Oceania Football Center

Vanuatu’s Brian Kaltak continues in great form in A-League

Brian Kaltak, Central Coast Mariners defender and Vanuatu national team captain, is currently on a hot streak in his football career. Since he returned to action for the Mariners in the A-League as a starter, the team has not suffered any defeats. With two wins and two draws, including a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the top-placed side Melbourne City in their last weekend fixture, Kaltak’s contribution to the Mariners’ success cannot be overlooked.

Playing all minutes in his last three games, the Vanuatu international has been a rock at the back for the Mariners, helping them to cement their third place spot in the A-League ladder as they head for the playoffs. With only two matches left in the regular season, the Mariners will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run with Kaltak leading the way.

Brian Kaltak against Melbourne City – *CCM Media*

Kaltak’s performances have been nothing short of impressive, showcasing his leadership skills and defensive prowess on the pitch. His ability to read the game, make crucial tackles and interceptions, and organize his defense has been key to the Mariners’ recent success. In the past match against City, the central back reached 37.04km/h in a defensive run to cover a counter-attack after a set-piece.

Brian Kaltak is in the midst of a good moment in his football career, playing a vital role in the success of the Central Coast Mariners. With his leadership, defensive skills, and international experience, he has become a key figure in the Mariners’ quest for glory in the A-League playoffs.

Alwin Komolong undergoes knee surgery: “Road to Recovery for Pacific Games 2023 begins”

The Lae City FC and Papua New Guinea national team defender Alwin Komolong recently underwent a knee surgery in Qatar, by the hands of Dr. Emmanouil Papakostas, a Greek surgeon with vast experience in sports. The player had been battling with an injury in his knee in the past months and needed a surgery in order to fully recover.

Last year, Komolong helped the Kapuls to win the MSG Prime Minister Cup in Port Vila, Vanuatu and earlier this year was one of the responsibles for the PNG National Soccer League title of his Lae City FC. The strong-defender sustained the injury in his knee that unfortunately forced him to undergo surgery overseas.

The player needed to start a fundraising to collet all money necessary for his treatment; the issue raised a big debate around PNG sports’ community, showing the lack of healthcare for athletes – Komolong needed to organise it all by himself. The defender succesfully achieved his first goal to travel to Qatar to have his surgery that happened this week. “Surgery went very well. Spent the night in Hospital. Upon my checkup with the doctor and physio who will begin drawing up plans for rehabilitation and I will be discharged“, said the player in a social media post.

The player major goal for him is to finish his rehab and return to football actions, as he aims to captain Papua New Guinea team in the upcoming Pacific Games to be played still this year in Honiara, Solomon Islands – “Road to Recovery for Pacific Games 2023 begins now“, stated Komolong.

Solomon Islands’ Kurukuru are champions of Melanesian Futsal Cup

The Solomon Islands national futsal team, also known as the Kurukuru, emerged victorious in the recently held Melanesian Futsal Cup in Suva, Fiji. The Kurukuru dominated the tournament, winning all their matches and finishing at the top of the table in the group stage.

In the grand final, Solomon Islands faced off against Vanuatu, who had also put in a strong showing in the tournament. However, the Kurukuru proved too strong for their opponents, winning the match by a comfortable 5-1 margin. Calvin Do’oro was the standout player for Solomon Islands, scoring two goals to secure their victory.

Solomon Islands’ players celebrate their victory – *Fiji FA Media*

The Melanesian Futsal Cup also featured two other teams, the hosts Fiji and New Caledonia. Fiji and New Caledonia faced off in the 3rd place match, with New Caledonia emerging as the winners with a 2-0 scoreline.

This tournament marked the first official matches for the Kurukuru under the guidance of their new head coach, Damon Shaw from England. The team’s impressive performance in the tournament bodes well for their upcoming campaign in the OFC Futsal Nations Cup, which will take place later this year. The winner of that tournament will earn a spot in the FIFA Futsal World Cup, so all the teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting competition.

Vanuatu, although finishing as runners-up, can be pleased with their performance in the tournament and will be looking to build on this in future competitions. All in all, the Melanesian Futsal Cup provided a great platform for the national teams to showcase their talents and prepare for the upcoming OFC Futsal Nations Cup.

