Oceania Football Center

More minutes for Solomon Islands’ star Raphael Lea’i in European football as Velež loses to Željezničar in Bosnian Premier League

Raphael Lea’i, the young football star from the Solomon Islands, h as been making headlines since signing his first professional contract in Europe with FK Velež Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite coming off the bench in all his matches, Lea’i has been making a positive impact on the field, and his recent appearance against Željezničar was no exception.

Lea’i was brought on in the 87th minute to replace Nemanja Anđušić, with the aim of helping Velež pursue an equaliser. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, the team was unable to find the back of the net, and the match ended in a 2-1 loss. This result puts Velež in a difficult position in the m:tel Premier League, sitting 6th in the table and four points away from the 3rd placed team, which would qualify for the UEFA Conference League.

However, despite this setback, Velež can take some comfort in the fact that they are still in the running for the Bosnian Cup. The club is set to face their archrivals, Zrinjski Mostar, in the grand final of the competition. Winning the cup would be a significant achievement for the club and a bright spot in what has been a challenging season.

For Lea’i, these minutes on the field are valuable opportunities to gain experience and hone his skills. As a young player, he has already proven himself to be a talented and promising footballer, and it will be exciting to see how he continues to develop in the coming years.

Fiji FA confirms new Bula Boys head coach

Rob Sherman, former professional footballer who played for Cardiff City, Swansea City, and Hull City, has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the Bula Boys, the national football team of Fiji. His appointment comes after the expiration of Danish coach Flemming Serritslev’s term at the end of January.

Sherman has signed a three-year contract with the Fiji Football Association (FFA) and has expressed his desire to continue working with the team beyond that period if given the opportunity. He brings with him a wealth of experience in coaching, having previously served as Technical Director of Football Federation Australia and worked with various national teams in the Oceania Football Confederation.

As a former Wales international player, Sherman also has a deep understanding of international football and what it takes to succeed at the highest level. He is known for his tactical acumen, his ability to develop young players, and his commitment to building strong team cultures.

One of Sherman’s first major tournaments as head coach of the Bula Boys will be the Pacific Games, which will be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, at the end of the year. This will be an important test for the team and an opportunity for Sherman to showcase his coaching skills on the international stage.

Fijian star Roy Krishna is awarded Bengaluru’s ‘Players’ Player of the Season’ in India

Fijian footballer Roy Krishna has had an outstanding season with his Indian Super League club, Bengaluru FC. At the end of the season, he was awarded the Players’ Player of the Season, a recognition of his exceptional performances on the pitch.

Krishna, who is also the captain of the Fijian national team, scored 10 goals and provided six assists in all competitions for Bengaluru FC. He played a crucial role in taking his team to the finals of the Durand Cup, Hero Super Cup, and the Indian Super League. Although the team only managed to win one title, the Durand Cup, Krishna’s contribution was invaluable.

Playing on a one-year contract, Krishna’s future with Bengaluru FC remains uncertain. However, his performances this season have certainly made him a valuable asset for any team in the league. At 35 years old, he has proven that age is just a number and is still able to perform at the highest level.

Krishna’s success in the Indian Super League has made him a fan favorite among Bengaluru FC supporters. His ability to score crucial goals and create opportunities for his teammates has been essential to the team’s success this season.

Solomon Islands: Waneagu’s Ronnie Mani departs for Australia

The Waneagu United Football Club recently announced the departure of one of their star players, Ronnie Mani Butala. In a social media post, the club wished Ronnie the best of luck in his new endeavour as he moves on to join the Seasonal Workers Program in Australia. He is expected to be away for the next 7-10 months.

Ronnie Mani Butala is a key member of the WUFC team, having been with the club since its debut season in 2021. He has been a vital player in the club’s success over the years, and his departure will be felt by both the team and the fans.

The WUFC management expressed their appreciation for Mani’s contributions to the team and wished him well in his new adventure. They also expressed their confidence in his leadership qualities and hoped that he would continue to perform to the best of his ability in his new work environment.

