Oceania Football Center

Brian Kaltak returns to starting lineup as Mariners puts four past Brisbane Roar

Central Coast Mariners secured a much-needed victory in the A-League on Saturday, April 1st, as they defeated Brisbane Roar by a resounding 4-1 scoreline. Brian Kaltak, the Vanuatu national team captain, played a pivotal role in the victory, putting in a good performance throughout the match.

Kaltak, who had been sidelined for two weeks after receiving his third red card of the season, returned to the starting lineup for this crucial match. He played the entire game as a central defender and helped his team to secure a comfortable victory against their opponents. Kaltak had returned to competitive football last week when he came as second half substitute in the 2-0 loss to Melbourne Victory.

This win was a much-needed boost for the Mariners, who had been struggling to find form in recent weeks. In fact, this was their first victory since February and their first win in the A-League since their last encounter with Brisbane Roar.

Brian Kaltak (center) – *A-League Media*

Kaltak’s performance was especially noteworthy, as he played a key role in ensuring that his team kept their opponents at bay. His experience and leadership were evident on the pitch, as he marshaled his team’s defense and made some crucial interventions to prevent the Roar from scoring.

Overall, the victory against Brisbane Roar was an important milestone for the Central Coast Mariners who sits now 3rd in the A-League table. As the season progresses, his presence and leadership will be crucial in helping his team to achieve their goals – the finals are just around the corner!

Vanuatu international Claude Aru rejects Ba deal and confirms stay with North Efate United

Claude Aru, Vanuatu international and former midfielder for the Malampa Revivors, was recently set to join Ba FC in Fiji for the 2023 season of the Digicel Premier League. However, he recently announced that he would be staying with his current club, North Efate United, in Port Vila’s Premier League.

Although the reasons for Aru’s decision to stay with North Efate are not known, the player was present in the team list for the season issued by the Fijian FA. It is possible that Aru was offered a better deal by North Efate or simply decided to stay with his current club due to personal reasons.

Aru (center) playing for NEU – *PVFA Media*

Aru’s decision to stay with North Efate is certainly a boost for the club, as he is known for his passing skills and ability to dictate the tempo of the game. He was also part of the squad of the Vanuatu national team that recently played in the Tri-Nations friendly tournament in Lautoka, Fiji. Aru played a pivotal role in his team’s victory over Fiji, scoring a beautiful free-kick in a 2-1 win.

Aru’s international experience will undoubtedly be valuable to North Efate as they look to compete in Port Vila’s Premier League. It remains to be seen whether he will have another opportunity to play for Ba FC in the future, but for now, Aru will continue to play a key role for North Efate.

Raphael Lea’i speaks about his first professional experience and his expectations in European football

Since turning into the first ever Solomon Islands’ player to sign a full-pro contract in Europe, Raphael Lea’i has made the headlines of many media outlets not only in his country but also around the world. But since then, the 19-year-old has not spoken to media regarding his new adventure since leaving Henderson Eels for a professional contract with Velež Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top-tier league. Lea’i, that recently made his professional debut, spoke Velež Mostar’s media and also to local website’s news outlets.

Lea’i during his interview with Velež media – *Velež TV*

During his interview to the club media, the young striker told he was very happy to finally have made it to professional football. He also mentioned he is thankful to the warm welcome had by the local fans.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, the Solomon Islands’ football star also give some of his impressions: “Many people in the Solomon Islands follow and support ‘Velež’ today. I play here now and they feel my club. I want to play my best and make the fans happy. I will do my best to make them happy and to see smiles on their faces. I’m really happy“, said Raphael. The striker also believes his arrival in European football can turn into a pathway for more players from the Pacific to make it to professional football: “I believe that my arrival here can open doors for many players from my country. Many young people will have the opportunity to see what I’m doing there and think that I’m paving the way for them too. Maybe someone will ask about those young men if I do well in Europe. They will surely follow my development and try to come,” mentioned Lea’i.

