Oceania Football Center

All Whites’ squad for international friendly matches is announced

The All Whites has announced their squad for two friendly matches against China, scheduled to take place on 23rd March at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland and on 26th March at Sky Stadium in Wellington. The squad includes some of the best players from the country, including the all-time top scorer of the All Whites, Chris Wood, who plays for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League.

One exciting inclusion in the squad is Wellington Phoenix’s Callan Elliot, who has the chance to make his debut in this FIFA window – a number of Wellington Phoenix players were included such as Clayton Lewis, Tim Payne and Kosta Barbarouses. However, some key players like Sarpreet Singh, who started his return to form in 2. Bundesliga in Germany, and Bill Tuiloma, who recently joined Charlotte FC, didn’t make it to the squad. Additionally, Plymouth Argyle’s Ben Waine is understood to not be released by his club to represent the national team in this window.

Cacace, Wood, Bell and Lewis highlighted

On the other hand, important players like Joe Bell, Oli Sail, Liberato Cacace, and Michael Boxall were included in the squad. The call-up also marks the return of Marco Rojas, who is now playing in Chilean top-side Colo-Colo, and Sligo Rovers’ striker Max Mata. You can see the entire squad by clicking here.

The call-up of some of the best players in New Zealand for the upcoming friendly matches against China is exciting news for football fans in the country. While some key players miss out due to club commitments or injury, the team still has a strong squad and will be looking to make a mark in the friendly matches as they started a new cycle heading the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Vanuatu: Port Vila Premier League to restart next week after cyclones hit the capital city

In recent weeks, Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin have caused significant damage and disruptions to the Pacific islands, particularly to Vanuatu. The impact of the twin cyclones has not only affected the daily lives of the locals, but it has also put the Port Vila Premier League, which is Vanuatu’s most important football league, on hold. In addition to cyclones, earthquakes were felt in the country.

The aftermath of the cyclones has left many players of the league severely affected. This has prompted the football organization of Vanuatu’s capital, PVFA, to put the games on hold and request aid for the affected players before returning to competitive football, as reported by local sources to Oceania Football Center.

Korman Stadium, which is the biggest stadium in Vanuatu, was strongly hit by the cyclones, and repairs are needed for the ceiling of the grandstands. However, local sources have confirmed that Port Vila Stadium and the new Freshwater Stadium are in good condition and can be used for the upcoming games.

Korman Stadium in Port Vila – *PVFA Media*

The Port Vila Premier League is set to return next week, starting from Thursday 16th March at Port Vila Stadium. It is expected that the games will be played with great enthusiasm and energy, as the players are eager to get back on the field and showcase their skills. The clubs were requested by PVFA to aid the affected players before returning to competitive football.

The delay of the league’s return is understandable, given the damage caused by the twin cyclones; the clubs and the local federation had meetings through the week to decide the schedule of the upcoming matches. Currently, Galaxy FC is the top-placed side of the league, but the current champions Ifira Black Bird have postponed matches to be play and retake the first place in the race of the title.

Raphael Lea’i still unavailable as Velež Mostar loses local derby against Zrinjski

The local derby between Velež and Zrinjski in Mostar is always one of the most highly anticipated matches in the m:tel Premier League, and this year’s matchup lived up to expectations. Unfortunately for Velež, they were unable to come out on top, ultimately losing 3-1 to their fierce rivals.

Despite the presence of a strong squad, Velež was once again unable to take advantage of Solomon Islands’ star Raphael Lea’i, who was still unavailable to play due to local processes that needed to be completed before he could make his debut for the club. Lea’i, who signed with Velež earlier this year, has been eagerly awaited by fans and teammates alike, as he is known for his impressive skills and scoring abilities.

The match began with Silvio Ilinković scoring for Zrinjski in the 19th minute, putting the home team ahead. Velež was able to equalize with a goal from Nermin Haskić in the 29th minute, but Tomislav Kiš of Zrinjski quickly put the home team back in the lead before the first half was over.

Velež and Zrjinski teams entering pitch – *FK Velež Mostar Media*

In the second half, Antonio Ivančić added another goal for Zrinjski, further securing their lead and putting the pressure on Velež to catch up. Despite their best efforts, Velež was unable to make up the deficit, resulting in their first defeat of the year.

With the return of the league this Sunday (12th March), Velež will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss and regain their momentum. Fans and teammates alike are eagerly anticipating the debut of Raphael Lea’i, who is sure to make a big impact on the pitch once he is cleared to play.

Jaygray Sipakana denied to join Solomon Warriors for OFC Champions League

Jaygray Sipakana is a talented footballer from the Solomon Islands who was set to sign for Solomon Warriors – as recently reported by Oceania Football Center – the current champions of the country. Sipakana’s addition to the Warriors was expected to boost the team’s chances in the upcoming OFC Champions League.

However, recent reports indicate that Sipakana will not be able to join the Warriors for the tournament: “He is not eligible to play in the O-League since his transfer is not facilitated in the transfer window approved by FIFA for Solomon Islands during the last TSL season“, said a close source to both parties – “For now he can’t be registered as a Solomon Warriors player for the OFC Champions League. The squad was already submitted to OFC“, it added.

