The year of 2019 was something special for Futsal in Oceania, specially for one country: The Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands National Futsal Team, also known as Kurukuru won OFC Futsal Nations Cup for the sixth time ever to qualify for 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup that will be held in Lithuania. It might have been the most difficult OFC Futsal Nations Cup title for Kurukuru – “New Zealand improved a lot and we need to work the extra mile to remain as Futsal Kings in Oceania. The final match against them was a great challenge. We missed lots of goal chances during the regular time so we had to end up with penalties”said James Egeta in a interview with Oceania Football Center after winning the tournament.
Kurukuru players celebrating 2019 OFC Futsal Nations Cup title
Five players won 2019 OFC Futsal Nations Cup and 2019 OFC Futsal Champions League. Goalkeeper Athony Talo is one of these five players. The Champions League title was something special for him once he scored the goal that sent Kooline to the final. According to him, winning the Champions League is a great bonus for those who already won the OFC Futsal Nations Cup.
Oceania Football Center congratulates Kurukuru, Kooline and all players and coaching staff involved with both teams.
Marco Rojas will not play for SønderjyskE anymore. The 28 years old New Zealander is ready to leave the Danish team as his contract expires and he will no longer be part of the squad when 2019 becomes 2020. He refused to extend his contract because he did not agree to terms.
Rojas playing for SønderjyskE
While Marco Rojas is becoming a free agent, Wellington Phoenix head coach Ufuk Talay is looking to strengthen his team. Rojas might be an option for him once he played for WeeNix between 2009 and 2011.
Rojas scored 4 goals in 33 matches for SønderjyskE in Danish Superligaen.
Wearing blue: Dabinyaba (left) and Simon (right) playing for Malaita Kings
According to team sources both players arrived last weekend and they are already training with Lae City squad. Lae is currently in the third position in 2019-20 Papua New Guinean National Soccer League (PNG NSL) with six points in two matches.
Every country has its young talents; always lots of expecations are put in their shoulders to turn into superstars in the game. In little nations it might be even harder to deal with the pressure to have the gift to play football: in a football crazy nation – that is yet to achieve big things in football – always there are high expectations in the new generations, hoping that these young players can put the name of their country in another level.
The lack of international exposure, the not ideal infrastructure and sometimes the poor management of governmental bodies – and also the bad management of the player football career – are problems that can make any real talent to be wasted. In big football nations the chances to lose a good talent are low, due the good capabilities and the know-how they developed there – but, unfortunately, through the history of football we could had seem many wasted talents coming from little nations in the sport, most of them due lack of management.
Currently in Oceania one of the hottest prospects for the future is the Solomon Islander Raphael Le’ai, of just 16 years old. The starting years of his footballing career prove the high expectations his country has on him – a good finisher, with a lot of pace and a very smart player on the pitch awakened the interest of foreign clubs. First, in 2018, the young player caught the interest of the Argentinian side Godoy Cruz – but could not keep at the team due FIFA regulations – and in 2019 he was offered a scolarship by the New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix, where he had the opportunity to continue his studies and also play for the Scots College team – school that has a partnership with the Phoenix.
Raphael Le’ai had a stellar performance for his college team in the Sport Premier Youth Football League. He scored 41 goals during the tournament, providing one assist and scoring another in the grand final match of the tournament. The Scots College is known for the development of young talented players in New Zealand; in the team Le’ai played his countryman Leon Kofana also took part as well the U17 New Zealand goalkeeper and captain Alex Paulsen.
Le’ai had his first sparks of the talent shown in the OFC U16 Championship in 2018 held in his home nation. He guided his side to reach the finals and to qualify for the first ever FIFA football tournament Solomon Islands would take part – winning the golden boot and the MVP award of the tournament. In 2019 the biggest moment of his career so far came when he and his teammates travelled to Brazil to play the FIFA U17 World Cup – the Solomon Islands were grouped against important teams: Italy, Paraguay and Mexico.
Le’ai was the most dangerous player of the a Solomon Islands team that lost all three matches conceding 20 goals and scoring none. The striker shown some talent creating difficulties for much more experienced defenses from three established nations at football world stage. Despite the defeats, it was a great opportunity for all Solomon Islanders to showcase their talent and learn from the experience to be playing against teams from other continents.
Le’ai was the most praised player of the team by the Brazilian commentators and was the player who came the closest to score a goal – what would be historical for the Solomon Islanders. The opportunity to play against Italy, Paraguay and Mexico is surely something the talented striker will learn a lot from.
