The 2019 football season in American Samoa is close to its end. Despite the lack of reliable information it is known that Pago Youth is leading the league – they won all their eleven matches in the FFAS Senior League so far, what makes them the favourite to represent American Samoa in 2019-20 OFC Champions League Preliminary Round.
Pago Youth logo
If Pago wins the league, it will be their fourth straight league title. They have won seven of the last eleven editions of the tournament. You can check the current league standings by clicking here.
One of the most important players of Tupuji Imere in the current season, Elkington Molivakarua is ready to leave Vanuatu to work in New Zealand for seven months. His departure to New Zealand is schedule to happen next week.
Molivakarua (circled in red) with Tupuji Imere’s starting eleven against Galaxy FC
Molivakarua is not going to play this weekend against Erakor Golden Star because he is suspended and busy with work stuff. He is the current Tupuji Imere’s top scorer in the 2019-20 PVFA Premier League with two goals.
The 26 years old player is also a Vanuatu National Football Team player with three goals scored in thirteen caps. He took part of Vanuatu’s squad at 2019 Pacific Games.
Moving abroad for some months to work is very common among people in Vanuatu. Many players go to New Zealand and Australia to work for a period of time and then come back home when this period is over.
Unfortunately most of these players do not have the opportunity to keep on playing football in these countries. But according to Molivakarua, he really intends to keep playing football in New Zealand.
Hawai’i is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean that belongs to United States of America. The state encompasses nearly the entire Hawaiian archipelago, 137 islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). The volcanic archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
Hawai’i flag
Hui Kanaka Pōwāwae (local football association) joined Confederation of Independent Football Associations on 28 November 2019, being the fifth member from Oceania in CONIFA, with Kiribati, Mariya, Tuvalu and West Papua.
Half of the season is gone and Ifira Black Bird emerges as favourites to win the league above Tafea and Galaxy. The eighth matchweek of Port Vila Premier League reserves lots of emotions for the fans.
ERAKOR GOLDEN STAR vs TUPUJI IMERE
Last Meeting: Erakor Golden Star 3-0 Tupuji Imere (WO)
Erakor Golden Star needs to recover from two bad results (lost to Yatel and drew against Sia-Raga) and they are going to face Tupuji Imere that needs to win urgently. The clash between both teams did not happen because Tupuji Imere did not show up to the match due the death of one important person in their village.
David Chilia is confirmed as Tupuji’s head coach to face Erakor. According to him, they still have some difficults with their offensive systems but he advised “we will come back stronger“. Tupuji is currently in the seventh position with four points.
After playing some matches as central defender and defensive midfielder, James Chilia will probably come back to his main position – goalkeeper. Tupuji Imere will not count on Rodney Serveux (injured). Elkington Molivakarua, one of the most important players, is ready to move to New Zealand to work.
Erakor also needs to win to keep up with the leaders and losing is not an option for them.
Erakor Golden Star players. Source: Vanuatu Sport
GALAXY vs YATEL
Last Meeting: Galaxy 14-0 Yatel
After being smashed by Galaxy in the opening match, Yatel brought some players to strengthen their squad and it really worked. Their last loss was against Sia-Raga in the second matchweek. Since then they won twice and drew three matches. A good recovery for Yatel. “We have learned a lot of lessons […] We worked hard” said Richard Iwai (Yatel’s head coach) to Vanuatu Sports News.
Talking about recoveries, Galaxy needs to recover as soon as possible. Currently in the third position with eleven points, they really need to win to keep their position.
This match will not be another smash for Galaxy. Yatel already proved what they are able to do and they can be a good challenge for Galaxy “Our hope is just to give them a good game” said Yatel’s president John Tougon.
Galaxy players. Source: Galaxy FC Media
TAFEA vs SIA-RAGA
Last Meeting: Tafea 2-0 Sia-Raga
Currently in the second position, win is a must for Tafea this weekend and it is known by players and coaching staff “We have to win this match, no excuse to draw or lose” said Tafea’s player Bob Jeffery.