Nedim Jusufbegović, the head coach of Velež also spoke about the player to the media: “Rafa came to us for a trial. It was proposed by a member of our professional staff, Adnan Dizdarević. He said there was an interesting guy who would like to come. He is a representative of his country. Young, potent, fast… Those always become interesting, especially when it comes to speed, because we are genetically deficient in that. He came, he tried to stay even when it didn’t look the best. He showed will, a huge desire for work, for progress. The potential left its mark, it was recorded. We reacted to our proposal and he stayed. Of course, this is not a finished player from whom the fans can expect something spectacular. It is about a potential that is 19 years old and for which we hope that with quality work and maximum engagement of all of us, the people in the club, the coaches, that potential will develop to a certain point where we can do it. And that he will continue his path further, where he can develop better and grow into a serious player, which we hope and believe he will become“, said Jusufbegović.

Lea’i in a training session – *Anadolija*

Lea’i had played around 15 minutes in his debut – you can watch all his action by clicking here – and he is going to have another chance to prove himself this Sunday (02nd April) as Velež Mostar takes on Sloga Doboj in the m:te Premier League.

Alvin Hou rejoins Solomon Warriors after only four matches played for Rewa in Fiji

The return of Alvin Hou to Solomon Warriors for the upcoming season of the Telekom S-League has taken the Oceania football fans by surprise. Hou had been playing for the Fijian champions, Rewa, and had only recently signed with them this year. Despite playing only four matches in Fiji, he managed to score a goal for the Delta Tigers. Hou returned to Honiara after representing Solomon Islands in the Tri-Nations friendly tournament in Fiji, where his country ended up as winners after winning all three matches played.

Hou’s decision to return to Solomon Warriors is seen as a big boost for the team, who are the reigning champions of the Telekom S-League. In his previous stint with the team, he was a key player and helped them win the league title in 2019/20 season. His presence on the field will undoubtedly strengthen the team’s midfield and increase their chances of retaining their title.

Hou in action for Warriors – *Warriors Media*

In his return to the team, Hou has already featured in a friendly match against the newcomers of the league, Junipa FC. The match ended in a 4-0 win for Warriors, with Hou showcasing his skills and contributing to the team’s victory. Despite being a impressive boost for the TSL season, Hou won’t be available to feature for Warriors during the OFC Champions League this May as the registration period has already expired.

Hou is a well-known player in the Solomon Islands football community, having represented the national team both in football and futsal. His return to Warriors is seen as a significant move that will help the team in their quest to dominate the Telekom S-League. His attacking prowess and creative abilities will undoubtedly make him a valuable asset to the team, and fans are eagerly anticipating his return to the field.

Tahitian international Tamatoa Tetauira banned from football activities until the end of the season

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Tamatoa Tetauira has been one of AS Pirae’s key players this season; the team is looking for his third straight Tahitian Ligue 1 title. The striker returned to Tahitian football a year after spending time at Alliance Folgensbourg-Muespach which plays in the district/regional leagues of French football.

Tetauira also helped AS Pirae eliminate AS Dragon in the OFC Champions League by scoring three goals in the qualifiers last month, being one of the standout players for his team and expected to play key role in the group stage of the competition this May.

Upon his return to Tahiti he was expected to be part of the national team for the friendly matches against New Caledonia, but this did not happen. Tetauira will be suspended for one year from all professional football competitions in Tahiti for not complying with international transfer rules as pictured by the local press.

The striker had played in France for FC Muespach after leaving his former club in Tahiti – AS Venus – without meeting the necessary criteria for the international transfer. After returning to Tahiti, the player joined AS Piraé and then Tetauira sanctioned and prohibited to play until July 2021, but even before this date the FTF allowed the player to return to actions in February of that year.

