This year was very special for Solomon Islands’ winger Micah Lea’alafa. The 28 years old player had a good first semester for Auckland City scoring eight goals in eleven matches including ISPS Handa Premiership and OFC Champions League matches.
His good season with Auckland City made some clubs interested on him. After four victorious years playing for the Navy Blues, he departed to South Africa to play for Maritzburg United.
Lea’alafa left Auckland City after four years.
Micah’s beginning is not being so easy in South Africa. Despite playing nine matches so far, he has not scored yet. He also had some problems with injuries that prevented him to play some games. It has been five months since he was transferred to Maritzburg United and he almost won his first title with the club some weeks ago. Maritzburg United was defeated by Mamelodi Sundowns in the League Cup final.
Lea’alafa did not take part of Solomon Islands squad that played 2019 Pacific Games. He played only three matches for Solomon Islands National Team this year and scored a goal against Vanuatu back in March.
Micah Lea’alafa – 2019 Goals and Assists
Still trying to score his first goal in Africa, Lea’alafa keeps working hard to prove that he can play a more important role in the team. Anyway he already makes Solomon Islanders proud by being the only player from Solomon Islands with a full professional contract as a footballer.
Currently leading the 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League, Tafea FC counts on a very young squad with good talents like Junior Felix, Waiwo Kalmet and Jordy Tasip. However there is an experient player with a long history as a Tafea’s player that is being very important for them in the season: Allista Kalip.
Tafea’s topscorer in the league with seven goals, Kalip is having an important role in the team despite being the oldest player in the squad with 30 years old and he knows what he wants: win the league – “Scoring is not the most important thing […] I want to win the league to qualify for OFC Champions League”.
Kalip also pointed the importance of coaching staff for Tafea’s good moment in the season – “They work very hard to prepare the team.” – he stated.
Allista Kalip after playing a match for Tafea in 2019-20 Port Vila Premier League. Source: MG Tafea FC Media
Living one of the best moments of his career, he obviously thinks about being called for Vanuatu’s National Football Team – “I am ready to represent my country.” – However the competition for a spot in the National Team is huge once Vanuatu has so many good forwards like Tony Kaltack, Kensi Tangis and Azariah Soromon, for example.
Tafea have 18 points in nine matches and they are sharing the lead with Ifira Black Bird. You can check the current league standings and the topscorers by clicking here.
According to local sources, four players from Royals Academy were selected to play a friendly for Langney Wanderers FC first team against Hastings United. Sammy, Ian Lagwai, Michael Laulae and Ali Mekawir.
Mekawir is a Langney Wanderers’ player since September while the other three players are not Wanderers’ players but were invited to play friendlies for them.
Royals Academy players defended Langney Wanderers against Hastings United
ATK faced Bengaluru in the ninth matchweek of 2019-20 Indian Super League on Christmas Day. Fijian forward Roy Krishna was the team captain for the third time in the season.
Despite being the captain, Roy Krishna did not play a good match once he did not have much opportunities to touch the ball in the 1-0 win. You can check the highlights by clicking here.
Indian legend Sunil Chhetri (left) and Roy Krishna (right)
This win was very important for ATK. The team from Kolkata took the lead of Indian Super League – “Very proud to lead our brothers yesterday and get a much needed win” said Krishna in a Social Media. They are now cheering for a FC Goa loss to remain in the first position.
Pierce Clark is the newest player of South Melbourne FC from Australia. The 21 years old goalkeeper was announced by them on Christmas. Clark is Australian and he was playing for Tasman United in the ISPS Handa Premiership.
He played eight matches for Tasman United with only one clean sheet against Team Wellington.
Pierce Clark playing for Tasman United against Canterbury United. Source: NZF Media
Clark is coming back to Australia after a six month stint in New Zealand, he was part of Newcastle Jets U21 squad before joining Tasman. South Melbourne FC play the NPL Victoria, one of the eight National Premier Leagues in Australia.
Teaonui Tehau is one of the most proeminent footballers currently playing in Oceania. The 27 years old forward is scoring lots of goals year by year but 2019 was something special to him.
AS Vénus players celebrating 2018-19 Coupe de Tahiti-Nui title. Source: FTF Media
These trophies are even more special to him once he was the topscorer of both competitions by scoring 42 goals in the Ligue 1 and eleven goals in the Coupe. The 2018-19 season is already over but AS Vénus keep ruling the rooster in Tahiti – they are the current leaders of 2019-20 Ligue 1 and they are already qualified for 2019-20 Coupe de Tahiti-Nui quarter finals.
Talking about qualifications, AS Vénus is going to play 2020 OFC Champions League. They are in Group D alongside with Auckland City (New Zealand), Ba (Fiji) and the Preliminary Round winners that may be Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands), Veitongo (Tonga) or Lupe o le Soaga (Samoa).
Teaonui Tehau (blond hair) playing for AS Vénus. Source: FTF Media
Tehau is one of the forwards with most goals scored in the world during 2019. Despite scoring 42 goals in the 2018-19 Ligue 1, he scored 12 in 2018 and 30 in 2019. He has seven goals in the current league season so he scored 37 goals in the Ligue 1 if we take the calendar year into consideration.
Considering only the National Leagues (without National Cups and International Cups), Lionel Messi scored 34 goals in La Liga in 2019 while Kylian Mbappé scored 31 in French Ligue 1 during this year and this information can be checked by clicking here. Unfortunately most people in the world do not care about Oceanian Football but Tehau’s achievement should be known by every football fan.