Harrison Massing (suspended) is the only absence confirmed for this match. Cyril Leo is sick and his availability for the match is still unknown. Anyway the morale is high there “Sia-Raga is a good team with young players […] but we can beat them again” said forward Jordy Tasip who scored twice against Sia-Raga in the last meeting between both teams.
Sia-Raga is currently in the sixth position with eight points but they have been a good challenge for every team. They will surely play hard to avoid Tafea’s win.
Tafea squad. Source: MG Tafea FC Media
IFIRA BLACK BIRD vs MAUWIA
Last Meeting: Ifira Black Bird 2-0 Mauwia
Ifira Black Bird can not stop winning! They are leading the league with seventeen points in seven matches and they are still unbeaten this season. With this amazing record it is obvious they are already thinking about winning the league but they know they need to work hard to be the champions “The boys are really committed to achieve what they are aiming for […] We must play every game as a final to give distance to other teams” said Daniel Natou.
The best point of Ifira BB so far is their defense: they suffered only one goal in the league. On the other hand Mauwia has the worst attack in the league scoring just five goals so far. It does not seem that Ifira is going to have a tough challenge but Mauwia improved a lot in last matches, specially in the 3-1 win against Sia-Raga.
Ifira Black Bird squad. Source: Vanuatu Sport
Oceania Football Center wishes good luck to all teams!
With some important players in the squad – alongside their biggest star Tommy Semmy – as Derek Tieku and Jake Butler, Hamilton Wanderers are not having the start of season they were hoping for.
Their first game of season, away from home, seemed the team coached by Ricki Herbert to be smashed by 5-1 against Team Wellington. They could bounce back at home against the current title holders Eastern Suburbs with a convicing 3-0 win – where Semmy scored his first goal of the season.
But the good moment just got a break after the second round: two harsh defeats in a row against Auckland City and Southern United put the team from Hamilton in the 9th place in the table – and before the season there were high expectations and a real hope to make it to the top four, as Tommy Semmy revealed in an interview.
It is not being the season Tommy Semmy expected so far
Semmy lost a penalty kick in their most recent defeat against Southern United and mentioned the team is through some problems: “There are a lot of injured players in our squad. We are doing well upfront but there is still a lot to fix in defense“, said the Papua New Guinean international. The defense is really a problem for Hamilton Wanderers in the season so far – they are the the team which most conceded goals in the league (14). The Brazilian defender Rodrigo Morais is yet to make his debut for Wanderers in the season as well – something that could help the team in this area.
Despite the bad start, Semmy also added that the experienced coach Ricki Herbert knows the team can do a lot more: “The coach is a little disappointed about the defeats but he knows we can do a lot better – every game is a game“.
Tommy Semmy and his teammates will be playing their fifth game in the season this weekend against Wellington Phoenix Reservers at Porrit Stadium in Hamilton hoping to find their way back to victories.
The Tasman United new forward Jean-Philippe Saïko scored his first goal for his new club in his fourth match in the season. Tasman shocked the New Zealand powerhouse Team Wellington to score their first three points in the table of ISPS Handa Premiership. Until this game Tasman United did not even scored a goal in the run, being Saïko the first player to find the nets of the team based in Nelson.
The highlights of Tasman United win against Team Wellington
Recently in interview with Oceania Football Center, Saïko mentioned he was really happy to have this chance to play in top-tier of football in New Zealand and to have an experienced coach as Jess Ibrom in charge of the team. The club from Nelson had a nightmare start in the season losing all their three starting matches, but finally could bouce back against one of the most important teams of the league to find their first three points. Tasman currently is ranked 8th out of ten teams in ISPS Handa Premiership.
Saiko (left) in the first win of Tasman in ISPS Handa Premiership – NZF Media
The New Caledonian international that recently had stint in his country with OFC Champions League finalists AS Magenta and had seven years of experience in the lower French leagues, was one of the most important signings of Tasman United for the 2019/20 season.