In a match against AS Tefana in February, 2021, the opposition club filled a complaint in the score sheet of the game regarding the situation of the player. After having his complaints denied by FTF, the club decided to apply it to the Ethics Commission of Olympic committee: “The chairman of this commission also rejecting his appeal, AS Tefana seized the court, which finally ordered the FTF to re-examine AS Tefana’s claim of February 26, 2021 by seizing the Disciplinary Committee. On May 5, 2022, the FTF Disciplinary Committee, in accordance with the judgment of March 1, 2022, re-examined the situation and decided to ban Tamatoa from participating in competitions organized by the FTF during the current season.”

The decision was made public by the end of this March, confirming the Tahitian international will be missing the rest of the football season in Tahiti, meaning so the player will not be able to represent either AS Piraé in national and international competitions and the national teams – the player is a dual international in the beach and also in the field for Tahiti.

Brian Kaltak features in A-League’s KeepUp website

The Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak is making the headlines once more in Australia; the central defender of Central Coast Mariners featured in KeepUp, A-League’s website. The little documentary features Kaltak experience in football in South Pacific region, his process to adapt to Australian Football and the legion of fans that follow his games in the country. Kaltak, recently, also featured in another show of ABC Pacific.

Following you can find the link to watch and some pictures taken from the KeepUp’s documentary:

You can watch the video by clicking here

Australia-based Mustafa Mohammed withdraw from Fiji U-20 squad

Fiji has lost a very good prospect for the upcoming U-20 World Cup; the Australia-based player Mustafa Mohammed, currently linked to Brisbane Roar youth rankings – club which its senior squad players in A-League – has decided not to take part of the national team anymore. The player was called-up by Ronil Lal to the U-19 OFC Championship last year in Tahiti, where Fiji got a spot at U-20 World Cup; Mustafa also was in the squad in the three international friendly matches played in Indonesia last February.

“To put things into perspective, Mustafa since joining the team last year from trials to the tour of New Zealand, to OFC qualifiers and to the Indonesia trip fell on the outer with the management and till date Fiii Football has not been able to provide an explanation on why he was treated the way he was“, said Ifraz Mohammed, Mustafa’s father – “For all the effort and talent of being coming out of a reputable A-League academy to travel and being away from home in Fiji and not getting deserved game time over multiple games only knocked his confidence and desire to be part of the team any more. Mustafa after returning from Indonesia made the decision to return back home on what has been a very negative experience for such a fine prospect for the Fiji National U-20 team. Fiji FA needs to have a review on his treatment by the coach and management and a formal explanation provided to him and his family“, added Ifraz Mohammed.

In interview Mustafa himself said the head coach Ronil Lal had an “excessive prefential treatment” to some players over others, as Mustafa mentioned Lal has strong links with certain players and he was not selecting the squad due the performance and quality of the players. “I am really really glad everyone gets to know the truth about Fiji Football; in my opinion the Argentinean coach was not the problem, it was RonIl playing favouritism from day one since Mustafa Mohammed playing at A-League level academy being benched literally in all games“, said another family member of Mustafa Mohammed.

Mustafa’s father, Ifraz, even tried to connect to Fiji FA’s CEO regarding the situation on his son; the CEO, Mohammed Yusuf, in a social media post reply on his father claims mentioned the coach has the final say on the starting 11.

Yusuf stated in interview to local media that the decision on leaving the squad was totally on Mustafa; he also agreed the reason that made the player to withdraw was that he was not fielded in the matches in Indonesia. Although, as mentioned before, Yusuf said the deicison to select a player for a match or not is totally on the team coach and staff.

Certainly, for the background and the grassroots process Mustafa had been into, he would be definitely an interesting addition to the Fijian team for the upcoming U-20 World Cup. Unfortunately, after all this problematic situation the Fijian football loses a potential international player with overseas experience – something rare for the South Pacific national teams.

Edwin Bai is back to Malampa Revivors: “I will put the team back on top”

Edwin Bai, the Vanuatu international midfielder, recently made the decision to return to his boyhood club, Malampa Revivors, in Luganville. Bai had been playing for North Efate United in Port Vila before deciding to return to his roots and join the team where he most achieved success in his football career. “I decided to return to Luganville to play for Malampra Revivors once again“, he said to Oceania Football Center – “I want to help to put things in place once again“, as Malampa Revivors, who used to dominate the local football, lost its crown to Siaraga FC, who just lost the grand final match of the VFF Champions League to Port Vila’s Ifira Black Bird.

