Le Mans FC, the club of the New Caledonian international Georges Gope-Fenepej faced in the French League Cup the European powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. The club currently in the second tier of football in France could not hold the firepower of the strongest French side that is already qualified for the round of 16 of UEFA Champions League.
Georges Gope-Fepenej was unable to play the match not being called up for this major clash against PSG. The 31-year old forward that already scored 15 times for New Caledonia since his debut in 2011, played six matches in the season so far for Le Mans – 292 minutes in total – scoring three goals. Recently Oceania Football Center wrote about the good form of Gope-Fenepej – see more here.
Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) sanctioned Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) by excluding them from 2020 U16 OFC Championship. Moreover, SIFF also received a NZ$10.000 fine because of Maxwell Keana’s overaging case.
Although they disagree with the sanctions, SIFF is not going to appeal OFC’s decision. However they are willing to prove SIFF’s innocence in the case.
SIFF was sanctioned by OFC due to Keana’s overaging case.
SIFF is not responsible by issuing documents and passports to know if a player is overaged or not. Furthermore, OFC also could not know Maxwell Keana’s real age because youth players are not submitted to MRI wrist scan to play youth tournaments in Oceania.
OFC should not throw stones because they live in glass houses. The confederation would never know about Keana’s overaging if Solomon Islands did not qualify for U17 World Cup.
Royals is a football academy from Solomon Islands that is ran by Joel Konofilia, a former football player. They have a partnership with Stars Academy from England and Royals always take young players to train and play in England.
It is one of the most wonderful things that is being done when it comes to Oceanian Football. Taking young players to Europe and help them to get some exposure internationally is very important and laudable. However there are somethings that need to be pointed in order to avoid misunderstandings.
This team is not the Youth Tottenham Hotspur that plays the U19 Champions League or U18 Premier League. It is one of many football academies and colleges that holds a partnership with Tottenham Hotspur. The team that lost to Royals is Tottenham Hotspur BSC, from Barnet Southgate College. They play in a private football league that is not related to English FA.
Royals recently won a team from Chelsea Foundation College and it was reported by Royals manager that it is a football team from Championship (English second tier) but it is not true. It is a football academy related to Chelsea, but it is not Chelsea FC.
This post does not intend to despite Royals Academy because Oceania Football Center agrees that it is a wonderful project. These young players from Solomon Islands are having contact with good structure and training that they may not have contact in their homeland. But Royals management should be more clear in their explanations so people would not misunderstand the situation.
Anyway, Oceania Football Center congratulates Royals Academy for what is being done by them.
Despite the defeat, the current national champions that have Teaonui Tehau as key player continues in the leadership of the league. You can check the full standings by clicking here.
In the other mtches of the round, AS Manu Ura recovered themselves with a fantastic home win against AS Central Sport ny 3-2 and AS Dragon surpassed at home AS TAC by the same scoreline as Manu Ura.
AS Pirae comanded by Raimana Li Fung Kuee found no dificulties to beat AS Jeunes Tahitiens by huge margin of 7-0 at Stade Pater. Olympic Mahina that suffered a very harsh defeat in the previous against Pirae, stunned the powerhouse AS Tefana in Mahina by 4-3.
During the week AS Tiare Anani lost to AS Manu Ura by 5-1, so the current members of the Ligue 1 Vini are qualified for the second round to face AS Venus in the next 21th December. AS Pirae also played a mid-week cup match and shown no mercy to the tiny AS Papara winning by 23-0 and qualifying themselves for the second round to face AS Mira.
The 2019 Telekom S-League has a different schedule for this week, with two matches on Wednesday and some other matches throughout the week. Wednesday’s clashes were very important and you can check what happened here!
ISABEL UNITED 2-5 KOSSA
After a 2-0 loss in the first half, Kossa found the goal’s path and scored five goals in the second half. Harrison Mala remains on fire, he netted a brace (Kossa’s first and third goals) to lead his team to the victory. Mala scored eight goals in the last three matches and he has now 14 goals in the league.
This result was very important for Kossa that is now in the third position with 26 points, overtaking Isabel that is in fourth with 25.
HENDERSON EELS 3-2LAUGU UNITED
Eels keep trying to reach league leaders Solomon Warriors. The 3-2 win against Laugu was a key moment for Eels to remain alive in the title’s race. Raphael Lea’i scored a brace while Kennedy Watemae scored the remaining Eels’ goal. Young forward Darold Kakasi scored twice for Laugu United.
Eels remain in the second position with 35 points, tied with Solomon Warriors. However Warriors played fourteen matches while Eels played fifteen.
As it was previously reported, Galaxy FC was supposed to play against Tafea on this Wednesday at Korman Stadium (Vanuatu) to test some new players in order to decide their final squad for 2020 OFC Champions League group stage that will take place in February at Papua New Guinea.
Differently of what was reported some days ago, it was not friendly match. The winner would take home a trophy and a 100.000 Vatu (local currency) prize – something like 900 dollars.
The match did not start well for Galaxy FC. One of the tested players, defender Alphonse Lency got injured in the tenth minute of the first half and he was replaced by Yvong August.
Lency (in the middle) leaving the field after getting injured
Things got even worse for Galaxy when the referee pointed a penalty kick in favour of Tafea. Galaxy’s goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel saved the penalty kick but the referee has ordered to retake it and defender Junior Felix scored to put Tafea ahead. Galaxy got their own back when Bong Kalo netted a penalty kick in the late minutes of first half to tie the match at one.
