The 2020 edition of the OFC Champions League is about to start; to let you know everything you need about each team taking part in the competition we are pleased to announce the Guide of 2020 OFC Champions League. The guide consists to inform all info you must know about the clubs in the present edition and It will be split in two versions: the first will mention the three clubs taking part in Preliminary Stage while the second will embrace all teams from the Group Phase – 16 in total.
The trophy of OFC Champions League – OFC Media
The preliminary stage of the OFC Champions League is a tournament played by four teams from the ranked bottom nations of FIFA Rankings. Every year the national champions of Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands take place in round-robin competition to give two slots in the group stage. In 2020 the American Samoa representatives Pago Youth decided to withdrew of the competition due health concerns with the measles outbreak that affect the South Pacific – only three clubs will be taking place in the first round.
The competiton will take place for the first time since its creation in a neutral venue, the Ngahue Reserve in Auckland, New Zealand. To see the full schedule of the competition, visit our OFC Champions League section. To watch the matches there are good news for the fans of Oceanian football: OFC will stream all matches of the stage in mycujoo platform.
The three teams taking part of the competition – Lupe o le Soaga (SAM), Tupapa Maraerenga (COK) and Veitongo (TGA) – will be battling for two spots in the OFC Champions League group phase. Oceania Football Center made articles presenting the teams and containing the most important info regarding all participants of this edition – just click in one of the banners to be redirected to the club’s info page.
Jean-Gilles Hnamuko, gardien de but né en Nouvelle Caledonie en 1996, a firme avec le Junglinster qui actuelment joue dans la Ligue 2 en Luxembourg. C’est un important transfert de carrière pour le jouer cagous qui jouait actuellement dans l’Esperange II, la deuxieme equipe de l’Esperange, autre club de Ligue 2 luxembourgeoise. JJH c’etait un des gardiens de la nationale de Nuovelle-Caledonie qui a tres bien fait pendant le dernier Pacific Games qui ce sont deroule en julliet 2019 a Samoa.
Hnamuko nous a fait une brève déclaration sur ce transfert: “je suis très content d’être aujourd’hui à Junglinster, l’effectif et le staf mon tout de suite mis à l’aise dans le vestiaire, à moi maintenant de montrait le meilleur de moi même“.
Nous souhaitons le meilleur pour cette nouvelle aventure à Hnamuko.
The fifth weekend of action in the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is almost upon us, but most of the news this week has been about the eligibility of Lae City and Hekari United’s new foreign players, and whether we’ll see them taking the field alongside their new teammates tomorrow.
Hekari United midfielder Michael Foster and new recruit Vinícius deep in discussion in training this week. Photo: Hekari United FC – Red Army Nation
However, as reported earlier this week, Lae City have had some problems registering their new foreign players, due to the lack of information provided on the international Transfer Matching System (TMS), which has in turn meant the PNGFA has been unable to provide the two players with an International Transfer Certificate (ITC), which would allow them to officially register with the club and play in the National Soccer League, as well as the OFC Champions League.
According to FIFA, the TMS is “an online system that makes international transfers of players between clubs quicker, smoother and more transparent.” Furthermore, according to playfootball.com.au, an ITC is “a certificate provided from one national association to another to facilitate the transfer of a player between countries.”
This means that whenever a player transfers from one club to another, it must be registered in the TMS, and both clubs, the selling and buying club, must complete the necessary information in order to secure the ITC. While it appears Hekari United have done their due diligence here, the process at Lae City FC seems to have been mishandled.
The official line from the PNGFA, and their General Secretary Dimirit Mileng, is that Lae City failed to provide all the necessary information about the two players, which is why the PNGFA has been unable to clear the players for on-field duty since receiving a letter from the club on December 12th.
However, Lae City Recruitment Officer Edris Kumbruwah blamed the PNGFA for not providing enough information as to the due process required when bringing foreign players into the league, and also accused the PNGFA of sitting on their hands by failing to inform the club that more information was required until earlier this week.
The reaction on social media has been mixed, with some supporting the PNGFA’s stance, while others feeling Lae City have been unfairly treated.
