Oceania Football Center

FK Beograd’s head coach on Micah Lea’alafa signing: “It was a no brainer to add his quality on the books”

Recently, it was announced the move of Solomon Islands’ international Micah Lea’alafa to Australian football; the 31-year-old joined FK Beograd in Adelaide. The former Auckland City star is going to be a key addition to the team coached by former Vanuatu Football Federation technical director and advisor Joshua Smith. Oceania Football Center talked to new head coach of Lea’alafa about the move of the player and on his expecations for the season alongside his new signing.

“Micah’s been a player I’ve known for many years since he came to Australia to play futsal at Dural Warriors”, said Smith, “I’ve been following his career for many years and when the opportunity came up to sign him it was a no brainer for the club to add his quality on the books” added the Beograd’s head coach.

One of the main reasons Smith decided to pick Micah for the NPL’s South Australia top-tier side was his experience; the striker had played previously in professional environment and also got exposed to FIFA Futsal World Cup four times and also represented New Zealand powerhouse Auckland City at FIFA Club World Cup: “We have a very young and upcoming squad at Beograd this season and I believe Micah’s experience can really help our younger players develop into top footballers“, said the coach.

“We believe we can achieve something special this year; Micah coming into the squad gives us another quality player that can provide goals and assists for the group. The supporters want to be entertained and I believe Micah is the type of player who can do this“, said a hopeful Smith expecting a great season ahead for his side.

The Adeialde-based side was able to recruit important players in the recent seasons, mentions Smith: “Beograd is top environment, it just shows from the quality of players we’ve been able to recruit this season. Brian Kaltak joined us last season and then was signed by the Mariners“. When asked about Beograd being a possible pathway for Pacific Islands’ players to Australian football system, Smith explained: “Having the connection to Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands has definitely help me recruit them, I’m hoping we can keep the pathway going and attract more of the Pacific’s top prospects to South Australia and help them progress further“.

Lea’alafa can make his debut this coming Saturday (25th Feb) against MetroStars; the Solmon Islands’ captain new club started their season with a 1-1 draw last weekend and will hope to add his firepower to record their first season win.

Ifira Black Bird players speak after convicing win over Siaraga for OFC Champions League national play-offs

After an impressive display against Siaraga from Luganville at VFF Freshwater Stadium, Ifira Black Bird, the Port Vila champions, are very close to seal their place in the next edition of the group stage of OFC Champions League. The 3-0 win thanks to goals scored by Kerry Iawak, Alphonse Lency and Tonly Kalotang – watch the highlights here – gives the team coached by Robert Yelou a big advantage heading for their game in Luganville for the second leg of the national play-off.

“We knew we were going to win“, said Ifira BB’s winger Jonathan Spokeyjack in interview to Oceania Football Center – “In the first half we just stay hold and see how they play; in the second half we started pressing them to score goals” added Ifira’s number 7.

Ifira midfielder John Wohale was another played who speaked to Oceania Football Center after the match: “We felt so happy after the victory on the first leg of O-League play-offs! The oppoment team was strong and it was a tough game ’cause we know both teams train so hard for this tournament and for who get the chance to represent our country at OFC Champions League” said the Vanuatu international.

Spokeyjack and Wohale in action for Ifira BB – BREJ Pacific General Distribution Limited

Both players seem very focused on the second match for the play-offs; the Port Vila’s side already touchdown Luganville and are expecting another win: “We are going to win again“, said Jonathan Spokeyjack, while Wohale added: “We are looking forward to the second leg of the play-off“.

Siaraga will host Ifira Black Bird this Saturday (25th Feb) for the second leg of the national play-off in Luganville; the hosts will need to overcome a three-goal deficit if they want to achieve history and take place in their first ever OFC Champions League edition.

New Zealand-duo selected in ‘Team of the Week’ in Ireland

Nando Pijnaker and Max Mata, the New Zealand duo playing for Sligo Rovers in Ireland, have been recognized for their performance in the first matchday of the Irish top-tier football league. The team drew 1-1 against Shamrock Rovers, and both players were selected in the team of the week for their contributions to the match.

Pijnaker and Mata are no strangers to the international football scene, having already represented their country at the highest level. Pijnaker, a 23-year-old defender, has previously played for the New Zealand U-20 and U-23 teams, while 22-year-old Mata has made one appearance for the New Zealand national team.

Their solid performance in the first match of the league is a good sign for Sligo Rovers, who are hoping to improve on their fifth-place finish in the previous season. The team will look to build on this result and continue to compete at the highest level of Irish football.

