The football in Tonga is getting close to their final moments in the season in their both leagues – the top tier Tonga Premier League and the second tier Division I. The dominance of Veitongo in the first tier is clear and the team coached by Timote Moleni is very close to finish the season and seal their title.
The top tier in Tonga has 21 games for each team – each team face the other seven teams three times during the season. Veitongo has already secured the title of the season and now their challenge is to end the season undefeated.
The current champions Lotoha’apai could not defend their title; players as Tuia and Halapua Falepapalangi were not enough to challenge the stellar side of Veitongo that has various players in the Tonga national team, as Hemaloto Polovili, Mahe Malafu and Sione Uhatahi.
The dominance of Veitongo is clear in the season – RNZ
If the Premier League is already decided for Veitongo, the second division has a different format: the final playoffs will decide which side will qualify for the the top tier in the 2020 season.
The results of Division I Quarterfinals – TFA
Houmakelikao Steeler ended the reguar season in the first place and kept their good running Zion in the first match of the day in Loto Tonga Soka Centre. The 2nd placed in the regular season Nukuhetulu destroyed the chances of Longolongo to proceed, while Ahau and Longotome proceeded to the next stage – the decisive semifinals. The semifinals will decide which two sides will be promoted to the first tear in the next season.
Ahau won Fua’amotu to qualify for Semifinals – Ahau’ FC Media
The semifinals will be played this Saturday in Nuku’alofa at the home of Tongan football, Loto Tonga Soka Centre.
The decisive semifinals in Division I – TFA
It is a good action by Tonga Football Federation to keep the results out for fans and media to keep updating football inside their country. The decisive times are coming for club football in Tonga and the fate of the development of football in the kingdom depends on them.
The Port Vila Premier League comes to its half this weekend. Four matches will be played to finish the first round of the tournament. As you are getting used to, Oceania Football Center brings a preview of all four matches. Check it below!
SIA-RAGA vs ERAKOR GOLDEN STAR
Sia-Raga and Erakor Golden Star arrive to this match willing to take three points home. Both teams suffered unexpected losses last weekend and they now need to recover from these setbacks. The loss against Yatel has distanced Erakor Golden Star from current league leader Ifiria Black Bird. They are now five points behind the leaders.
In the other yellow side of the league, Sia-Raga had a heartbreaking loss against Mauwia which smashed their opportunity to climb some positions in the league standings. Anyway, this match is going to be a direct clash for the fourth position once Erakor is in 4th with nine points and Sia-Raga is in the 5th position with seven points.
It is going to be a very interesting match where both teams have opportunity to win on this Friday at Port Vila Stadium.
Erakor Golden Star players. Source: Vanuatu Sport
YATEL vs MAUWIA
If Sia-Raga and Erakor Golden Star had unexpected setbacks last weekend, Yatel and Mauwia really have something to celebrate from the last gameweek. Yatel contradicted expectations to beat Erakor by 2-0 while Mauwia had an impressive second half to turnaround the match against Sia-Raga to win by 3-1.
Both teams had good results last weekend but it is not enough for them. Mauwia remains on bottom with just three points while Yatel is currently in the 6th position with six points. After a bad beginning with five winless matches in a row, Yatel is trying to climb some positions in order to avoid the risk of relegation while Mauwia still needs to win to leave the 8th position. “Mauwia is a great team […] They are training really hard just like us.” said Yatel’s president John Tougon.
This match is going to be quite exciting because it is an opportunity to check if Mauwia really has something interesting to show in the Premier League. It is the right time to prove that the win against Sia-Raga was not just an outlier.
Mauwia is ready to show they are not dead horses. Source: Vanuatu Sport
GALAXY vs IFIRA BLACK BIRD
The biggest clash of the gameweek and one of the most important clashes of the season! Galaxy won Tupuji Imere last weekend and they are now looking for another win against the current leaders in other to retake the first position. Ifira Black Bird leads the league with fourteen points in six matches and they are three points ahead Galaxy and Tafea in the table.
Ifira Black Bird won a crucial clash against Tafea last week but players and coaching staff know the importance keep focused on the league “We are looking forward for this game, it is going to be an interesting match. We are going to do our best to stop them” said Fedy Vava, a legendary ni-van player that currently defends Ifira Black Bird.
Galaxy got three points Tupuji Imere to end a negative streak after three matches without winning. The last weekend’s win was very important to raise their morale and they will surely come hungry with a powerful attack to face Ifira BB.
Who is going to win this incredible match? We are going to check it on Saturday!