Saïko and his side will be getting back to action this weekend for the fifth matchweek of ISPS Handa Premiership when they travel to Auckland to play the current top-table team Auckland City FC.
The Solomon Islands international forward Micah Lea’alafa recently helped his new club in South Africa to qualify for the grand final of Telkom Knockout, the South African Cup – but his team last match did not have the result Maritzburg United fans expected. The club lost at home to SuperSport by 2-0 for the ASBA Premiership, the first tier of football in South Africa. The New Zealand players Dan Morgan and Jeremy Brockie also featured for Maritzburg United alongside Lea’alafa but could not change the outcome for their side.
Lea’alafa in his last game against SuperSport – Maritzburg United Media
Lea’alafa played 55 minutes of the match and was subbed by his coach Erick Tinkler to give place to Thabiso Kutumela. Dan Morgan also was replaced but in the 71th minute of play to give his spot to another New Zealander, the striker Jeremy Brockie that started the game in the bench.
The Solomon Islands international is still to score or assist for his new club. He played 296 minutes in total for Maritzburg United in seven matches. It was reported that Lea’alafa was off some matches of the South African side due a minor injurty, that let him out of field for some weeks. In the last two matches of Team of Choice, the former Auckland City player started the matches – in both of them being replaced in the second half.
Football can tell us many stories; some sad, others full of joy, but most of them contain various emotions, feelings that surely can embrace a village, a city, a province of even a nation. The young footballers dream to defend the colours of their countries internationally – to see their idols in the pitches doing exactly what they hope to do in the future just make their dreams even bigger.
We can name various football idols worldwide that inspired the new generations in their respective nations. When we think about Papua New Guinea, one of the first name that comes to mind is Raymond Gunemba. The 33-year old forward made the best days of his club football career in his local team Lae City FC. The community says a lot about what Raymond is, coming from a family that has a rich history in football: “My small brother Troy and small sister Megan, all our family are football so it is in the blood!“, says the forward that already scored ten times for his country.
Gunemba in the last OFC Champions League – OFC Media
Raymond is also coached by his father Peter in Lae City FC: “I treat him as my coach and respect him when I am at the field. I feel open to express my comments to him openly about the game“, explains Raymond Gunemba.
Despite of making most of his career in Papua New Guinea, Gunemba also had short stints of football in Australia and New Zealand. The player agrees there are big differences of the football played in his home nation in comparison with the game played overseas: “I learnt a lot of new things like: timing and how they conduct the trainings. I see big differences from Papua New Guinea especialy in the managing side of the team – they have better equipments“.
Gunemba (right) had a short stint in Australia with Geelong SC – Geelong Advertiser
Gunemba side, Lae City, took part in the last edition of OFC Champions League – competition where they were beaten by Auckland City in New Zealand and eliminated from the tournament. “It was a good tournament. I think the boys have enough experience now so we will do better the next one”, says Gunemba. The next one that the Papua New Guinean international says will be the next edition in 2020; Lae City was once again national champions beating in the penalty shootout Hekari United – match that Raymond has clear memories: “It was a very tough game, but I think we should score within the normal time. The players discipline that causes us to go into penalty shootout. I think our team was too conservative“, says the 33-year old player.
Raymond expects a better performance for his side in the upcoming continental tournament and hopes his partnership with Nigel Dabinyaba keeps working: “It is being a good partnership, but lately he has been off track a little bit, so need to work with him or otherwise we got some good players to work with in the squad“.
It was in 2016 that Gunemba and some of his teammates of Lae City reached the peak of their career, when they played New Zealand at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby in the grand final of OFC Nations Cup. The Papua New Guineans won Solomon Islands in the semifinals to reach their first ever final of the most important competition in the region. That time the things did not go well for the home side, they were very close to secure a historical title, but lost in the penalty shootout for the All Whites. “It was a first time experience and the game was very strong and we really appreciate the result despite not ending with the trophy“, says Gunemba. The player believes that his national team needs mental toughness to be prepared to face New Zealand once in the upcoming tournaments. “PNG has the talent to beat New Zealand, but the problem is the lack of discipline and attitude for the Papua New Guinean players“, adds Gunemba.