After a warm welcome back by the Solomon Islands fans, Le’ai – currently in school break in New Zealand – opted to continue to play in the his home country. In 2018 he defended the colours of Marist FC, this year he decided to go for Henderson Eels to play the second round of the Telekom S-League, the most important football league in his nation.
The impact of the Solomon Islander in the national league was tremendous: in six matches the 16-year old striker scored thirteen times. Despite the difference of the level of football played in other confederations, it is something really impressive from a teenager to have such an impact in the top-tier league in the country. Le’ai helped Henderson Eels to qualify for the 2020 edition of the OFC Champions League – the team still has very slim chances to win the S-League title in the current edition.
2019 was a year that proved the quality of a still very young player. Le’ai has surely the capabilities to break in professional level and turn into an important player for his country – but it is necessary to understand it has a long way to go. The work-hard mentality praised by many locals on the young player is something that can put him in another level, looking for learning from every experience, from every mistake and understand that in football you need to always keep focused. 2019 proved the talent he has – the following years will say if he can reach all the potential he surely has – and turn into one of the big players of the Oceania Football Confederation.
New Caledonia stated recently they will be playing against Estonia in an international friendly match in the next March 26th. The Cagous are set to travel to Europe to face the Baltic country in their capital city Tallin. This will not be the first time the both national teams met, since they draw 1-1 in a tour the Estonian team did in Oceania in 2017 in a match played at Stade Numa Daly.
Both sides already met in 2017 in New Caledonia – OFC Media
In 2017 match between the two teams, Henri Anier scored for the European side and Emile Ounei leveled for the Pacific Islanders just ten minutes after Estonia pulled ahead in the scoreline. This was a very tough match for the well ranked side – 103th in comparison with the New Caledonians currently sitting at 156th position – from the Baltic area.
In their previous match, many important players of Estonia were absent, as the former Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan and the AIK – from the Sweden top-tier – player Karol Mets. The squad had few players playing outside Estonian league, not having the full force they usually play in the European competitions. The goal scorer in that date was one of the players in foreign land – Henri Anier was playing in Finland top-tier in that time, currently the forward is playing in South Korea and keep being called-up in Estonia national team.
Oceania and Estonia develop a good relationship in the past years: the nation come to a tour in 2017 where they played Vanuatu and New Caledonia and recently their U19 team took part in an invitational tournament played in Vanuatu, where they faced teams as New Caledonia, India and the home country.
It will be a rare opportunity for a South Pacific national team to travel for Europe to play a friendly match against a much stronger side. Apart from New Zealand, only youth squads from Oceania had the chance to play in European soil in the past years.
Mitch Cooper was one of the Vanuatu National Football Team debutants in 2019. He was called up by former head coach Paul Munster to play 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. Cooper might have been an unknown player for Ni-Vanuatu people but after his great performance in the Pacific Games everyone must know him in the country now.
Mitch Steven Baggio Cooper – a man that carries football in his name. He was born on 18 September 1994, just two months after 1994 World Cup Final when Brazil won Italy in the shootout. One of the most iconic scenes of that World Cup is Baggio’s sadness after missing the penalty that gave the World Cup trophy to Brazil for the fourth time.
Born in Port Vila, Cooper left the country when he was eight years old to live in New Zealand. He moved to Australia when he was thirteen years old and he is living there since then. Cooper started playing football oficially when he was a teenager, reaching a high standard level as a rising star in Australia.
Holding an Australian citizenship, Cooper was called up for Australia National Youth Teams, playing four matches in 2011 U17 FIFA World Cup and helping the Socceroos to reach the Round of 16 in that tournament.
Mitch Cooper playing 2011 U17 World Cup for Australia
Once he was not called up for Australia National Football Team at senior level, Cooper remained eligible to play for Vanuatu. He made his official debut on 3 June 2019 in a 2-0 win against Tahiti. He also played 2019 Pacific Games scoring five goals in six matches.
Mitch Cooper playing for Vanuatu in 2019 Pacific Games
His experience and quality are huge additions for Vanuatu National Football Team. Currently playing for Hume City at NPL Victoria, one of the eight leagues of Australian National Premier League, he also has experience at Hyundai A-League, playing in the most important football league in Australia between 2012 and 2016.
Cooper still has a lot to offer to his country as a National Team player while Vanuatu counts on many young and talented players. The upcoming years might be bright for them.
Wellington Phoenix player Reno Piscopo was called up by Graham Arnold to defend Australia U23 National Football Team in the 2020 AFC U23 Championship that will be held in Thailand from 8 to 23 January.