Ifira Black Bird is currently leading the league. Source: Vanuatu Sport
TAFEA vs TUPUJI IMERE
After losing their first game in this season, Tafea faces Tupuji Imere this Saturday in order to keep up with other teams in the title race. Tafea still has some missing players like Cyril Leo (suspended), Edisson Stephens (injured) and Kevin Shem (work commitments). Waiwo Kalmet is back from suspension but he might not play this match because he is still recovering from an injury. Coach Robert Yalou is currently involved in VFF Youth Championship and he might not show up to the match as Tafea’s head coach.
The loss against Ifira Black Bird made Tafea FC fall to the third position in the league standings but they already turned the page to remain focused on their goals “It is not time to talk about past, we are focused on next game” said Jeffery Bob, player from Tafea.
On the other hand, Tupuji Imere is trying to recover their best performance. With lots of players working overseas and some other players ready to leave Vanuatu temporarily for work they need to find a solution to recover in the championship. Azariah Soromon returned to the team in the last match but he did not manage to score yet.
Tafea squad against Ifira Black Bird. Source: Tafea FC media
Oceania Football Center wishes good luck to all teams!
It was announced today by Nouvelle-Calédonie 1. that the current OFC Champions League title holders Hienghène Sport added a new player to their squad in order to compete at FIFA Clubs World Cup to be played in December.
The former Malampa Revivors player is the Japanese Kohei Matsumoto, that recently signed for Hamilton Wanderers in ISPS Handa Premiership – the New Zealand football top tier – playing three matches this season.
Matsumoto played 2019 OFC Champions League for Malampa Revivors
The midfielder played against Hienghène Sport in the 2019 OFC Champions League when both sides met at Stade Yoshida in Koné for the group stage of the competition. Matsumoto defended the Ni-Vanuatu side Malampa Revivors in the competition where his team was eliminated in the first stage.
The 30-year old player has big experienced of playing in important leagues as in its home nation, as well with a short stint at Brisbane Roar in the Hyundai A-League, the Australian football top-tier. He also played for several years in the ISPS Handa Premiership defending teams as Hawke’s Bay United and Auckland City.
Hienghène now has three imports in his squad heading to Qatar to represent OFC at FIFA Clubs World Cup – in august the New Caledonian champions signed a Brazilian and a Portuguese player that were both playing at regional divisions in Brazilian football – Pedro Sousa and Marcos Camargo, as the report says.
Today will start for Tahiti the journey in the Beach Soccer World Cup 2019. In Asunciòn, Paraguay, the Tiki Toa will face Italy in a tough match.
From FIGC site
Italy is one of the best european team and it won the last Euro Beach Soccer League 2018 against Spain at the penalty kicks. The italian best player is Gabriele Gori. The italian forward as scored more then 200 goals in his national team. He’s playing in Viareggio Beach Soccer, one of the most powerful teams in the world, where he made the treble in 2016 (Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League). He arrived at the second place in the Gold Ball 2016, only after the portugues phenomenon Madjer.
In a question made by Giuseppe di Giovanni of Gazzetta dello Sport he said about :”What is it? Do you think I shivered as soon as I heard the question. Here, it’s my second life. All that football didn’t give me gave me back the Beach with interest. And then, when I put the shirt on the national team, I always kiss her. It is undescribable ”.
A wonderful gol made by Gabriele Gori. From La Repubblica.
But Tiki Toa are ready to confront this match. They hardly prepared themselves in this week they were in Paraguay. There’s only problem that they can’t overcome: the heat of the sand. In the sout american country it’s very hot now, much hotter then the tahiti, and the sand retains all the heat. This would be a tough problem for all the non-americans teams. But we know that the tahitians player will make all they can to win this match.
After turning into a national hero even in his teen years after being the key player to qualify his nation to their first ever FIFA football tournament, the young Raphael Le’ai keeps shining and proving his talent is really big. The 17 year-old forward earned a scolarship in New Zealand after his solid performances at OFC U16 Championship, where Solomon Islands ended as runners-up. Making stellar performances playing for Scots College in the New Zealand school tournaments, the talented player represented his country at FIFA U17 World Cup recently in Brazil and was one of the best players of his team.
The young Le’ai when player of Marist FC – Island Sun
After touching down Solomon Islands after an amazing experience at world stage, the young Le’ai joined his teammates Derick Taebo and Leon Kofana at Henderson Eels in the Telekom S-League, the most important football league in his country. Despite being only 17 years old, Le’ai already played in S-League before and for one of the most important clubs in the nation, Marist FC – and he was outstanding as well.
Le’ai had trials in Argentina football top-tier before sealing his move to New Zealand for his scolarship with Scots College and trainings with professional outfit Wellington Phoenix. His pedigree is clear of high level and it is known by the entire nation in Solomon Islands.