Tehau scored 54 goals including leagues, cups and international caps, being the top goalscorer of the world alongside with Robert Lewandowski that also scored 54 goals.
Lionel Messi scored 34 goals in La Liga this year.
We are only one week from 2020 and it seems that Teaonui Tehau will keep scoring lots of goals in the upcoming year. He is one of the major contenders to win 2020 OFC Champions League Golden Boot Award.
The New Zealand top-tier football league – the ISPS Handa Premiership – reached the last round of 2019, the competition will resume in the next year and the powerhouse Auckland City will remain at the top of the table.
The first match of the Matcheeek saw a convincing win of Canterbury United against Tasman United at English Park – in a rare Friday game in the season. George King scored the first for the home side and the experienced Aaron Clapham approached a defensive error of Tasman to score the second and final goal of the encounter in favour of Canterbury. Tasman faced their second defeat in a row after losing at home against Hamilton Wanderers.
George King celebrates his goal
Waitakere United played Team Wellington at Seddon Fields and could stop the prolific attack of the opponent for more than 90 minutes. Waitakere pulled ahead with the New Zealand youth international Dane Schnell and saw their victory turn into just a draw when Hamish Watson scored through a header in the last minute of the game.
Team Wellington lost a golden opportunity to get closer Auckland City in the table, but they could not find any better than a draw against Waitakere that allowed an equalizer once again in the season.
Waitakere United players celebrating the goal scored by Dane Schnell
Southern parked the bus against the powerful Auckland City in Dunedin and it proved to be a good decision. The team coached by Paul O’Reilly could hold the Navy Blues to a 0-0 draw. It was the second 0-0 draw in a row for Auckland City, but as Team Wellington also could not win their game in the weekend they will finish the year at the top of the table.
Auckland had much more ball possesion and created chances to score, but the defensive approach of Southern proved right and they could grab a point in this hard contest.
Auckland City FC did not manage to find the goal
Wellington Phoenix Reserves counted with seven players of their first team – including the likes of Gary Hooper, Callum McCowatt and Ben Waine. They started very well the match away from home against Eastern Suburbs and created lots of opportunities to score. In a fantastic solo play Ben Waine scored for the visitors and himself provided a very good assist to the powerful striker Gary Hooper just to tap in for to double their lead.
But the second half a different story was told: Martin Bueno scored his third goal of the season and reduced the margin for the Lilywhites and Reid Drake with a fantastic finish in a free-kick attempt levelled the score – giving final numbers to a close contest in Auckland: 2-2.
Martin Bueno takes the ball after scoring for Eastern Suburbs
Hamilton Wanderers seems to keep their good run in the season with a hard fought 2-1 win over Hawke’s Bay United. Derek Tieku and Jake Butler scored for the home side at Porrit Stadium to seal their second win in a row after a nightmare start of season in the 93rd minute. Ahinga Selemani scored once again in the season for Hawke’s Bay United, but proved not enough to continue their good form in the season.
Hamilton Wanderers players celebrating the winning goal in the 93rd minute
Despite not winning in the last match of 2019, Auckland City remains on top of the table – the Navy Blues that scored plenty of goals in the season finished their last two matches goalless. Team Wellington remains in the contention just behind Auckland City in the standings as Hawke’s Bay United and Eastern Suburbs complete the top four so far in the season. You can check the complete table by clicking here.
They need to arrive in Malta until 2nd January 2020 to start training at Maltese Premier League club Tarxien Rainbows. Both Solomon national team players need the sum of $30,000 Solomon Dollar each to have their trial secured. This amount of money is necessary to pay their flights. They will not pay the trial.
Nawo (left) and Kaua (right) still waiting for sponsorship to go to Europe
The fundraising deadline is today at 16:00 (Solomon Islands time). Time marches on and the dream drips down their hands.
The 2019-20 Coupe de Tahiti-Nui’s round of 16 is almost over. Seven matches were recently played and the remaining one will be contested on January 11.
Current champions AS Vénus faced AS-Manu Ura and they had some unexpected difficulties to beat their opponents by 1-0.
The biggest clash of the round was AS Tiare Tahiti 3-3 AS Dragon. Both teams are living good moments in the Ligue 1 – AS Tiare Tahiti is in 2nd while AS Dragon is in 3rd. After a tied match in the normal time, AS Tiare Tahiti won in the shootout by 4-2.
AS Tiare Tahiti players celebrating their win
The seven remaining teams for the quarter finals count on some surprises like AS Mataiea (Ligue 2) and AS Tohie’a (Ligue 2 Moorea). You can check all results in the picture below:
Elias Silva Júnior, also known as Pepeta, is a 31 years old forward from Brazil. He played the last OFC Champions League edition for Erakor Golden Star and he last played for Galaxy FC before coming back to Brazil.
The “2019 Copa Sul” is a tournament held in Espírito Santo, one of the brazilian states. The tournament counted on 14 teams and it was played throughout two months. Pepeta helped Ypiranga FC from Afonso Cláudio town to win the tournament.
Pepeta holding Copa Sul trophy
Pepeta also talked to Oceania Football Center about the 2020 OFC Champions League –“Andrew Leong (President of Galaxy FC) is building a good team to reach the finals. He deserves it because he loves football […] I would love to come back and win the OFC Champions League with them“.
Oceania Football Center congratulates Pepeta for the title.
