Oceania Football Center

Solomon Islands’ rising star Ian Kalu speaks his impressions on moving to New Zealand

Recently, Oceania Football Center confirmed the move of Solomon Islands’ full-back Ian Kalu to New Zealand’s Central League side Napier City Rovers. The Solomon Islands’ international left Waneagu United in a famous move to the Hawke’s Bay Area team, being this his third experience overseas after playing for Peninsula Power in Australia last year and previously in a short stint in Langney Wanderers in English low-divisions.

When asked how are his first impressions on the training with his new teammates, Ian Kalu did not hesitate: “Since my arrival here everything was good. I arrived here a week before the preseason started so the training actually kick start a week straight after my arrival here at Hawks Bay. However the training was good and I’m slowly blending in with the team“, said the 23-year-old.

“I’m happy with the training seasons as well, they are a bit tough, but I like it because I enjoy it in game times“, also said the player – “Today we had our first friendly against Petone FC and we won 3-0” added Kalu.

Kalu played the 90 minutes of the friendly match and expressed his feelings after the match: “That’s my first win with the team even though it was a friendly match“, said the full-back, new signing of Napier.

The still very young player expects to prove himself into a higher level; doing well in New Zealand means he opens a path for more Pacific Islands’ talent to move to the country. Kalu, of course, wants to make himself a role model for the new generations of footballers and himself aims high about this future in the beautiful game.

Fiji: Thomas Dunn returns to Navua

Thomas Dunn, a young and promising footballer, recently made his return to Fijian football and his boyhood club Navua after a 1-1 draw against Tavua in the second round of the Digicel Fiji Premier League. Dunn is a U-20 Fiji national team member and is set to represent his country at the U-20 World Cup this May.

Dunn is a key addition to the Navua team and brings with him a wealth of experience gained during his stint with the Frankston Pines, a State League 3 team in Melbourne, Australia. During his time in Australia, Dunn caught the attention of many due to his impressive speed and skill on the ball. After his debut game in the season for Navua, Dunn told Oceania Football Center his impressions about the game: “My debut was good, surely Navua can fight for big things this season. First game this season for me, but will be alright when we go deep into the season“, said the player that recently arrived back home after representing Fiji U-20 team in an invitational friendly tournament in Indonesia.

Dunn’s talent and potential have not gone unnoticed, and his inclusion in the U-20 Fiji national team is a testament to his abilities. He will be hoping to showcase his skills on the world stage and make a name for himself in the international football community.

For Navua, Dunn’s return is a significant boost to their chances in the Digicel Fiji Premier League. The team will be hoping to build on their recent performances and climb up the league table with Dunn’s help.

New Zealand set for European clash against Sweden this June

The All Whites, the New Zealand national football team, are set to play an international friendly match against Sweden at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on 16th June. The match is an exciting opportunity for the New Zealand team to test their skills against one of Europe’s strongest football teams.

The last time the All Whites played friendly matches in Europe was in 2019 when they lost to Ireland by 3-1 and Lithuania by 1-0. The team will be hoping to improve on their previous performances and put up a good fight against Sweden. Before the match against Sweden, New Zealand will have two friendly matches in March against China, to be played in Auckland and Wellington.

Playing against Sweden at the Friends Arena will be a significant challenge for the All Whites, given Sweden’s strong footballing tradition and the quality of their players. However, the New Zealand team has shown their resilience and determination in the past, and they will be looking to give their best performance on the day.

This match is also an opportunity for New Zealand players to gain valuable international experience, which will be important for the team’s future success. The All Whites will be hoping to put on a good show for their fans and leave a positive impression on the international football scene.

Rewa: First goal of the season for Solomon Islands’ Kaua and Hou

Atkin Kaua and Alvin How, two talented midfielders from the Solomon Islands, have made an impressive start to their 2023 season with Fiji’s Rewa football club. In the second round of the Digicel Fiji Premier League, both players scored their first goals for the club, securing a 2-0 victory over Tailevu Naitasiri.

Kaua and How arrived in Fiji this year to bolster Rewa’s squad after having previously played for the club in 2022. Despite being unable to help Rewa qualify for the OFC Champions League group stage, the two players have started the new season strongly, with their contributions in the match against Tailevu Naitasiri proving crucial. The talented duo’s performance in the match was exceptional, with their goals being the only two of the game.

