wanderers looking to keep their recovery against Hawke’s Bay in the televised match of the round by SkySport.
Matches of the weekend – NZF Media
A rare friday night match will take place in Christchurch were Canterbury United will face Tasman United hoping to recover from their draw against Wellington Phoenix Reserves in their previous match of the season. The veteran Aaron Clapham was back to the scoresheet in the previous match and hopes to keep helping his side.
Tasman suffered a defeat hard to accept at home against Hamilton Wanderers, with a fantastic goal of Tommy Semmy to give the visitors their second win in the season. Tasman will need the New Caledonian international Jean-Philippe Saïko in the attack to hope for a away win Christchurch.
Aaron Clapham celebrates his goal against WeeNix – NZF Media
After a very good start of the season, Waitakere United tasted three defeats in a row and now will have a Team Wellington in a superb form – TeeDubs won all their previous three games in the ISPS Handa Premiership. Waitakere could not hold the good momentum of Hawke’s Bay in Napier and suffered a 4-2 defeat.
Team Wellington is buzzing at the momment after an impressive 6-1 win over Southern at David Farrington Park. In a match the youngster Marko Stamenic scored his first goal as senior, Jack-Henry Sinclair also scored and earned the award of ‘Player of the Week’.
Team Wellington look to keep their good form – NZF Media
After suffering a harsh defeat away from home, Southern will be back to Dunedin to face an even harder challenge: Auckland City. The team coached by Paul O’Reilly will hope the defenders Jordan Spain and Connor O’Keffee can stop the firepower of the men commanded by Jose Figueira.
Auckland City dropped two points at home against Eastern Suburbs in the previous matchweek with a 0-0 draw – the first game the current top goalscorer Myer Bevan did not score in the season so far. The team will hope Bevan and his prolific teammates as Logan Rogerson and Clayton Lewis can comeback stronger and keep in the top of the table.
Auckland City hopes to continue topping the table – NZF Media
Eastern Suburbs after a hard fought draw against the powerhouse Auckland City will hope to continue their good form against Wellington Phoenix Reserves. Martin Bueno is always their biggest hope for goals – the Uruguayan scored twice in the season so far. The talented Reid Drake is also a key member for the Lilywhites.
But it does not seem to be an easy encounter for Eastern Suburbs, the young side of Phoenix got some important results in the previous weeks – as winning Hamilton Wanderers and stopping Canterbury United to a draw. Ahmed Othman scored a brace in his last game and might be threat for the current champions.
Othman is being key for the recovery in the ladder of Phoenix – NZF Media
The only match on Sunday – the last of the year for ISPS Handa Premiership – will see a very lively encounter between a Hamilton Wanderers that finally won once again in the league and a surprsing Hawke’s Bay making a superb season so far.
Tommy Semmy gave the win for Wanderers last weekend against Tasman with a magnificent free-kick and Derek Tieku also scored for the team from Hamilton. Hawke’s Bay came from behind to win Waitakere United at home with a brace of the powerful striker Ihaia Delaney.
Can HBU continue in the top four for longer? – Steph Gunter
The current standings of ISPS Handa Premiership has Auckland City three points above Team Wellington in the top of the table, while Hawke’s Bay United and Eastern Suburbs complete the first four teams qualified for the national league semifinals. At the bottom of the table, Hamilton Wanderers has six points, the same amount of points of Canterbury United and Wellington Phoenix Reserves – but keeping at the 10th position due goal difference.
Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers announced that they reached an agreement to extend Bill Tuiloma’s contract. It is being reported as a “multi-year deal” but there is no exact information about the new contract’s duration.
Tuiloma playing for Portland Timbers
Tuiloma is a 24 years old central back born in New Zealand and he is playing for Portland Timbers since 2017 when he arrived from French club Olympique de Marseille. He played 25 matches in 2019 MLS season and scored one goal.
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