Oceania Football Center

Vanuatu announces 22-men squad for international friendly matches in Fiji

Vanuatu’s national football team head coach, Etienne Mermer, has announced his call-up of 22 players for the upcoming friendly matches in Fiji. The team will play against the Fiji national team, the Solomon Islands, and the Fiji U-20 squad, which is preparing for the U-20 World Cup.

Unfortunately, some players will not be able to join the squad due to their club commitments. The Central Coast Mariners’ Brian Kaltak will be focused on completing the A-League season in Australia, while Jared Clark and Mitch Cooper may also be absent for similar reasons. Additionally, Solomon Warriors’ star player, John Alick, will also miss out on the games. You can check the full squad by clicking here.

Soromon, Thomas, Kalotang and Wohale, some of the Vanuatu stars in the squad

Despite these absences, the squad has some notable players, with Ifira Black Bird being the most represented team with nine players, including Tonly Kalotang, Godine Tenene, and John Wohale. Two players, Toata Bill of Wings FC from Tanna and Yannick Tari of Sia Raga from Luganville, are not currently based in Port Vila, aside from the three players based in Fiji – Claude Aru from Ba, and Suva duo Azariah Soromon and Alex Saniel.

The friendly matches will take place in March in Lautoka, Fiji – starting on 20th Mar and finishing on 26th Mar. This call-up provides an excellent opportunity for Vanuatu’s national team to showcase their skills and build on their success.

Solomon Warriors secures OFC Champions League spot after hard-fought win over Kossa

In an exciting match held at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, the Solomon Warriors secured their place in the OFC Champions League group stage with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kossa in the national play-off. The match was full of drama and tension, with both sides giving it their all in a bid to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.

Kossa started the match strongly and took the lead in the 20th minute through a well-taken goal by Timothy Bakale. The Warriors, however, didn’t let their heads drop and fought back strongly. They equalized before the end of the first half through a goal by Dennis Ifuanoa, which ensured that the sides went into the break level at 1-1.

The second half saw both teams pushing hard for a winning goal, with the game becoming increasingly tense as time went on. It was the Warriors who finally found the breakthrough in the 64th minute when Harrison Mala scored what proved to be the winning goal of the match.

Solomon Warriors players celebrate one of their goals – *TSL Media*

Despite a valiant effort from Kossa, the Warriors managed to hold on to their lead and secure the victory that would see them qualify for the OFC Champions League group stage. The team, coached by Franco Ne’e, put in a strong performance and showed great determination and resilience throughout the match. You can watch the highlights of the match by clicking here.

Kossa, who were coached by Eddie Marahare, will be disappointed to have missed out on a spot in the tournament. However, they can take heart from the fact that they gave the Warriors a tough challenge and pushed them all the way.

The Warriors will now look forward to the OFC Champions League group stage, which is set to take place in May in Vanuatu. They will be hoping to carry their impressive form into the tournament and make a strong challenge in the regional tournament after securing once again the national title back in Solomon Islands.

OFC Champions League: Decisive match ahead for Solomon Warriors and Kossa at Lawson Tama

It can go for either side: Solomon Warriors, the national champions of Solomon Islands, can be seen as favourites to represent the country at the upcoming OFC Champions League this may in Vanuatu; but Kossa, led by Telekom S-League top-scorer Gagame Feni, definitely will not let the team coached by Franco Ne’e have an easy deal.

Last week Kossa managed to score first through Feni, but could not defend their lead in the second half conceding a goal scored by the defender Aengari Gagame. The decisive clash will this Tuesday (28th Feb) at Lawson Tama Stadium. A winner will need to come out; Kossa fights to return to the most important club football tournament of the region after several years of absence, while Warriors, that have a rich history in the tournament, will rely on the experience of players such as John Alick and Dennis Ifunaoa to emerge victorious against a brave Kossa side.

Warriors and Kossa clash last week – *TSL Media*

The team coached by Eddie Marahare also count on experienced players, not only the Solomon Islands international and formar Suva man Gagame Feni; another internationals such as Molis Junior Gagame and Joses Nawo. The match might be one of the closest contests for a berth at the OFC Champions League group stage from all national play-offs across Oceania; the fans in Solomon Islands might be ready for an impressive clash.

Vanuatu: Galaxy takes the lead of the PVFA Premier League

In a thrilling match on the weekend, Galaxy FC managed to clinch a crucial 1-0 victory over Erakor Golden Star, propelling them to the top of the PVFA Premier League table. The former Vanuatu national champions showed their mettle as they played an attacking brand of football, pressing hard and creating numerous scoring opportunities.

However, their lead at the top is not yet secure, as Ifira Black Bird, who are currently in second place, still have two matches in hand. Ifira Black Bird were recently involved in the OFC Champions League national play-off, which they managed to win, thus earning a spot in the main stage of the competition.

In other matches over the weekend, Tafea and Seveners United played out a goalless draw, while Tupuji Imere emerged as convincing 4-1 winners over Mauwia. Shepherds United secured a narrow 2-1 victory over North Efate United, and iCount Yatel registered another win, this time defeating Mauriki 1-0 thanks to an early goal scored by Barry Mansale. You can check the updated table of the league by clicking here.

As the PVFA Premier League reaches its second round soon, the battle for the top spot promises to be an exciting one, with the top teams all vying for the coveted title. With plenty of matches still to be played, fans can look forward to some thrilling football in the coming weeks as the teams fight it out for the top honours.

Digicel Fiji Premier League kicks-off with four matches

The most important football leage of Fiji has started this weekend throught the country; the only teams to not kick-off the league on this date were Suva and Rewa that c ontested a spot at OFC Champions League at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva that ended up with a 2-1 victory of the local team.