Rewa, known as the Delta Tigers, has started the national league with two consecutive wins, with Kaua and How playing a significant role in their success. Kaua and How’s experience and talent have been valuable additions to the club, providing a much-needed boost to the midfield.

Atkin Kaua and Alvin How are starting to make a significant impact in the Fiji Premier League with Rewa. Their skills and contribution to the team have been crucial to Rewa’s early-season success, but the future matches will say if they can help their team to defend the national glory as Rewa is current title holders of the Digicel Fiji Premier League.

Digicel Fiji Premier League: Lautoka and Rewa top the table after two rounds played

The second round of the Digicel Fiji Premier League saw some exciting matches take place over the weekend, with teams battling it out for crucial points in the early stages of the season. Ba managed to secure a 2-0 win over Nadroga at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, with young talents Gulam Razool and Nabil Begg scoring the goals that secured the victory for their side.

At the Uprising Resort Ground, defending champions Rewa managed to secure a 2-0 victory over Tailevu Naitasiri, with goals from the Solomon Islanders Atkin Kaua and Alvin Hou. Meanwhile, Nadi suffered a heavy defeat at Lawaqa Park to Lautoka by 5-1, with top-striker Sairusi Nalaubu scoring two goals, while Aporosa Yada, Saula Waqa, and Junior Dekedeke scored one each. Nadi managed to grab a consolation goal through Eshan Kumar.

Rewa squad before its match against Tailevu Naitasiri – *Rewa FC Media*

Suva and Labasa played out a 0-0 draw at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, with both teams failing to score in a tightly contested match. The match between Navua and Tavua at the Uprising Resort Ground ended in a draw, with Navua scoring through Zainal Ali but Tavua equalizing with an own goal.

At the moment, Lautoka leads the table with two wins in two matches, closely followed by Rewa, who have also won their opening two matches. You can see the complete table by cliking here. The league is shaping up to be a closely contested battle for the title, and it will be interesting to see which team will emerge as the eventual winners.

Fiji announces call-up for international friendly matches

It has been announced that Marika Rodu, the head coach of the Fiji Premier League club, Rewa, has been called up to lead the national team for three international friendly matches this month. The matches will be held in Lautoka and will see the Bula Boys taking on Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and the Fiji U-20 side, which is preparing for the U-20 World Cup.

The call-up is an exciting opportunity for Rodu, who has a wealth of experience in coaching and has led Rewa to several impressive performances in domestic competitions. The coach has taken up the spot in the national team in an interim basis. The team selected for the matches will include only Fiji-based players, with some key names such as Akuila Mateisuva from Rewa, Remueru Tekiate from Suva, and Sairusi Nalaubu from Lautoka.

The squad will also include some new names, such as Nadi’s goalkeeper Tevita Ravia, Navua’s defender Matthew Charitar, and Ba’s midfielder Etonia Dogalau. The selection of these players shows that Rodu is looking to give some new talent a chance to prove themselves on the international stage.

Nalaubu, Tekiate, Mateisuva and Drudru featured

Experienced players such as Dave Radrigai, Samuela Drudru, Gabriele Matanisiga, and Setareki Hughes have also been named in the squad. Their presence will undoubtedly bring a level of stability and leadership to the team. You can see the complete squad of Fiji by clicking here.

Overall, the call-up of Marika Rodu and the selection of this squad for the international friendlies signals an exciting new chapter for Fiji football. With some promising new players in the mix and experienced heads to guide them, the Bula Boys will be looking to put on some impressive performances and build towards a bright future for the national team, looking for the FIFA 2026 World Cup cycle and this year’s Pacific Games.

Digicel Fiji Premier League: Rewa finally comes out on top against Suva

Finally Rewa managed to secure a 2-1 win against Suva in their debut game of the Digicel Fiji Premier League. This match was particularly significant as both teams had just competed in the OFC Champions League national play-offs, and were keen to make a strong start in the domestic league.

This was the fifth time the two teams had played each other this season, with Suva emerging victorious in the Champion vs Champion series and also securing a berth in the OFC Champions League. However, Rewa had been determined to turn their fortunes around, and this time, they managed to come out on top.

Rewa squad before the match – *Fiji FA Media*

Tevita Waranaivalu scored an early goal for Rewa at the 3rd minute, setting the tone for an exciting match. The youngster Josaia Sela added another goal for Rewa at the 29th minute, putting them in a strong position. Suva fought back in the second half, with Ni-Vanuatu international striker Azariah Soromon scoring a goal at the 59th minute to bring the scoreline to 2-1.