Gagame Feni: “Kossa has a chance to play at OFC Champions League”

The Telekom S-League golden boot winner Gagame Feni is positive after the 1-1 draw of his side Kossa FC against Solomon Warriors for the first leg of the national play-off of OFC Champions League in Solomon Islands. The striker – who scored impressive 34 goals in the national league – was in the scoresheet one again in the match against Warriors, but unfortunately his side was not able to secure the lead as they conceded the equaliser in the early minutes of the second half. “The game was good, this if the first time for some of our boys to play in much higher level – Warriors is a consistent team all through the years” said the striker in interview to Oceania Football Center.

“I believe if we stick in our game plan and stay concentrated thorough out the game, we might have chance to play in the O-League” said Feni. Kossa counts on some important players with national team experience such as Joses Nawo and Molis Junior Gagame.

Gagame Feni in action against the Solomon Warriors – *TSL Media*

Throught the first leg, Kossa deployed a more defensive style of play that sometimes left Feni alone by himself as the sole striker for the team: “We know that they were going to come strong, so our goal was to stay intact and slide where the ball goes” adds the 30-year-old player regarding the tactics chosen by coach Eddie Marahare – “For us we need to work in some areas in attack for sure“, he also mentioned.

Feni and his teammates will be looking for a spot at the OFC Champions League group stage to be played this May in Vanuatu; Kossa has plenty of history in the tournament, but for a number of years the new Telekom S-League runners up did not participate in the regional competition,

Papua New Guinea women’s national team is defeated by Chinese Taipei

In a friendly match played at the North Harbour Stadium in New Zealand, the Chinese Taipei women’s football team recorded a convincing 5-0 win over their counterparts from Papua New Guinea. The match, played after both teams were knocked out of the intercontinental play-off for the OFC Women’s World Cup, gave the players an opportunity to showcase their skills at the international level.

From the start of the game, Chinese Taipei were in control and dominated proceedings. They took the lead in the 29th minute through a goal by Yen-Ping Chen, and then doubled their advantage just five minutes later thanks to Hsi-Hsuan Pao’s strike. Yu-Suan Su added a third goal for the team at the 36th minute, leaving Papua New Guinea with an uphill battle.

Despite their best efforts, Papua New Guinea were unable to break down the more experienced Chinese Taipei team, who continued to create chances throughout the game. Chia-Ying Ting added a fourth goal for Chinese Taipei at the 65th minute, and Hsiu-Sin Lee rounded off the scoring with a goal in the 76th minute.

For Papua New Guinea, this was a rare chance to showcase their talents at the international level, having lost their previous match to Panama by a score of 2-0. While the result may not have gone their way, the players will have gained valuable experience and will be looking to use this match as a stepping stone towards future success.

While there may not have been any major stakes at play, both sides were keen to put in a strong performance and give their fans something to cheer about. Chinese Taipei with a much more experienced side came up with the win, but it needs to be pointed that it is a very important experienced for the non-professional women from Papua New Guinea side.

OFC Champions League: Suva and Rewa ready for fierce battle at HFC Bank Stadium

Today, football fans around Fiji will be eagerly awaiting the first leg of the OFC Champions League national play-off between Suva and Rewa, taking place at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. This game will mark the first encounter between the two sides since Suva emerged victorious in the Champion vs Champion series earlier this year.

Rewa will be seeking revenge and looking to secure a place in the OFC Champions League group stage once again, just as they did in 2022 after beating Lautoka in the national play-off. They will have Nigerian striker Sanni Issa on their team, who will be a key player for them to watch out for. Additionally, they will be relying on the skills of players such as Gabriele Matanisiga, Alvin Hou, and Atkin Kaua.

Azariah Soromon and Gabriele Matanisiga, standout players for Suva and Rewa

Suva, on the other hand, will be counting on their own star striker, Vanuatu’s Alex Saniel, to lead their attack. They will also have key players such as Azariah Soromon, Marlon Tahioa, and goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva. The team will be coached by Babs Khan.

Rewa, meanwhile, will be led by Marika Rodu, who will be looking to guide his team to victory in this crucial match. Both sides have strong players and are determined to succeed, making for an exciting and closely contested match.

With a place in the OFC Champions League group stage at stake, the pressure will be high for both Suva and Rewa. Fans can expect an intense game with plenty of thrilling moments, as these two sides battle it out for the opportunity to represent Fiji on the international stage.

Michael Tumua Leo: the upcoming Samoan football star

Michael Tumua Leo, the 20-year-old forward of Lupe o le Soaga, is quickly making a name for himself in Oceania football. His impressive performance in the OFC Champions League qualifying stage has led his team to the forefront of the battle for a place in the group stage, with Tumua Leo scoring an incredible six goals in just two matches.

What sets Tumua Leo apart is his special physical attributes, coupled with his incredible speed and skill. He is a natural goal scorer with a great finishing ability, making him a formidable player on the field. Tumua Leo has already proven himself in the OFC Champions League, having played in it before, and has been a top scorer in the Samoan national league, playing for Vaipuna SC in 2022.