Although Ronnie’s departure is a blow to the WUFC team, the club management is optimistic about his return for the next TSL season in 2024. They will undoubtedly be counting the days until his return to the Waneagu Family.

Fiji: Sairusi Nalaubu can’t stop scoring

Sairusi Nalaubu‘s incredible form in the Digicel Fiji Premier League has made him the talk of the town. The Lautoka striker has been in sensational form and continues to top the list of goalscorers in the league. He has been the top scorer of the previous three editions of the national league and his hot form seems to be unstoppable.

Last weekend, Nalaubu added another goal to his tally, helping Lautoka to a 1-0 win over Tailevu Naitasiri. The victory keeps the Blues in the hunt for the top-placed side Rewa, with just three points separating them in the table.

Nalaubu has scored an incredible nine goals so far in the season, in just seven matches played. That is an average of more than one goal per game, a remarkable achievement by any standard. His performances have made him a key player for Lautoka, and his goals have been instrumental in their success this season.

The Fijian international striker is a star player for Lautoka, and his fans expect him to keep them in the race for the title. Nalaubu’s closest rival in the league’s top scorers’ list has scored only three goals so far, highlighting the massive gulf in class between the two players.

Nalaubu’s incredible form has made him a fan favorite and a key player for Lautoka. He has already cemented his place in the history books of the Fiji Premier League, and if he continues this rich vein of form, there is no telling how many more records he could break. For now, though, Nalaubu will focus on leading his team to glory, and his fans will undoubtedly be cheering him on every step of the way.

Telekom S-League: Instant impact for Ali Mekawir as Waneagu gets strong win over Kossa in first matchday

Ali Mekawir‘s return to Waneagu United had an instant impact as he helped his team secure a 2-0 win over Kossa in the opening match of the new season of the Telekom S-League. The Solomon Islands international notched a goal in his first game back with his former club, showcasing his quality and demonstrating why he is such an important player for Waneagu.

Mekawir’s return was much anticipated, as he is widely regarded as one of the upcoming stars of local football. After a brief stint in Australia and United Arab Emirates football, the 22-year-old striker has returned to his roots and is already making a big impact for his team.

In the match against Kossa, Mekawir was not the only national team member to shine. Bobby Leslie, another talented young striker, scored the other goal for Waneagu. Together, the two players demonstrated the strength and depth of local talent Waneagu has on its service.

With this win, Waneagu has already made a strong statement in the league, beating the second-placed team from last season in their opening match. Mekawir’s contribution was vital to this success, and his return has already provided a big boost for his team. As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see what other contributions Mekawir will make and how far Waneagu can go with him leading their attack.

‘The Panther’ Sipakana scores his first goal for Solomon Warriors

Jaygray Sipakana made an instant impact on his debut for Solomon Warriors, scoring his first goal for the team in their season-opening 4-3 win over Southern United. The former Nadi and Real Kakamora striker’s goal was the third for Warriors and proved to be a vital one in securing the win.

Sipakana’s arrival is a big boost for the defending champions of the Telekom S-League, who are looking to retain their title in the upcoming season. The striker is well-known in the country and has already proven his quality when playing for Western Tomoko in the prestigious Solomon Cup.

Jaygray Sipakana – *Solomon Warriors Media*

Sipakana’s goal-scoring ability will be crucial for Warriors as they look to defend their title and compete in other domestic and regional competitions. With his impressive debut performance, Sipakana has already established himself as a strong candidate for the golden boot award this season.

The team coached by Franco Ne’e will undoubtedly be delighted with The Panther contribution and will be looking forward to seeing him continue to make a significant impact for the rest of the season. With Sipakana in their ranks, Warriors will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the Telekom S-League and beyond.