Despite Suva’s efforts, Rewa managed to hold onto their lead and secure a much-needed win. The victory will no doubt be a morale booster for Rewa, who will be hoping to build on this momentum as they move forward in the league.

Roy Krishna’s Bengaluru FC proceeds to Indian Super League semifinals

This Friday, March 3rd, Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC locked horns in a crucial match of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore. The match was crucial for both teams, as a win for Bengaluru would secure their spot in the semifinals, while Kerala Blasters were looking to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

The match started with both teams being cautious and looking to control possession. Bengaluru had more of the ball in the first half, but failed to create any clear-cut chances. Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, were happy to sit back and hit on the counter.

The second half was much of the same, with both teams cancelling each other out. Bengaluru continued to dominate possession, but were unable to break down a resolute Kerala Blasters defence. The match looked to be heading towards a goalless draw, which would have been a frustrating result for Bengaluru, who needed a win to secure their spot in the semifinals.

However, in extra time, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri stepped up to score a crucial goal for Bengaluru in the 96th minute. Chhetri, who had been relatively quiet throughout the match, showed his class and experience: the Indina international finished rapidly a free-kick taking the entire oppposition defense by surprised, lobbing the keeper and score what proved to be the winner later.

The Fijian Roy Krishna was instrumental in the match as he played the entire regular time and also extra time. He was a constant threat to the Kerala Blasters defence and created several chances for his team.

Krishna (right) celebrates after the match – *BFC Media*

The match ended 1-0 in favour of Bengaluru, who secured their spot in the semifinals of the ISL. They will now face the regular season top-placed side Mumbai City FC, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Bengaluru will be hoping to carry their momentum into the semifinals, while Kerala Blasters will be left ruing their missed chances.

Solomon Islands: Suva’s Marlon Tahioa is called up for the national team for the first time

Marlon Tahioa, the 24-year-old player of Suva, has received his first call-up for the Solomon Islands national team. The head coach Felipe Vega-Arango has confirmed his inclusion in the squad for the upcoming friendly matches to be played this month in Lautoka, Fiji.

This is an important moment for Tahioa, who has established himself as a top player in Fiji, having previously played for Nasinu and Labasa. He was instrumental in helping Suva finish second in the Digicel Fiji Premier League and winning the prestigious InterDistrict Championship last season.

Recently, Tahioa made headlines for his impressive performance in the OFC Champions League national play-off against Rewa, scoring a goal that helped his team secure a spot in the group stage of the regional tournament to be held in Vanuatu this May.

His call-up to the national team is a significant milestone in his career and a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. It is also an excellent opportunity for him to showcase his skills on the international stage and represent his country at the highest level of the sport.

The Solomon Islands national team has a rich footballing history and is one of the top teams in the Pacific region. Tahioa’s inclusion in the squad is a reflection of his talent and potential, and he will undoubtedly be looking forward to making his mark on the team and contributing to their success in the upcoming matches.

Marlon Tahioa’s call-up to the Solomon Islands national team is a well-deserved recognition of his talent and an exciting opportunity for him to take his career to the next level.

New Zealand calls up U-23 squad heading for international friendly matches

The New Zealand U-23 team has been called up to play two friendly matches against China U-23 this month in Auckland and Wellington. The matches will be held at Mt Smart Stadium and Sky Stadium, respectively, and will serve as a prelude to the senior All Whites squad’s matches against China.

The call-up includes several promising young players from Wellington Phoenix, one of New Zealand’s most prominent football clubs. Ben Old, Sam Sutton, Finn Surman, Oskar van Hattum, and Alex Paulsen are among the players who have been selected, all of whom are first-team members and are expected to contribute significantly to the U-23 team’s performance.

Surman, Paulsen, Herdman and Lee highlighted

In addition to the Wellington Phoenix players, the squad features several interesting players from other clubs, including Jesse Randall, who recently signed with Charleston Battery, Jay Herdman and Finn Linder from the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Joe Lee and Nathan Lobo from Auckland City.

The upcoming matches against China will provide a valuable opportunity for New Zealand’s U-23 players to gain international experience and demonstrate their skills on the global stage. Moreover, the matches will serve as a crucial step in the team’s preparations for the Paris Olympics – as the team prepares for the Olympic Qualifiers this year.