Port Moresby Soccer Association President Joseph Ealedona said: “In my view the fault will be with Lae City, but if PNGFA did not seek this info quickly, then that’s a communication problem from the PNGFA, who must seriously improve in this respect.” However, Ealedona continued that he believed there was time for the issue to be resolved before the OFC Champions League kicks off.
Several Lae City FC fans have expressed their anger at the process, and accused PNGFA President John Kapi Natto of exercising bias towards his own team, Hekari United. Journalist Sylvester Gawi brushed off these reports, saying. “John Kapi Natto is an honest guy. Don’t blame him. Edris Kumbruwah should know better the process in which to obtain ITC for the two Ecuadorian imported players. I am die-hard Lae City FC supporter and I dont blame PNGFA for this blunder.”
It’s also unclear whether we will see the Brazilians taking the field for Hekari United this weekend either, with coach Jerry Allen saying yesterday that “we are waiting for the process to be completed and when it is done, hopefully they can take the field this weekend.” This suggests that the eight-time former champions are also still awaiting clearance from the PNGFA.
Both Lae and Hekari have tough home games this weekend, with leaders Hekari taking on third-placed Tusbab Stallions in Port Moresby, while Lae City play fourth-placed Vitiaz United in Lae. Elsewhere, Morobe Wawens host FC Bougainville in the early kick-off, Gulf Komara and Star Mountain will both be looking to secure their first win of the season, while Morobe United will be hoping that they can make the most of their home advantage against FC Kutubu from the Highlands.
Nothing separated the two sides contesting in Champion vs Champion series. The stellar squad of Ba with the likes of Samuela Drudru and Benjamin Totori making their debut could not pass the strong defense of Labasa, captained by the experienced defender Taniela Waqa.
Samuela Drudru found the net in the first half, but the goal did not count as the referee disallowed what would be the first goal of Drudru for Ba.
Labasa and Ba squads – FFA Media
The rainy day in Lautoka was a barrier for both sides to create chances to score. The pitch of Churchil Park had some puddles that did not allow the match to be as fast as they players wanted it to be.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw and the title for the first competiton of the 2020 calender of Fiji Football Association will be decided at Ratu Cakobau Park. You can check the highlights by clicking here.
The bad news for Ba fans is that the new signing from Lautoka Beniamino Mateinaqara needed to leave the pitch in the final moments of the clash due an injury. The player was subbed by the reserve goalkeeper Misiwane Nairube.
Wellington Phoenix is back to the winning ways after they beat at home Newcastle Jets; a very hard match for the New Zealanders as the visitors created the most opportunities of goals, but were stopped by Marinovic in a splendid night.
Jets had the best opportunities in the first half and should have scored in certain moments. The first 45 minutes were completely controled by the visitors. Matthew Millar created the best opportunity of the first half, as he broke into a counter-attack and found Jason Hoffman free inside the box, but the winger shot above the bar of Marinovic, missing a golden opportunity. Despite the dominace of the bottom ranked team in the ladder against Phoenix in the first half, the match went in a 0-0 draw at the break.
The starting of the second half had the same story: Newcastle upfront controlling the game, Phoenix could not keeping possession of the ball and wasting it in the final third. The things were not good for Phoenix, so the coach Ufuk Talay decided to sack Callum McCowatt to introduce the speedster Jaushua Sotirio.
The substitution could not have worked faster: Gary Hooper found the playmaker Dávila in the midfielder, he speeds the play and puts a fantastic through ball to Sotirio, that with his first touch in the ball of the game puts the Nix upfront with a clinical finish.
Sotirio scores for Phoenix – Phoenix Media
Things seemed to be lucky in favour of Phoenix – not a good day for the team, Jets were dominant. The tactics chosen by the visitors really seemed to work, not allowing much space for the runs of Liberato Cacace and for the creativity of Ulises Dávila in the midfield. The 1-0 could change the whole story of the game, if It was not for Abdiel Arroyo: the striker found the nets in the 66th after a mistake of Phoenix defense – the first attempt Marinovic could hold, what seemed to be controlled ball was wasted after David Ball was tackled and after the shot of Petratos was deflected, the ball was offered for the Panamanian to find the low corner of Marinovic, to equalize the match.