Jaygray Sipakana training with Solomon Islands national team – *SIFF Media*

This news comes as a blow to the Warriors, who were looking forward to having Sipakana in their squad for the OFC Champions League to improve their striking force. Although the player will be cleared for the new Telekom S-League season: “for the TSL season he can be added to their squad once the Solomon Islands transfer window will get opened“.

Sipakana, who has already been called uo for the Solomon Islands national team, is considered one of the country’s most prolific strikers. Sipakana had previously played for Real Kakamora before impressing at Solomon Cup 2020 edition and also had a very good stint in Fijian’s side Nadi.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, it means the club will not be capable of bringing reinforcements for their squad in order to compete at OFC Champions League. Despite of that, the addition of Sipakana for the next national league season can mean the current national champions will come even stronger to defend their title.

Fiji: Iconic Suva’s player leaves the club

Shahil Dave, a long-term representative of Suva football team, is set to depart from the team to move to New Zealand. Dave has been an integral part of the Suva team for many years, representing the team in both football and futsal competitions. The 30-year-old midfielder has also represented Fiji internationally in futsal.

Dave joined the Whites in 2014, and since then has been a key player for the team. He has played an important role in helping the team win several titles during his almost 10-year tenure with the club. He has also represented Suva FC in the OFC Champions League, a competition the team will return to play this year.

Dave’s departure from Suva is a big loss for the team, as he has been an important member of the squad for many years. However, he is moving to New Zealand with his wife due to job commitments. In talks with Oceania Football Center, Dave mentioned he aims to keep playing in New Zealand although he has nothing sure at the moment.

Dave’s departure is a reminder of the sacrifices that players often have to make in pursuit of their careers. He will undoubtedly be missed by his teammates and fans, but his legacy as a talented and dedicated player for Suva will live on.

Roy Krishna’s Bengaluru beats Mumbai City in the first leg of Indian Super League’s semi-final

In a thrilling encounter at the Mumbai Football Arena, Bengaluru FC emerged victorious over Mumbai City FC by a scoreline of 1-0 in the first leg of the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final. The match saw a good performance by Roy Krishna, who played almost the entire match before being subbed off in stoppage time. The winning goal was scored by none other than Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri.

The match was closely contested, with both teams creating several opportunities to score. However, it was Bengaluru FC who took the lead in the 14th minute when Chhetri found the back of the net with a clinical finish. Despite several attempts by Mumbai City FC to equalize, Bengaluru FC held on to their lead and secured a crucial away victory.

Krishna (bottom) and Chhetri (right) celebrate the goal – *ISL Media*

Roy Krishna’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as the Fijian striker caused constant problems for the Mumbai City FC defense with his pace and movement as usual. Krishna proved to be regular threat once again.

With the first leg of the semi-final done and dusted, Bengaluru FC will now look to seal their spot in the grand final when they face Mumbai City FC once again, this time at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore. On the other hand, ATK Mohun Bagan, Krishna’s former team, and Hyderabad will battle it out in the other semi-final for a place in the grand final.

Papua New Guinea: Talented Joseph Waiwai ready for trials in New Zealand

The Papua New Guinea football fans have something to put their hopes on: the talented Joseph Waiwai, a 22-year-old player, is set to attend trials in one of the most traditional football clubs of New Zealand: Miramar Rangers.

“Joseph Waiwai started in his footballing career very early in school, the son of former PNG National Football player, Wesley Waiwai and Former Basketball National player, Emma Waiwai“, stated Gordon Manub, in interview to Oceania Football Center about the trials in New Zealand.

Joseph has represented Papua New Guinea at the youth level, U19, U23 and the National Men’s team in the MSG Cup in Vanuatu last year, 2022. Joseph has been part of the Southern Strikers Football Club and academy program, run under the Port Moresby Schools Football Association since 2016. The program initiated under the leadership of Mr. John Mogi, Wesley Waiwai and John Agovai. Joseph Waiwai was one of the original members of the Southern Strikers FC which competed in the National Soccer League (NSL) in 2017/2018 season and has been part of the club. He also has had stints with Star Mountain FC and Port Moresby Strikers FC and recently, Genesis FC in the last NSL Conference edition in 2022/23.

Joseph’s football development has been nurtured through the Strikers Football Club program which is focused on developing young talent through its school football program. Through its professional school’s development program (PSDP) initiated in 2017 with objective of producing educated footballer, Waiwai is now the first player to embark of journey to secure a football stint and contract with Miramar Rangers AFC in Wellington, New Zealand.

Waiwai (right) alongside Rangers’ head coach Kale Herbet

“With the core of players who started in the program currently undergoing studies in University of PNG, University of Technology in Lae and various learning institutions in Port Moresby, the Association is dedicated to look for opportunities for them to trail and play with clubs within our region“, said Port Moresby’s chairman Manub. Joseph’s opportunity will hopefully create an interest in Papua New Guinea with the high number of talented young footballers in the country to be scouted by clubs in Australia and New Zealand.