Raymond Gunemba was the Golden Boot winner of the last OFC Nations Cup – OFC Media
“It was the biggest achievement of my football career”, says Gunemba when remembers the Golden Boot award he won in the 2016 OFC Nations Cup. Gunemba was the best scorer of the entire competition with five goals.
The Kapuls were under guidance of the Danish coach Flemming Serristlev and we can check in the words of Gunemba the importance the coach had in the success of the national team: “He was the key figure in our success. I believe if he was still here in PNG, we would do much better in the Oceania region“, the player also adds that “Most of the current national team players we really want Flemming back“.
Gunemba still has time to leave his criticism of the current managent of Papua New Guinea Football Association: “It is necessary to have fairness in football, there are still differences between the rebel association and PNGFA. We are one now but the differences are still there“. The PNGFA had a serious problem in the recent years, where two national federations claimed to be the representative of the football in the country, despite only one being considered by FIFA and OFC. The differences between the two football bodies come to an end in the last year with the new president John Kappi Nato, but accordingly to Gunemba there are still questions to be solved between the two parties. “We need to stop all the differences and just focus on how to develop football in the country. There are lots of young talents but lack of coaching and managent can not lead us to another level”, adds Gunemba.
A 33-year national idol, still has a lot to give to his nation. Gunemba is active in the country motivating the young footballers to keep pursuing their dreams and improve their game. The differences between the members of the management of football in the country can not really disturb the dreams of the people that see in their role models the path they want for their futures. A story of success as Gunemba has keeps the flame alive for the youth that wants to have a life from their footballing careers.
Now the news come from the Oceania Football Confederation: they are forced to postpone once again the U17 Women’s Championship that was scheduled to be held in Tahiti this December. OFC said they will be arranging new schedules in partnership with Tahiti Football Federation in order to play the championship in the next year. “The decision was made following new advice provided by health authorities in Tahiti regarding the risks associated with the spreading of the measles virus across the Pacific, and recommendations to cancel travel to French Polynesia in case of a person’s vaccination status is not known“, says the Football Confederation.
A match during the last edition of the championship – OFC Media
The postponement of the tournament will allow the staff and players of the teams taking part in the tournament to meet the recommendations of the health Tahitian authorities, also mentions OFC.
Oceania Football Center, alongside the Confederation and all health authorites in Oceania advise the community to vaccinate in order to finish this outbreak that is letting the region very worried.
In 2013 Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) was struggling financially and 2014 World Cup qualifier was coming to its end by that time. Solomon Islands was in the final stage alongside New Zealand, Tahiti and New Caledonia fighting for a spot in the Inter-confederation play-offs.
The four teams should face each other twice in order to decide which team would qualify for the Inter-confederation play-offs. After four matches Solomon Islands was on bottom with just three points but SIFF’s financial situation was catastrophic and they would not be able to sent a team to Papeete to face Tahiti.
If Solomon Islands did not show up to this match, they could likely be punished for it by FIFA and get a five-year ban from international football and few USD millions fine was ready to be unleashed. But like in a heroes movie, David Firisua and Neil Poloso appeared and put their efforts together to avoid it.
After a research, they managed to find thirteen players from Solomon Islands that were living in New Zealand and could be able to defend the National Team. Most of them were young and unknown players by that time but the team still had two important players flying to Tahiti: Henry Fa’arodo and Benjamin Totori.
Team picture of Solomon Islands vs Tahiti
Tahiti was having its greatest time in football history: They won OFC Nations Cup in 2012 and they were a few months away from traveling to Brazil to play 2013 Confederations Cup where they faced Spain, Uruguay and Nigeria.