The drama was back to Sky Stadium, but only for three minutes: Alex Rufer made his first game after a knee injury – making a surprise enter in the game after Talay announced the play was still out during the week – and made also a direct impact. After a cross, Rufer takes the rebound and fires to the goal, the ball is deflect and Ulises Dávila just need to find the corner of Lewis Italiano to put Phoenix ahead. This was the 10th goal of the season for Dávila.
The ‘genius’ Dávila – Phoenix Media
After the second goal at the 69th minute of play, another character arised in the game: Stefan Marinovic. The All-Whites goalkeeper made several stops to keep his team upfront in the scoreboard – denying a free header of Nigel Boogard and a long-range shot of Angus Thurgate.
Marinovic made a total of four saves during the match, the most impressive of them all came in the final minute of the game, when after a cross the ball offered itself to Jets attacker inside the 6-yard box and Marinovic could have a powerful shot with his leg, saving all points for the home side.
Stefan Marinovic was crucial for Phoenix win – Phoenix Media
The goalkeeper was much celebrated after the final whistle by his teammates – they know his game was a first-class and Marinovic the responsible to keep all three points from this clash in Wellington.
Phoenix stands in the 4th position in the Australian Hyundai A-League ladder with 24 points after this 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets. The club has the same number of points of th 3rd placed Perth Glory, but the current premiers have a better goal difference and still two matches to be played in comparison with Phoenix.
Phoenix heads now to a bye-week and will just return to the pitch in the next 7th February, when they travel to Perth for the Long Distance Derby.
Unfortunately for Wellington Phoenix, they could not break their non-losing streak history record in the Hyundai A-League in the last week against Brisbane Roar as they were defeat by 1-0. The team was very unlucky as they hit the woodwork twice in the first half and suffered a heartbreaking goal in the final part of the game.
The Nix will be back to New Zealand this Friday to face Newcaste Jets, the bottom ranked team in the ladder, and they will be certainly looking for a convicing win to boost their confindece for the rest of the league – recovering from an unfortunate 1-0 defeat in the last match.
Nix was beaten by Roar at SunCorp Stadium – Phoenix Media
The good news for Phoenix is the club is still in the same place in the standings even with the loss against Roar. The 4th position – that assures a home playoff-game – is still there for Wellington Phoenix, but if they want to keep the process a win against Newcastle is very important.
The Englishman David Ball might be back to the starting team and possibly the Australian speedster Jaushua Sotirio will make room for the striker. The German midfielder Matti Steinmann will be missing his first game of the season after receiving his 5th yellow card in the previous match – there are still doubts which player will take his place in the game, the most possible option is the new signing Brandon Wilson that will make his debut if he is the chosen one. Steinmann will be the only problem for Ufuk Talay, as Louis Fenton is ruled out of the season and Alex Rufer is still not fully recovered from his knee injury.
The match will be telecasted by SkySports and streamed at MyFootball YouTube channel for foreign supporters.
Football has the power to unite crowds, people from different parts of the planet, of different beliefs, thoughts and ethnics. Football is the most popular sport in the world and we can count on many very good examples coming from it; the ultimate goal of Football should be always to inspire and unite people.
A very good example comes from Samoa; the 6-time capped international Vaalii Faalogo has certainly much to teach about life. Vaalii reached significant success in the sport in his home country, playing in OFC Nations Cup in his national team and representing Lupe o le Soaga, his club back in Samoa, in OFC Champions League campaigns. Faalogo captained the club in their last appearance in the competition in 2018.
Faalogo with Lupe o le Soaga in 2018 – OFC Media
In 2018 was the last time Vaalii played at the regional stage in the OFC Champions League – as the team he captained lost the national league to Kiwi FC which represented Samoa in the 2019 edition of the regional tournament.
Not qualifying for that editions of the OFC Champions League was not the saddest news for Vaalii and his teammates: the defender was diagnosed with cancer. The news shocked the staff and all people involved with Lupe o le Soaga as well all the football community in Samoa.
Vaalii then turned his focus for his treatments. As before, when he was focused to stop the opposition forwards, now he battled to prevent another enemy with the usual power he had when inside the pitch. The Samoan left for New Zealand in order to pursue his goal to avoid the new opponent to win.
After so many tackles inside the football field, Vaalii was there as usual tackling the disease and we can say he achieved the same success he from his experience in the sport. The now 36-year old is recovered and is slowly getting back to action. He took his time, never gave up and shown the spirit of a true warrior.