Tumua Leo’s talent has not gone unnoticed, as he was picked up by Lupe o le Soaga to play at an international level. He even scored a goal against the U-23 New Zealand side in 2019 when playing for his country in the OFC Olympic Qualifiers. According to his coach, Paul Ualesi, the aim for Tumua Leo in the coming months is to represent his team well in the OFC Champions League and move overseas to a club with better facilities to further develop his talent.

With his impressive skills and potential, Tumua Leo could be the next star of Samoa football, representing the country on the world stage and inspiring future generations of footballers.

Auckland City FC sign experienced Chinese player

The signing of Chinese full-back Zhou Tong to Auckland City has brought a lot of excitement to the football community in New Zealand. The 33-year-old player brings a wealth of experience with him, having played in 153 matches in the Chinese Super League, which is the most important football league in China. His last club was Tianjian Jinmen Tiger.

Tong’s ability to be deployed as a midfielder adds an extra dimension to his game, making him a versatile asset to Auckland City. The New Zealand National League champions, Chatham Cup champions, and OFC Champions League title holders have certainly made a shrewd move in signing Tong.

The move to New Zealand presents a new challenge for Tong, as he will be playing in a different footballing environment. However, his experience and skill set should enable him to adapt quickly to the demands of playing in the OFC Champions League and the New Zealand National League.

It will be fascinating to see how Tong’s arrival will impact the team’s overall performance. Auckland City has a reputation for nurturing young talent, and Tong’s experience and leadership skills should be invaluable in guiding the younger players.

Solomon Islands international Leon Kofana set to move to Fijian Premier League

Leon Kofana, the Solomon Islands international defender, is set to join Fiji’s top-tier team, Nadi FC. The news was confirmed by the Nadi management, who have invited Kofana to join the team and he has accepted the offer. The player is currently training with the Solomon Islands national team in Honiara and is expected to leave for Fiji soon, possibly alongside his compatriot Barrie Limoki, to bolster the squad of the Green Machine.

Despite being oly 20 years old, Kofana has some experienced – the central back who has been a starter for Henderson Eels for several years. He played a key role in the last OFC FIFA World Cup qualifiers held in Qatar last year being a starter for Solomon Islands national team, where Solomon Islands narrowly missed out on a place in the continental play-off after losing to New Zealand in the decisive match.

Leon Kofana in action against Chris Wood in World Cup Qualifiers

Kofana has spent several seasons playing for Henderson Eels, one of the top clubs in the Solomon Islands. He also participated in the OFC Champions League for the club. Additionally, Kofana had a stint in Scotts College in New Zealand when he was a teenager, which likely helped him develop his skills and prepare for his future in football.

Moving to Fiji to join Nadi FC is an exciting new chapter for Kofana, who will have the opportunity to play in a highly competitive league in the Fijian Premier League. His experience playing for the Solomon Islands and in various club competitions will likely serve him well in this new endeavor, and his presence will undoubtedly strengthen Nadi FC’s defensive line.

It will be interesting to see how Kofana adapts to his new environment and contributes to Nadi FC’s success in the future. His talent and experience make him a valuable addition to any team, and his move to Fiji is an exciting development for football fans in the Pacific region.

Yagi Yasasa is widely praised in Papua New Guinea after OFC Champions League national play-offs

Yagi Yasasa‘s recent performances have been a great moment of form for both himself and his team Hekari United. As a 22-year-old attacking midfielder, Yasasa has become the new maestro of the powerful Hekari team since the legendary David Muta retired from the game.

Yasasa’s impressive performances in the recent OFC Champions League national round play-off against national champions Lae City, where he scored two goals, caught the attention of fans and the local media alike. The young player has already represented his country, Papua New Guinea, five times, and was a member of the squad for the last year’s OFC FIFA World Cup Qualifiers that saw his country being knocked-out in the semifinal to the Solomon Islands.

The great moment of form that Yasasa is experiencing has earned him a lot of praise from local media and fans. He has become a key player for Hekari in the recent months; his performances have been instrumental in helping his team progress to the OFC Champions League group stage, which is set to be played this May in Vanuatu.

Yasasa’s style of play is characterized by his skill on the ball and his ability to create scoring opportunities for his team. His quick feet and vision make him a potent force in the attacking third, and his goalscoring ability has helped his team to secure crucial victories.

As a young player with a promising future, Yagi Yasasa is definitely one to watch. His performances for Hekari United have shown that he has the potential to become a star player for his country and make a name for himself on the international stage. With his focus now on preparing for the OFC Champions League group stage, football fans will be eagerly anticipating the Hekari’s number 26 performances in the coming months.