“With several senior players already having stints in New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Australia, there is potential for Papua New Guinea to export players overseas. PNG should be talking about football as a developmental issue rather than just a sport as the football code has the potential to bring in foreign revenue into our economy“, said Gordon Manub, one of the responsibles for arranging the trials.

It is expected in the coming weeks more news on the development of Jospeh Waiwai are issued; this opportunity can bring a lot for Waiwai and his country itself – more Papua New Guineans to make their way into competitive football overseas.

Emotional farewell as Marika Rodu departs Rewa after impressive win

As recently confirmed by Fiji FA and highlighted here in Oceania Football Center, Rewa’s Marika Rodu departed the club in order to serve the Fiji national team; the experienced coach will guide the squad in three friendly matches this month to be played in Lautoka. Rodu already even announced the players he selected for the international matches.

But, before his deparute, Rodu had a final say for his Rewa side: the second match of the Digicel Fiji Premier League against Tailevu Naitasiri. The coach guided his side to a much deserved 2-0 win thanks to goals scored by the Solomon Islands internationals Atkin Kaua and Alvin Hou.

This was the second in a row for the Delta Tigers as they are ranked second now in the national league’s table. After the match the players, staff and management of the team turned emotional in the dressing rooms as Rodu had his final match for Rewa.

“President Buksh praised Marika for his dedication towards Rewa Football. Buksh added that our loss is Fiji’s gain as Marika is a soldier everyone wants in their camp – got a little too sweet and too emotional in the end“, posted Rewa on social media.

Players celebrated Marika Rodu after the match and wished him the best in the upcoming challenge with the national team as an interim head coach. The assistant coach of Rodu, and also former Rewa head coach, Rodick Singh will take the position and expect to achieve similar success of Marika’s under his tenure for the Delta Tigers.

New Zealand’s promising Callan Elliot scores first A-League goal

Callan Elliot is proving his quality this season, as he turned into a regular start of the Wellington Phoenix; he scored the first goal for his team in their 2-1 win against Newcastle Jets, showcasing his attacking prowess and ability to contribute to the team’s success. This was his debut goal in the A-League. He was part of the New Zealand squad for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he was started in the team campaign that ended after a defeat to Colombia in the round of 16 after penalty shootout. Elliot was also in the OlyWhites impressive campaign to the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics.

Elliot is yet to make his debut for the senior New Zealand national team, but he has been catching the attention of clubs in Scotland, where he was born. However, he has chosen to represent New Zealand internationally, and his commitment to the team has not gone unnoticed.

Callan Elliot in action against the Jets

Elliot’s journey to becoming a regular starter for Wellington Phoenix has been marked by hard work and determination. After a stint in Greek football, he returned to the club with more experience and made his way int toe the starting team. His performances this season have been impressive, and he has shown that he has the potential to go on to even greater success in the future.

As a full-back, Elliot is known for his versatility and his ability to contribute both defensively and offensively. He is equally comfortable defending against opposition attackers as he is getting forward and creating chances for his team. His technical ability and vision on the ball make him a key player for Wellington Phoenix, and he is sure to play a major role in the team’s future success.

Solomon Warriors add top-striker Jaygray Sipakana

Jaygray Sipakana is a striker who is set to sign for Solomon Warriors for the upcoming OFC Champions League, which is scheduled to take place in May in Vanuatu. Sipakana, who is a former striker for Real Kakamora, is expected to be a key addition to the Solomon Warriors’ frontline, and his experience and skills are highly valued by the team. “It is confirmed; the coach already talked to me. He wants me to join training for upcoming OFC Champions League and for the new TSL season“, said the striker to Oceania Football Center – the information was confirmed by Solomon Warriors head coach Franco Ne’e: “He is coming over to the capital Honiara from his island on the weekend. I am very excited to have him with us for the TSL and OCL”, said the coach.

Sipakana emerged on the Solomon Islands football scene during the traditional Solomon Cup and quickly established himself as one of the top scorers of the tournament in 2020. He then joined Real Kakamora and had an impressive season in the Telekom S-League, the premier football league in the Solomon Islands.

Sipakana training with Solomon Islands national team – *SIFF Media*

In 2022, Sipakana ventured overseas for the first time and signed with Nadi FC in Fiji. Despite being new to the league, Sipakana’s performance caught the attention of many fans and football pundits.

Sipakana’s talent has not gone unnoticed, and he was even called up to represent the Solomon Islands national team in the OFC FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament in 2021. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Sipakana was unable to travel to Doha to join his national team.

Now at 30 years old, Sipakana is expected to bring his skills and experience to the Solomon Warriors team as they prepare to compete in the upcoming OFC Champions League. His signing is a significant boost to the team, and his presence on the field is sure to give the Warriors a formidable attacking force that could help them achieve success in the tournament.

UPDATE: Sipakana is not going to play for Solomon Warriors this OFC Champions League edition.