Vaalii is step-by-step getting back to football; his next goal is to help Lupe o le Soaga to qualify once again for the OFC Champions League group stage from outside the pitch – the former international will be assisting the head coach Paul Ualesi. Lupe will certainly have a big fight to come, but they will have a very good fighter in their side.
The challenge Vaalii and his team will have in Auckland is a very important milestone for the club and Samoan football. But, even without the kick-off of the tournament we can say we already have a champion; a champion of life, a champion that comes from Samoa that has a lot to teach.
Recently, Oceania Football Center released the results of its 1st edition of Oceania Football Center; an annual event that selects the U20 Player of Year, the Goalkeeper of the Year and the Player of the Year awards inside the Oceania football context.
In 2019 the chosen player for the most important award was the Fijian Roy Krishna. Krishna had a fantastic 2018/19 season for Wellington Phoenix in Hyundai A-League in Australia and recently signed for the Indian Super League side ATK, where he already stared the season with very good performances.
Roy Krishna with ATK – Bhaskar Live
You can check the full awards of the OFCe event by clicking here.
The Samoan champions Lupe o le Soaga suffered a huge blow for their campaign in the upcoming Preliminary Stage of OFC Champions League. Recently, It was reported the midfielder Ken Kerewi was back to Lupe after a stint in New Zealand; indeed the player is back to the team, but due visa problems the Nigerian will not take part in the OFC tournament in its first stage.
Oscar Anto (left) and Ken Kerewi (right)
The problems are even bigger for Lupe o le Soaga: the young forward Oscar Anto from Ghana will not be available for the OFC Champions League Prelimary Stage alongisde Kerewi. The player also had problems with his visa for New Zealand – where the competition will take place – and both players will miss the first stage of the regional tournament.
Despite the bad news, the players might be ready for the Group Stage part of the competition, but Lupe will have the task to proceed to the next phase without the services of the African duo.
2019 was a successful year for local champion Mens football side Lupe o le Soaga. The squad that hails from the proud village of Magiagi were once again crowned Samoa Football Federation champions when the league was halted early due to the recent measles epidemic. Lupe o le Soaga were awarded the championship in late November with a 14 win, 2 loss record. Coach Paul Ualesi said “It was a close fought league this year. Teams like Kiwi FC and Vaipuna put up a good challenge, but our boys experience, dedicated training ethic and team spirit were factors that enabled us to succeed”.
Lupe o le Soaga have now been selected to represent Samoa in the Oceania Football Confederation preliminary stage being held in Auckland, New Zealand from January 25th-31st where they will take on the champions from Tonga and the Cook Islands for two spots in the main stage of the OFC tournament held in early March in New Caledonia or Tahiti. Ualesi said “Our goal was to qualify for the initial stages and after that was achieved the boys have been on a strict fitness plan. We have upped the intensity at training so we have the best preparation possible to compete in the Auckland tournament”.
Lupe o le Soaga squad before departure to New Zealand – Lupe o le Soaga Media
Lupe o le Soaga are no strangers to representing their nation in the OFC main group stages after also qualifying in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Coach Ualesi and his team though aren’t looking too far ahead as they have two obstacles in their way first in Auckland. “We know that Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands) and Veitongo FC (Tonga) are formidable opponents. We respect them 100% and know we must work hard and play as a team on the day to get the results we deserve”. Lupe o le Soaga have a good mix of experience and youth in its squad with captain Andrew Setefano, Vito Laloata, Alapati Bell, Va’a Taualai and Lapalapa Tony leading the way for the younger squad members to look up to.
Lupe o le Soaga Football club is a success story. It prides itself on its accountability, respect and fair-play. Ualsesi says “As a result of our successes we have helped many of our village members, both male and female discover their talents on the football field and given them a path with opportunities to play at both national and international level. We also teach our youth respect and discipline and have worked hard to address violence within the community”.
Looking forward to the tournament though Ualesi said “The hardest part in attending these Oceania tournaments is the financial strain. Although we appreciate the assistance from the Samoa Football Federation and Oceania Football Confederation, we still require funding to give us the best opportunity to progress to the main stage. It is very expensive and our management team have been working hard to organise the funds for our trip”.