Papua New Guinea’s Tommy Semmy continues his great form in Australia

Tommy Semmy, Papua New Guinea international striker, continues to impress with his performances for Altona Magic in the Australian National Premier League. In their latest match on 14th April, 2023, Semmy scored his third goal of the season, which was also his third goal in a row.

In the previous matches, Semmy had scored hist first goal of the season against Dandenong Thunder and put another in the following match against Heidelberg United, and now he has added St Albans Saints to his list of victims. The match was won comfortably by Altona Magic with a score of 5-1, which has helped the team climb up to the sixth position on the table. You can watch Semmy’s goal by clicking here.

The goal scored by Semmy was a perfect display of his pace and finishing skills – as known by fans of his former Hamilton Wanderers and Hekari United, for example. His team has certainly benefited from Semmy’s past performances, and he has become one of their star players.

The fact that Semmy has scored in three consecutive matches is a testament to his improving form, and it’s great news for Altona Magic. They will be hoping that he continues to perform well in the remaining matches of the NPL Victoria season.

Recovered: Solomon Islands’ star Micah Lea’alafa showcases his class in Australia

Micah Lea’alafa, the Solomon Islands national team player, has made a successful return to FK Beograd after an injury that sidelined him for a while. The 31-year-old forward has already played two matches for the team in the NPL South Australia, both of them as a starter.

Lea’alafa showed his class and skills in his last match against South Adelaide Panthers on April 8th, where his team won convincingly by 4-1. He was a constant threat to the opposition defense, using his pace and technique to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. He was also able to provide one assist during the match, demonstrating his ability to create chances for his team. You can watch all action of Lea’alafa during the match by clicking here.

FK Beograd signed Lea’alafa as one of their most important players for the season, and he has lived up to expectations, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Beograd is currently in the 6th place in the league, the team has shown improvement and consistency, and Lea’alafa’s performances have been a key factor in the recent wins.

Lea’alafa’s return to the team has been a significant boost for FK Beograd, and he will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the remainder of the season. With his impressive performances, the Solomon Islands national team player has proven to be a valuable asset to the team and a talented player in the NPL South Australia.

Digicel Fiji Premier League: Labasa thrashes Ba at Subrail Park

Labasa’s impressive victory over Ba in their recent Digicel Premier League match showcased the team’s class and determination. The Babasiga Lions managed to secure a convincing 3-0 win over Ba, who had not conceded any goals prior to the match.

Despite Ba’s claim that they were without five key players who were training with the Fiji U-20 team for the upcoming World Cup, Labasa’s victory was a testament to their skill and strategy on the field. The win marked Labasa’s second victory in the Digicel Fiji Premier League, while Ba suffered their first defeat of the season.

Labasa players elebrate one of the goals

The match took place at Subrail Park, Labasa’s home ground, where Labasa took control of the game early on, scoring two goals in the first half. Lekima Gonerau and Rusiate Doidoi were the three players who managed to score for Labasa, ensuring that the team headed into half time with a comfortable 2-0 lead. In the second half Akeimi Ralulu compeleted the scoreline for Labasa with another goal.

Labasa’s impressive win over Ba is a very positive sign for the Lions as they were failling to record wins so far in the season – they got their second inr a row. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for both teams as they continue to compete in the Digicel Premier League. This Sunday (16th April) more matches will be played in the country for the national league.

Vanuatu international Lency Philip set to move to Australian football

Vanuatu international Lency Philip is set to join Australian side Gawler Eagles FC, leaving behind his former club Galaxy FC. The 25-year-old defender, who has represented his country three times internationally, will be joining the same team as former Galaxy and national team member Jeffrey Tasso. Eagles play in the South Australia State League 2.

Galaxy FC stated in a press release: “We have released Lency to the Australian Club and Lency is set to arrive at his new club today from Port Vila. We have brought Lency to the club from (Espiritu) Santo and Lency has become an important member of the squad ever since. We thank him for the his contribution to the success of the club over the years and wish him the very with his new club.”

Philip started his career playing for Vaum United and Malampa Revivors in the Luganville Premier League, before making the move to Galaxy FC. During his time at Galaxy, he established himself as one of the top defenders in Vanuatu’s top-flight league, and caught the attention of the Gawler Eagles FC.

