Oceania Football Center

Jared Clark: getting Ni-Vanuatu citizenship

Oceania Football Center recently wrote an article questioning Jared Clark’s eligibility to represent Vanuatu National Football Team. After raising the initial doubt our team started to investigate about it to find out if he is eligible or not.

Jared was born in Australia in 1998. His father is Australian and his mother is from Vanuatu which means that he is eligible to apply for a Ni-Vanuatu citizenship – “I am currently working on it. I have sent the papers through and they are on their way to Vanuatu” said Jared Clark.

Image may contain: 1 person — Jared Clark

He can be called up for Vanuatu National Team when he gets the citizenship. According to Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) former technical advisor Joshua James, VFF management is already aware about the situation.

Clark would be a huge addition for Vanuatu in the 2020 OFC Nations Cup that will be held in June. His background in the sport makes him a top player for Oceania and his European experience can add a lot to the team.

Beniamino and Drudru ready to play CVC clash

There are great news for all Ba FC fans: both new signigns of the club coming from Lautoka Beniamino Mateinaqara and Samuela Drudru are ready to defed the Men in Black in the Champion vs Champion clash against Labasa. Both players documents were accepted by Fijian Football Association, so the players are officialy registered in the club.

Drudru (left) and Beniamino (right) are now Ba FC players

Both players are the most important local signings of Ba in order to reinforce their squad for 2020 season, especially for the challenge in OFC Champions League; both players represented Lautoka in the regional competition last year.

The first challenge of them will be against Labasa, the IDC Champions, in the CVC challenge that will have its first leg match next Saturday (25/01).

VFF National League Championship: schedule is ready

The most recent tournament created by Vanuatu Football Federation now has their schedule ready. The VFF National League Championship will feature both Vanuatu clubs competing in the 2020 OFC Champions League will be taking part in the competition, using it as preparation for the regional competition.

Malampa Revivors and Galaxy will be taking part of the National League Championship

The competiton will be split in two groups being one played in Luganville and the other group in Port Vila. You can see the complete schedule by clicking here. The grand final match will be played in 6th February.

Fiji names new National Team head coach

After a lot of research, the Fijian Football Association decided who will the next head coach of the Bula Boys: the Danish and former Papua New Guinea national team head coach Flemming Serristlev was chosen by the Fijian direction to take on the team.

Image may contain: 1 person, eyeglasses and closeup — Flemming Serritslev – *FFA Media*

Recently Oceania Football Center reported there were rumours regarding Serritslev to take on Fijian head coach job and it is now confirmed. The 72-year old is set to arrive in the country in the next weekened (25-26/01). The FFA said “He was the most successful applicant shortlisted and is expected to replace the former national coach Christophe Gamel who resigned from his job in August last year“.

Serritslev led Papua New Guinea Kapuls to the final match of 2016 OFC Nations Cup against New Zealand. The team managed to hold the New Zealanders to a 0-0 draw, but lost in the penalty shootout.

Tuivuna stays in Labasa after withdrawing Ba deal

The star midfielder of Labasa Antonio Tuivuna decided to refuse the deal with Ba in order to represent them in the next season and OFC Champions League to stay in his current team Labasa.

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people standing — Tuivuna receives IDC award – *FFA Media*

The former U20 Fiji international won the best player award of the last InterDistrict Championship that his side Labasa won. Tuivuna decision will be key for the success of Labasa in the season. Recently the striker Siotame Kubu also decided to stay in Labasa after he was linked to a move to leave the team.

All-Whites player Ridenton fails to impress English club

The New Zealand international Matthew Ridenton left his club in Newcastle Jets in the previous week to attend trials in the English second tier side Reading FC. The player had a rare opportunity to showcase himself at a very higher level than in Australian A-League.

According to Berkshire Live, the 23-year old midfielder had a trial match with the Reading U23 side and failed to impress the staff. The club stated that Ridenton played well but he was not what exactly what the team needed.

Ridenton will be now back to Newcastle Jets in Australian A-League for the 2020 part of the season. The club is currently at the bottom of the table and will need a lot from Ridenton to overcome the bad situation.

Misiwani Nairube close to Lautoka move

The former U20 Fiji National Team goalkeeper Misiwane Nairube is close to grant a deal with the national giant side Lautoka. After losing their number one goalkeeper to Ba, Lautoka looks to take Ba’s Nairube to replace the position left by Beniamino Mateinaqara.

Lautoka also applied to sign Nasinu’s Eramu Manumanubai and Tevita Rabekawa, Rewa’s Joela Biuvanau. Lautoka lost many important players in this transfer window and the club looks to reinforce their squad for OFC Champions League. Lautoka is currently also seeking for a coach.

Kamal Swamy is new Nadi head coach

The 49-year old coach Kamal Swamy is the new head coach of Nadi. The experienced head coach signed for the club in order to organize the club for the 2020 season. The information was confirmed by Nadi FA president Javed Ahmad.

Swamy had as his last experienced in coaching Suva and also has plenty experienced after coaching Lautoka and also the Fiji U17 National Team. Kamal recently reported his interest to coach the Fiji National Team in an interview with local sources.

New foreign players already training with Hekari United

The new additions for the Hekari United squad in order to compete at 2020 OFC Champions League already trained with the squad just after their arrival in Papua New Guinea. The Brazilian defender Erick Joe and the also Brazilian midfielder Viníciuis Kryzozun joined the squad in the Tuesday practice.

Viníciuis Kryzozun (center) and Erick Joe (left) – *PNGFA Media*

Oceania Football Center already presented the profiles of both players recently – check here to read.

Hekari is grouped with Hienghène Sport, Galaxy FC and Eastern Suburbs in the OFC Champions League – the Group A will be played in Port Moresby.

Jesse Kalopong joins Malampa Revivors for OFC Champions League

Jesse Kalopong, the young defender from Erakor Golden Star in Port Vila, signed for Malampa Revivors in Luganville in order to represent the current Vanuatu national champions in the next edition of OFC Champions League. Kalopong will join his former teammate Jacky Ruben that also signed for the club to defend the blue and white in the regional competition.

Image may contain: 1 person, playing a sport, grass, stadium and outdoor — Kalopong in National Team colours – *OFC Media*

The defender that mainly play as left back represented Vanuatu in the previous U23 OFC Olympic Qualifiers and scored one goal in the competition. Kalopong was a usual starter for Erakor Golden Star in the PVFA Premier League in 2019.

Malampa Revivors will count with several players from Port Vila in the competition, Bob Jeffrey, Azariah Soromon and Tom Loic were recently signed for the Luganville-based club in order to represent Vanuatu in the OFC Champions League. Jesse will be the 5th signing from a Port Vila player for the competition.

The plane tickets for Jesse and his teammate Jacky Ruben to travel to Luganville were sponsored by MP Marco Mahe from Rural Espíritu Santo island, according to Vanuatu Sport.