Piscopo named in OlyRoos squad – Stuff
The 21 years old winger is expected to miss at least three A-League matches during his international commitment. Piscopo played nine matches and scored one goal in 2019-20 A-League.
Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation reported that Solomon Airlines will sponsor the return flight between Honiara and Brisbane for both Joses Nawo and Atkin Kaua. This decreases the required funds by approximately 5,000 Solomon Dollar for each football player.
Nawo (left) and Kaua (right) are still hopeful to play in Europe
Tarxien Rainbows FC (Malta) showed some goodwill to give a few extra days to get their fundraising done before pulling back their trial invitation. Netherlands Oceania Support Foundation started a crowd funding campaign as a last resort to make it happen! You can donate by clicking here.
Roy Krishna is considered as one of the best players Fiji ever produced – by some fans the best of them all – and his 2019 proves much of his quality. He turned into the all-time top goalscorer of the Wellington Phoenix, earned the Johnny Warren medal and signed a millionaire contract with the Indian Super League side ATK, just to mention some of his achievements.
Krishna made history for the Phoenix – Sportskeeda
Krishna made a magnificent season for the Wellington Phoenix – guiding them back to the playoffs of Hyundai A-League. The Fijian scored 19 goals in the 2018/19 season for the Phoenix, being 13 in the 2019 year – also providing four assists in the year for the New Zealand side. The Fijian Flyer was the top goalscorer of the Hyundai A-League and earned the award given to the best player of the season, the Johnny Warren Medal.
Krishna with the Johnny Warren medal – FTBL
After the end of the 2018/19 season, Krishna received many offers from various club around Asia and even from the A-League. He decided to take his time to choose the next step of his career – while he represented Fiji at the Pacific Games held in Samoa.
Roy scored six goals for the Bula Boys in the competition in five games played, earning the bronze medal after beating Papua New Guinea at penalty shootout in the 3rd/4th place playoff match. The goals scored by Krishna for his national team give him the impressive record of 29 goals scored in 41 international matches played – he is just three goals away from the legend Esala Masi, who is the top goalscorer of Fiji national team with 32. Krishna also scored in a 1-0 win of Fiji against Mauritius in a friendly match on March 24th.
Roy Krishna in Pacific Games ceremony – Pacific Games
Krishna also had the honour to be the flag bearer of Fiji in the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games. Something that is a great achievement for any athlete when it comes to represent your country internationaly.
After earning the bronze medal in the Men’s Football contest as captain of his team, Krishna decided which would be his new club for the 2019/20 season. Roy, that comes from Indian heritage, wrote an emotional text in his social media as he decided to move to where his ancestors come from: he opted to move to ATK in the most important football league of India, earning around 1M USD in his new contract to represent the club from Kolkata. He came to India as the 3rd most valuable player in the league and with a superstar status to guide ATK back to an ISL title, that would be their third in the history.
Krishna celebrates one of his goals for ATK – Khel Now
His start in India could not be better: in ten games Krishna scored eight goals to keep him at the first place in the golden boot ladder of Indian Super League. Krishna also provided one assist in the run so far. ATK finished 2019 in the 2nd position in the table, just three points away Goa the first-placed team in the standings.
The 2019 of Roy Krishna was magnificent: he scored a total of 29 goals and provided 5 assists – counting his games with Wellington Phoenix, ATK and the Fiji national team. The stats prove it was the best year of the now 32-year old striker, but the milestones achieved to turn into Wellington Phoenix all-time top goalscorer (51 goals in total), the bronze medal and to be Fiji flag bearer in Pacific Games, to be awarded the best player of 2018/19 A-League season and to sign a very profitable contract in Indian Super League show the level that the boy from Macuata reached in his career.
This year was a different one for Auckland City once they did not play ISPS Handa Premiership Grand Final for the first time since 2012. However there is a player that has a lot of things to celebrate in 2019: David Browne.
The 24 years old Papua New Guinean winger had a good year in New Zealand being Auckland City’s top scorer in 2019 OFC Champions League with six goals. He was also the player with most goals scored for Navy Blues in the year as you can check the top five goal scorers below:
Nine out of his ten goals were scored in the first semester – six in the OFC Champions League and three in 2018-19 ISPS Handa Premiership so it means that he has scored just one goal in 2019-20 season so far.
Despite his lack of goals, he is an important player for Auckland City playing every single match, sometimes as starter and some other times coming from the bench.
Browne did not play for Papua New Guinea National Football Team in 2019. However he is surely one of the most important players from his country.