Lency Philip in action for Galaxy – *Galaxy FC Media*

The move to Australia will offer Philip a chance to challenge himself against a higher level of competition, and to further develop his skills as a defender. He will be joining a Gawler Eagles FC side that is looking to improve on their performance from the previous season and Phillip will be hoping to make an impact and help the team achieve their goals.

With his experience playing for both club and country, Philip will be a valuable addition to the Gawler Eagles FC squad. His defensive abilities and work rate will help to bolster the team’s backline and provide them with a solid foundation to build on.

Overall, this move represents an exciting opportunity for Lency Philip to take his career to the next level, and for Gawler Eagles FC to add a talented and experienced player to their ranks.

Raphael Lea’i has his first assist in European football as he puts another good performance

Solomon Islands international, Raphael Lea’i, showcased his impressive skills for FK Velež Mostar in their recent match against FK Tuzla City in the m:tel Premier League. Despite coming off the bench at the 61st minute of play, the 19-year-old striker made an immediate impact and helped his side take the lead with a well-placed assist to Nermin Haskić at the 82nd minute. You can watch the fantastic play of Lea’i and his assist by clicking here.

Lea’i’s performance was even more remarkable considering that this was only his fifth match for FK Velež Mostar since signing his professional deal in Europe. The young footballer has already made history by becoming the first player from Solomon Islands to sign a professional contract in Europe, and he is clearly proving his worth on the pitch.

Lea’i in a training session – *Anadolija*

Velež Mostar may have been disappointed with the equalizing goal scored by Tuzla City at injury time, but Lea’i’s performance provided a silver lining to the match. The team currently sits in the 3rd position in the top-tier league of Bosnia and Herzegovina and they will surely be looking to build on Lea’i’s promising performance in the upcoming matches.

Lea’i showed that he can make a significant impact on the pitch despite his young age and relative lack of experience in European football. With more matches under his belt, Lea’i could become a key player for FK Velež Mostar and a rising star in European football – showing there’s real talent in the South Pacific.

New Caledonia’s Jekob Jeno returns to action in France

🇫🇷 Français

Jekob Jeno is currently the only New Caledonian-born player to be playing in the top-two leagues of the French football system; although Jeno this season he has experienced ups and downs – has not been able to play as many minutes as he did last season – where despite injury problems that did not allow him to progress through the season.

After ten matches absent between injuries and coach’s choice, Jeno returned to the field last March 13th when he played just one minute in the defeat against Sochaux. He had already appeared in a French Cup match but his last Ligue 2 match had been on 30th December, 2022 in the 1-0 loss to Metz when he was a starter.

Jekob Jeno got good minutes again last Saturday (08th April) when Grenoble beat Laval 1-0 continuing their fight for a place in the Ligue 2 playoffs, with the New-Caledonian midfielder coming on in the 59th minute. Grenoble is currently sixth in Ligue 2, and is in the playoff zone for a place in Ligue 1, the top-tier league of French football.

Australian-based brothers set to join Junior Bula Boys for U-20 World Cup

Marcus and Lachlan Lal, the sons of former national football player Jason Lal, are set to make their mark on the international stage as they prepare to represent Fiji at the U-20 World Cup in May. The young footballers are currently part of the Fiji U-20 team that is set to play friendly matches in Gold Coast in Australia. The duo will join the squad when the Fijian team arrives in the country.

The journey for the Lal brothers has not been without its challenges, with visa and passport issues initially causing some concern. However, Fiji Football Association Technical Director Timo Jankowski confirmed to local media that these issues have now been resolved, paving the way for the brothers to represent their country at the upcoming tournament.

Lachlan Lal has already gained some experience on the international stage, having represented Fiji at the U-19 Oceania Championship. The team finished in 2nd place, after a 3-0 loss to New Zealand in the final. Marcus was unfortunately unable to join his brother at the tournament due to paperwork delays. However, he continued to support his brother from afar, and is now excited to join him in representing Fiji at the U-20 World Cup.

Both Marcus and Lachlan are attached to Manly United, a football club based in Australia. Their experience playing for the club has undoubtedly helped them develop their skills and prepare for the challenges of playing at the international level.

The U-20 World Cup is set to take place in May, and the Lal brothers will undoubtedly be eager to make their mark on the tournament. With their talent, dedication, and the support of their fellow teammates, they are sure to represent Fiji with pride and passion.