A-League: Brian Kaltak awarded ‘Coach’s Player of the Year’ for Central Coast Mariners

The Vanuatu star Brian Kaltak has been awarded the prestigious Coach’s Player of the Year award for Central Coast Mariners in Australia. The award was presented at the end of the regular season in A-League, during the night of awards for the Mariners.

Kaltak, who is 29 years old, had an outstanding season with the Mariners, which was his first professional contract. The player was nicknamed “The Brick Wall of Gosford” by the fans, due to his excellent defensive skills, which he used to great effect in the heart of the Mariners’ defence.

Kaltak was a regular starter for the club throughout the season and quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to his strong performances on the field. His impressive skills and dedication to the game earned him the recognition of the coaching staff, who awarded him with the prestigious Coach’s Player of the Year award.

Brian Kaltak and his award – *CCM Media*

The Vanuatu international is now focused on the semifinals of the A-League playoffs, as his team finished second in the ladder of the regular season. The Mariners will be hoping to continue their strong form into the playoffs, and Kaltak will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their quest for success.

Kaltak’s first season so far in the A-League has been a huge success, and he has demonstrated he has what it takes to be a standout in the league, who is well deserving of his accolades. Fans of the Mariners will be eagerly anticipating his contributions in the playoffs, and his performances will undoubtedly be critical to the team’s success.

Solomon Islands: Telekom S-League 2023/24 kicks-off

The Telekom S-League, Solomon Islands’ top-tier league, kicked off its new season with an exciting weekend of football in Honiara. Defending champions Solomon Warriors faced off against Southern United in a thrilling match that saw them battle to confirm their first win of the season.

The Warriors started the game strongly, and by the end of the first half, they had a comfortable lead thanks to goals scored by Tigi Molea, Aengari Junior Gagame, and Jaygray Sipakana. However, Southern United fought back hard in the second half, with John Orobulu showcasing his skills by scoring a hat-trick to level the scoreline.

It was a tense match, but Alvin Hou‘s late goal at the 86th minute saved the day for the Warriors and secured their victory. This was a much-needed win for the team coached by Franco Ne’e and will give them a boost of confidence as they look to defend their title this season.

In other matches, Marist FC and Honiara City played out a 2-2 draw, with Norman Ngafu scoring a brace for Marist and Dalton Saeni and Matthew Fagono scoring for Honiara. Waneagu started their campaign with a 2-0 win over Kossa, thanks to goals from Bobby Leslie and Ali Mekawir.

Picture of the match between Southern United and Solomon Warriors – *Solomon Warriors Media*

Henderson Eels also started with a win, beating the newcomers FC Juniper 3-0, with recent signings Dickson Magi and Paul Francis scoring one each, and Stephen Moses adding the final goal. Meanwhile, the debutants in the league, SOSA FC, had a great win over Real Kakamora, winning 4-2. Finally, the strong Central Coast won their match against Laugu United by 2-1, with goals from Javin Wae and Junior Fordney.

The first weekend of the Telekom S-League was filled with excitement and anticipation, and fans will be looking forward to seeing how the teams perform throughout the rest of the season.

Ifira Black Bird loses friendly match in Australia building up for 2023 O-League

On their journey to the OFC Champions League in Vanuatu, the current national champions of Vanuatu, Ifira Black Bird, played their second friendly match in Australia against Peninsula Power. Unfortunately, the Vanuatu side lost the match with a final score of 3-1.

The game started off on a positive note for Ifira BB as their striker Tonly Kalotang scored the first goal of the match, putting them ahead of Peninsula Power. However, the Australian side quickly responded with an equalizer and went on to score two more goals to secure a comfortable win.

Despite the loss, Ifira BB put up a good fight and showed promising moments in the match. They will be taking away valuable lessons from this game to improve their performance in the upcoming OFC Champions League.

Players of both teams after the match – *PVFA Media*

Ifira BB still has one more match to play in their preparations in Australian soil before heading back to Vanuatu for the highly anticipated tournament. The team will be looking to bounce back and finish their preparations on a high note before taking on some of the best teams in the Oceania region.