The young forward joined Eels for the second round of Telekom S-League season and is hoping to help the side to win their first national glory. The numbers of the teenager are impressing: three matches played, six goals scored.
Le’ai scored a brace against Kossa in his second match for Henderson Eels and four goals in his third game for the club against Guadalcanal. The senior players of the teams just can not deal with the speed and technique of the impressing 17-year old.
Usually when wonderkids appear in the world of football they take some time to adapt to the first team experiences – this is really not the case of Raphael Le’ai. Despite being aware of the level of football played in Oceania, the logical view is that a young player would need time to showcase himself playing against seniors. Le’ai just seems to good for Telekom S-League level.
The Solomon Islander talent earned the award of MVP in the School tournaments played in New Zealand when defending Scots College colours – one more personal award for Le’ai, he already won the MVP award and top goalscorer at OFC U16 Championship where he helped Solomon Islands to qualify for FIFA U17 World Cup.
Once again playing at the highest level in his nation, the talent of one of the best players produced in the country in the recent years is reaffirmed – not so often we see a 17-year old being the most decisive player for one of the most important football teams in the country and remembering he already scored a bunch of goals previously for Marist FC in a even younger age in the previous season.
The future seems really bright for Solomon Islands when we spotligth the talent of the young but already determinant Raphael Le’ai.
Vanuatu Football Federation presidential election will take place next month in Santo. Lambert Maltock and Stephen Felix are the candidates. Maltock is the current president of Vanuatu Football Federation and Oceania Football Confederation while Felix is current Port Vila Football Association president.
Lambert Maltock and Stephen Felix – Candidates to the presidency of VFF
These are bad news for those who want changes in Vanuatu’s football. The mood is pessimistic among people involved with football in the country, specially in Port Vila. As Oceania Football Center already reported, things are not going well there in Vanuatu so an election contested by two men who are already in the command of local football is synonym of hopelessness and doldrums.
Maltock is the favourite to win this election once he has good support from secondary leagues and football associations.
Galaxy FC sent a complaint to Port Vila Football Association (PVFA) because of the transfer of Vaum players to Tupuji Imere outside transfer window. The PVFA already sent it to Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF).
Mahit Ollie (number 16) is one of the players that went to Tupuji Imere from Vaum.
There is no news about PVFA or VFF answers to Galaxy’s appeal. Oceania Football Center is keeping an eye on it in order to bring reliable information about this case.
The year was 2004 and Australia was hosting the OFC Nations Cup Final Tournament. Four teams qualified from the previous stage (Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu and Fiji) to join New Zealand and Australia in a tournament where each team played every other once in a tournament held in Adelaide. The best two seeded teams were supposed to advance through the final and fight for a spot in Inter-Confederation Play-offs for 2006 FIFA World Cup.
After two rounds Vanuatu was at the bottom of the table with two losses while New Zealand was in the third position with three points behind Fiji and Australia. The predictions were denoting that the New Zealanders would beat the Ni-Van squad but that 4th June of 2004 was reserving some surprises for both teams.
The All Whites counted on players that were acting in Europe and United States while most Vanuatu players were defending local teams by that time. The only exceptions were Etienne Mermer and Richard Iwai that were playing in Mitchelton from Australia. Uruguayan Juan Carlos Buzzetti was Vanuatu’s head coach.
VANUATU SQUAD BEHIND (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): Moise Poida, Larry Thompsen, Geoffrey Gete, Alphonse Qorig, Lexa Bibi and David Chilia FRONT (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): Seimata Chilia, Fredy Vava, Graham Demas, Jean Maleb and Tom Manses
Vanuatu came up to the pitch with a very defensive team using Lexa Bibi as sweeper. “Carlos (head coach) told us in the room to not create corners and free kicks. Our defense was really down just after the penalty box to not allow them to penetrate ]…] Our gameplan was defense down and then counter attack if we regain possession” said Moise Poida.
The biggest priority was the defense but Vanuatu still needed to make something in the attack if they really wanted to keep themselves alive in the tournament once they had lost to Fiji and Solomon Islands before facing New Zealand. We were promised money if we win New Zealand […] We were hungry to beat All Whites to get paid” stated Poida.
Vanuatu opened the scoreboard at the 37th minute with a goal scored by legendary Seitama Chilia and the first half ended 1-0 to them. A big shock for All Whites that were in need of winning this match. Despite the loss in the first half it was not supposed to be a big problem for them once New Zealand had some good players like Ryan Nelsen, Ivan Vicelich, Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead and Leo Bertos.