“We were being mocked by few Solomon Islands calling us a bunch of fruit pickers living in New Zealand. However, they do not know the quality we have ourselves. The likes of Benjamin Totori who was playing for Wellington Pheonix then. Our skipper, Henry Fa’arodo Jnr who also was playing Team Wellington. Michael Fifi’i and Andrew Abba who are lethal attackers and not forgetting Joachim Rande. This was a team made up of internationals.” said Alex Waimora, one of the called-up players for this match.
Things happened fast in that week. With two players from college (George Ladoga and Alex Waimora) and some others from Zealander universities, Solomon Islands flied to Tahiti with their hearts and souls to give their best – “We met up a day before flying to Tahiti. We trained once in Auckland then traveled to Tahiti for the game” said Andrew Abba. They stayed at Oceania Football Confederation centre at Onehunga for two days and that was all. They did not have any financial backing except the tickets to and from Tahiti. You can check all Solomon Islands players that took place in this historical match by clicking here.
Alex Waimora also shared with Oceania Football Center how was the day he was called-up for Solomon Islands National Team – “I was still in High School when this great historical football moment came about. George Ladoga and I were fellow Solomon Islanders studying at New Zealand’s top high school, Saint Kentigern College. It was an early morning when we recieved a phone call from our high school coach, Michael Ridenton who is a former All Whites saying that we should expect a big news later that day about our football careers. Well, it was in the evening and we just received an e-mail from David Firisua asking for our service for a WORLD CUP QUALIFYING match against TAHITI for the national team. Without a doubt, George and I replied and fully agreed.”
Solomon Islands had some chances to score with Benjamin Totori but Tahiti’s goalkeeper performed really well in that day. “One exciting moment was when Benjamin Totori hit the ball after one twos with me and the ball got stuck in the back of the goal post. We all jumped in celebration thinking it was a goal but actually it was not… I also came close to scoring on one occasion when Benjamin Totori set me through but I was pulled back by Tahiti’s defender… I wanted to fall down in the box but I was just few inches away” said Waimora.
Despite fighting bravely they could not avoid the defeat to Tahiti. “Unfortunately we made two mistakes and they scored after these mistakes” said Abba. Losing by 2-0 was a great result having in mind that Solomon Islands National Team had only one training session while Tahiti was a well drilled and conditioned team.
They did not avoid the defeat but they avoided something bigger: A five-year ban from international soccer for Solomon Islands. It is something forgotten in the past but local people should remember what Firisua, Poloso and these thirteen players did on 22 March 2013. Unfortunately there are not good pictures of this match. Samuel Osso, Andrew Maeribu, Stewart Quan, George Ladoga, Michael Fifi’i, Andrew Abba, Henry Fa’arodo, Joachim Rande, Benjamin Totori, Wesley Olea, Alex Waimora, Calvin Erick and Tony Havea, YOU ARE HEROES!
Currently living a good time in football, even qualifying for an U17 World Cup, the history of Solomon Islands in football could be completely different if they have not showed up for that match. “Today, we see Solomon Islands national U17 to the world cup, today we see Solomon Islands national U23 have a very fantastic tournament. I mean, we opened and gave these kids these opportunities indirectly when we agreed on stepping onto that plane and flew to Tahiti.” stated Waimora.
“All in all, I think it was an experience that helped many of us realise how it is important to run football properly […] Today we do not expect SIFF to give us any money or compensation for this moment of history because we know money is an issue that everyone faces. One thing we hope SIFF will do is learn from this experience and make a better future for the upcoming football stars. No team deserves to travel with only 13 players to a world cup with no financial support at all.” said Waimora. “People doubt us, people call us sorts of names, but behind that brick wall we climbed high and put Solomon Islands Soccer to where it is today” stated Michael Fifi’i.
It seems that SIFF really learned something from this lesson. The Federation’s current situation is much better than that chaotic situation of six years ago. We hope this chaos never come back, but if it happens, there will be more heroes ready to save them.