Bai is no stranger to success on the field, having represented Malampa Revivors in two editions of the OFC Champions League and winning the VFF Champions League once. He brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team, and his decision to return is sure to be a boost for the club as they look to compete in the upcoming season.

Returning to Malampa Revivors is a significant move for Bai, as the team holds a special place in his heart. He had played for long for Revivors and has always had a deep connection to the team and the community in Luganville. His decision to return demonstrates his commitment to the club and his desire to help them achieve success on the field. “I want the fans to know I will put the team back on top and make Malampa Revivors champions one more time“, he said. Bai also added he aims to return to Port Vila in the future, but once he achieves his goals with Revivors.

As Malampa Revivors prepares for the upcoming season of the LFA Premier League, fans are excited to see what Bai can bring to the team. With his talent and experience, he is sure to make a significant impact and help lead the team back to winning the local league.

Solomon Islands: Ali Mekawir returns home for upcoming Telekom S-League season

Ali Mekawir, the 22-year-old striker from Solomon Islands, is set to return to his home country to play for his former club, Waneagu United, in the upcoming season of the Telekom S-League. Mekawir had previously played in Australia before moving to the United Arab Emirates to play for TFA Dubai.

During his time in the UAE, Mekawir had some success on the field, scoring a goal in a friendly match against the China U-23 side. He also had the opportunity to represent his country, playing for the Solomon Islands national team in the FIFA Window international friendly matches against Fiji and Vanuatu. The team managed to win all of their matches, and Mekawir scored in the 4-1 over Fiji U-20.

Although he was initially considered for the provisional list of the current champions Solomon Warriors, Mekawir ultimately decided to join his former club, Waneagu United, for the upcoming Telekom S-League season as he was seen participating in the team’s training sessions, indicating that his decision to get back to playing for Waneagu – his last club in Solomon Islands before moving overseas.

Mekawir’s return to Waneagu United is sure to be a boost for the team as they look to compete in the upcoming season of the Telekom S-League. With his experience playing in Australia and the UAE, and his success with the national team, Mekawir brings a wealth of talent and skill to the team, and fans are excited to see what he can accomplish on the field.

Leon Kofana gives up Nadi’s deal in Fiji; set to rejoin Henderson Eels

Things have changed rapidly for the Jetsetters: Solomon Islands’ defender Leon Kofana had agreed to terms with Nadi and was expected to stay in Fiji after playing in international friendly matches for his country. However, he made a late decision to return to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. Kofana is not anymore playing for Nadi, as confirmed per sources in Nadi FA’s board and as well into Solomon Islands national team.

Kofana is a well-known player in the Solomon Islands, having played for the Henderson Eels for most of his career. The youngster has also represented his country at the international level, earning caps for the Solomon Islands national team. His decision to return home and rejoin the Henderson Eels for the upcoming Telekom S-League season has come as a surprise to many as his deal with Nadi was taken by granted by Nadi FA’s representatives. “We have wasted time and money with this player, he agreed on terms and now decided not to play for us anymore“, said one Nadi’s board member.

It is not sure which are exactly the reasons of the decision made by Leon Kofana, although it known the player cited personal reasons for not make the move to play his trade in Fijian football in the current season of the Digicel Fiji Premier League. “We could have signed someone else in that window, now the team needs to wait until June to add more players to the squad“, said Nadi’s board member.

Kofana was part of the Solomon Islands national team squad that won all three international friendly matches played in Lautoka this month against Fiji U-20, Fiji National Team and Vanuatu. It was known the player would stay in the country after the matches to complete the deal with Nadi, but the situation changed rapidly and the defender decided to stay in his club back in his country.