The second half started just like the first one for Galaxy: with bad news. Yvong August – who replaced injured Alphonse Lency – was sent off and the Blues needed to play with just ten men in the pitch. However as it was not an official match, Galaxy was allowed to place another player in order to keep themselves with eleven players in the pitch but it was not enough to win. John Thomas scored Tafea’s winning goal in the stoppage time.
Tafea’s captain Bob Jeffery receiving the trophy and the cash prize
There were also two other awards delievered in this match: The best goal scored that was awarded to Tafea’s player John Thomas and the best playear award won by Galaxy’s goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel who made lots of important saves throughout the match.
Thomas (left) and Iaruel (right) receiving their awards
New Zealand U23 National Football Team head coach Des Buckingham graduated a Master of Science in Advanced Performance Football Coaching by the University of South Wales.
The 34 years old head coach was given an “Outstanding Performance” award due to his brilliant performance. This award is given to one student a year. Buckingham was born in English but he works in New Zealand since 2015.
He managed the All Whites U20 National Team in 2019 U20 FIFA World Cup held in Poland.
The 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season is over for Waitakere United’s player Andrew Abba. The 30 years old forward got injured against Hamilton Wanderers and he is going to undergo surgery.
Andrew Abba (in red and white) playing for Waitakere United. Source: NZFootball
Abba had a meniscus tear and he is going to miss some months recovering from it – “The worst of all is the fact of the game being called off.” he said. The clash between Waitakere United and Hamilton Wanderers was called off in the 65th minute due to bad weather. Waitakere was winning by 2-1 and it is going to be rescheduled.
Oceania Football Center wishes a good recover to Andrew Abba.
The Ni-Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak played all the 90 minutes in the recent clash of his side Auckland City against the current champions of the New Zealand football top-tier Eastern Suburbs.
Brian Kaltak in action for Auckland City – NZF Media
The defender is being a regular starter in the season for the Navy Blues, he was already selected twice in the ‘Team of the Week‘ in the ISPS Handa Premiership. For the second time in the season, Auckland City could not win a match in the league, this time ending in a 0-0 draw against Eastern Suburbs.
The weekend of football in New Zealand top tier saw the recovery of Team Wellington confirmed as they demolished Southern United at David Farrigton Park. After a winless period, the club from the capital could record their third win in a row. Despite their efforts, their distance to Auckland City who currently sits first in the ladder is still significant, with three points separating the two sides.
Myer Bevan could not keep his goalscoring form against Eastern Suburbs – ACFC Media
The Gridlock Derby between Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs could not have a winner. The Kiwitea Street saw the best team so far in the league to a goaless draw to the current ISPS Handa Premiership title holders. Myer Bevan could not score for the seventh game in a row, but he is still the player who most scored in the league with nine.
Differently from Auckland, in Wellington we saw six goals in the draw of Wellington Phoenix Reserves and Canterbury United. George King found the nets for Canterbury, but just two minutes later Ahmed Othman found an equalizer for the young side of Wellington Phoenix. Byron Heath put Welligton upfront at the 19th minute of play and just in the second half the veteran Aaron Clapham could find the nets to put a 2-2 in the scoreline. In the final minutes more two goals for each side, Ahmed Othman scored once more for his side and Juan Chang put the final numbers to the scoreborad at the 97th – injury time – to grab a point for his side.
Juan Chang celebrates his late equalizer – Phoenix Media
In Napier, Hawke’s Bay United saw Waitakere United score first through the effort of Jake Porter. The American striker Ahinga Selemani scored to level the match for HBU, but Lachlan McIsaac put Waitakere once again ahead just before half time.
The second half was entirely dominated by Hawke’s Bay since they could score three goals to bounce back in the match. Ihaia Delaney was key for his side scoring a brace in the match and with Joshua Signey adding another, to win again in the compeition by 4-2.
Hawke’s Bay players celebrate one of their four goals – Steph Gunter
Finally Hamilton Wanderers got back to their winning days; they won away from home Tasman United at Trafalgar Park with a decisive goal of the Papua New Guinean international Tommy Semmy. Wanderers scored first through the captain Derek Tieku, but Matt Todd-Smith leveled for Tasman at the 25th minute of play. The negative record seemed to continue after the youngster Jesse Randall scored for Tasman at the injury time of the first half – his first goal at senior level.
But the second half told another story in favour of Hamilton. A penalty well taken by Jake Butler and a beautiful free-kick of Tommy Semmy sealed the second win for Hamilton in the league.
Hamilton celebrates Tieku goal – NZF Media
Team Wellington kept their good run with a third victory in a row with massive result against Southern United at home – a 6-1 win proved the quality the former OFC Champions League winners. The brace of the young gun Jack-Henry Sinclair, the 5th goal of the season of the striker Hamish Watson and the first senior goal for the 17-year old Marko Stamenic marked the win of TeeDubs. Garbhan Coughlan scored the consolation goal for the men from Dunedin.
Marko Stamenic scored his first senior goal for Team Wellington – NZF Media
Auckland City continues in the top of the table with 17 points now, but saw their five-point lead recuded to three after a draw at home against Eastern Suburbs. Team Wellington is now closer with 14 points and Hawke’s Bay United and Eastern Suburbs complete the current top four teams for playoff – the full standings and goalscorers you can see by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 