They knew the importance of beating Vanuatu to keep themselves alive to fight for a spot in the final. All Whites’ coach Mich Waitt placed Vaughan Coveny and Shane Smeltz in pitch to replace Michael Wilson and Aaran Lines respectively.
Lorry Thompsen (Vanuatu) being marked by Rupesh Puna
The substitutions had an immediate effect with Coveny scoring a goal to tie the game at 1-1. New Zealand did not have time to celebrate this goal because Lexa Bibi put Vanuatu ahead again three minutes later and Jean Maleb scored the third for Vanuatu. All Whites scored again with Vaughan Coveny. This goal made him tie with Steve Sumner as New Zealand National Football Team all time topscorer with 22 goals but it was not enough to lead All Whites to a turnaround.
Vanuatu also had the opportunity to net a fourth goal with Alphonse Qorig. Vanuatu won by 4-2 after the final whistle. It was their only win in that tournament.
Vanuatu players emotioned after the final whistle
Vanuatu strategy based on defense and counter attacking was perfect that day “We caught them in counter attack situations in our four goals” stated Seitama Chilia. “It was a tough game. I can not believe that we made it. Everyone was hungry to play against the All Whites.” said Fredy Vava.
“It was the best moment of Vanuatu’s football history.” asserted Fredy Vava. Vanuatu National Team ended in the last position in the tournament but they really played at good level losing matches by tight scores and beating New Zealand. “We won that game not because we were better than New Zealand, but we were more motivated to win” said Poida.
New Zealand won Tahiti and Fiji in the further matches but they were eliminated in this round with nine points in five matches, standing behind Australia (13 points) and Solomon Islands (10 points). This unexpected loss to Vanuatu smashed the All Whites’ dream to qualify for 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Malaita Kings is not having the season they were expecting in Telekom S-League, the top-tier of football in the Solomon Islands, despite sitting at the 3rd position in the moment. The team from Malaita signed three important players from Papua New Guinea national team – Michael Foster, Nigel Dabinyaba and Emmanuel Simon – all of them on loan from the current PNG National Soccer League champions Lae City FC.
The high investment made by Kings were surely an attempt to get a spot in the OFC Champions League of next year or even battle for the national title – but now they sit 13 points away the fight that is having Henderson Eeels and Solomon Warriors as contenders.
Nigel Dabinyaba (blue) played only two matches for Kings since signing – S-League Media
Despite Dabinyaba played only two matches for Malaita Kings until now in the season and did not score a goal, Emmanuel Simon and Michael Foster scored together 11 goals for the club. The strength of the team depends much on the PNG players they have in their squad. The bad news for Malaita Kings fans is that two of their players are set to rejoin Lae City soon.
According to reliable source from Lae City FC in Papua New Guinea, Emmanuel Simon and Nigel Dabinyaba are set to move back to the team in the next week – precisely they are expected to meet the current PNG National Soccer League champions squad around 25th November. The club is preparing for the start of the new season that is scheduled to be at 7th December in PNG and for the next edition of OFC Champions League.
Emmanuel Simon (blue) is being vital for Kings in the season – S-League Media
The other Papua New Guinean of Malaita, Michael Foster – that also played and won the national title with Lae City the previous season – is not going to leave back for his previous club and probrably will play the entire second round of Telekom S-League for Kings.
Kings is scheduled to play in the Sunday 24th November against the 2nd placed Henderson Eels and is not yet sure if the PNG duo will be available or not for the Malaita Kings staff in the match.
The Telekom S-League midweek match was played this Wednesday between 2nd placed Henderson Eels and 8th placed Guadalcanal. After a difficult time in the first 15 minutes of the game, Eels managed to meet the expectations and smashed Guadalcanal just like they did in the first round.
Henderson Eels starting eleven against Guadalcanal
Raphael Lea’i opened the scoreboard for Eels in the ninth minute but Guadalcanal managed to tie the match a few minutes later with a goal scored by Clifford Kesi. Their happiness did not last for so long because Lea’i scored again in the 19th minute to put Eels ahead again. Team captain Andrew Rarangia netted in the stoppage time to finish the first half with the scoreboard at 3-1 in their favour.
Guadalcanal did not have the necessary strenght to keep up with their opponent. Raphael Lea’i scored two more goals in the second half while Joses Nawo (returning from injury) and Rodney Suri netted once each. The final score was 7-1.
Raphael Lea’i ended the match with four goals scored and he now has six goals scored in three matches in Telekom S-League, an amazing beginning for the wonderkid.
Eels remains in second with 28 points, the same amount of points of Solomon Warriors but Warriors played ten matches while Eels played eleven so far. You can check the updated standings and the topscorers by clicking here.