The other eight teams of the Digicel Fiji Premier League took the field to finally start the season after the postponement of the last week. One of the four matches ended up with a 0-0 draw, on Saturday (25th Feb) Ba and Navua could not score any goals in their encounter. Also on Saturday the Fijian international Sairusi Nalaubu started the season on a high striking three times for his side Lautoka to beat Labasa by 3-0.

Tailevu Naitasiri squad before their match against Tavua – *Tailevu Naitasiri Media*

On Sunday Tailevu Naitasairi celebrated a win over Tavua FC thanks to goals scored on the second half by Mosese Nabose and Prashant Chand. Nadi did not face difficulties as they beat Nadroga at Lawaqa Park by 3-1; goals were scored by Eshan Kumar, Vuniuci Tikomaimereke and Ame Votoniu.

The second matchweek will take place next weekend in Fiji; the top-two teams of the last season, Rewa and Suva respectively, will kick-off their season while the remaining squads will look ahead on building from their second match in the league season.

Brian Kaltak to face two-match ban after 3rd red card of the A-League season

Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak saw his third red card of the season last weekend in a match against Wellington Phoenix that ended up in a 1-1 draw. Kaltak is the only player of the 2022/23 A-League season to record three red cards so far. After serving one match-ban after his previous two red cards, Kaltak is now going to miss the upcoming two matches of the Central Coast Mariners in the competition. – as A-League regulations state. The club can still appeal against the decision and reduce the suspension for the defender; which they already tried before when Kaltak saw a questionable red card agains Sydney FC, but it is unlilkey the decision will go their side, as it was in the previous case.

The defender, that reccently penned a new contract for the team, turned rapidly into a fan favourite in Gosford – being nicknamed the ‘Brick Wall”. Despite seeing three reds – one last November against Macarthur, and two most recently against Sydney and Phoenix – Kaltak is still one of the top-performers of Mariners that are currently ranked second in the A-League’a ladder.

Kaltak’s not being seen as the guilty party by the Mariners fans; his previous two red cards are definitely very questionable; against Syndey he was was sent-off as the referee understood he denied a clear goalscoring chance to the opposition side. Last weekend in Gosford, Kaltak tackled Phoniex’s David Ball and touched the ball first before sliding it touching the player. Both decisions were seen to be taken very harshly on the defender.

The next two matches for the Mariners are against Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur; the fans expect that, somehow, the team can appeal against the latest red card and count on Brian Kaltak presence on at least one of the following matches.

All White’s Max Mata scores a hattrick in Ireland Premier Division

New Zealand international Max Mata produced a remarkable performance for Sligo Rovers in the Irish Premier Division, scoring a hattrick in their second league match of the season against University College Dublin (UCD). Mata opened the scoring for Sligo in the 22nd minute of the match, slotting the ball past the UCD goalkeeper with a precise finish.

In the second half, Mata continued his impressive display – he confidently converted two penalty-kicks to complete his hattrick. His goals proved decisive, as Sligo Rovers went on to win the match 3-2, with Mata’s performance being the standout highlight of the game.

Max Mata (right) in action – *Sportsfile*

Mata’s teammate and compatriot Nando Pijnaker also had a strong start to the season, earning a spot in the ‘Team of the Week’ after Sligo’s 1-1 draw against Shamrock Rovers in the opening match. Playing alongside each other, Mata and Pijnaker have formed a formidable partnership for Sligo, contributing significantly to their early success in the league.

Mata’s hattrick against UCD highlights his immense talent and potential as a goal-scoring threat. Sligo Rovers will undoubtedly rely on him to continue his impressive form throughout the season as they aim for a successful campaign in the Irish Premier Division.

New Zealand’s Logan Rogerson scores first goal of the season in Finland

Logan Rogerson, the New Zealand international player and former Auckland City striker, scored his first goal of the season for FC Haka in a game against AC Oulu, valid for the Liigacup, the League Cup of Finland. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, but Rogerson’s contribution was a highlight of the game.

Rogerson joined FC Haka in 2021, and this is his second season with the team. After a slow start to the season, he finally found the back of the net in the 19th minute of the game against AC Oulu. Rogerson received a cross from the left and jumped to the ball to put it in the nets. You can watch the goal by clicking here.

Rogerson, a Wellington Phoenix academy product, has had a successful career so far. He has represented New Zealand at the youth level and has also played for the senior national team. In addition to New Zealand and Finland, Rogerson also had experiences on playing in Germany football.

Sairusi Nalaubu has a brilliant start of season as he scores a hattrick against Labasa

Sairusi Nalaubu, the Fijian international, made a spectacular start to the 2023 Digicel Fiji Premier League season with a stunning hattrick against Labasa on Saturday, 25th Feb. The Lautoka striker was in fine form, scoring one goal from the penalty spot in the first half, and then added two more in the second half.

The match against Labasa was the first of the season for both teams, and Nalaubu’s performance set the tone for the rest of the campaign. He showed his class by scoring three times, making him the top scorer of the day, and giving his team a vital victory over their opponents.

The hattrick was Nalaubu’s second in the Fijian top-tier league, and it was also the second time he achieved this feat against Labasa. He also scored three times against them in a match in 2020 while playing for Suva. Nalaubu’s remarkable performance on Saturday demonstrated why he is one of the most celebrated players in Fiji currently.

Nalaubu’s impressive goal-scoring record also includes the golden boot award for the 2022 season of the league, making him one of the most sought-after strikers in the league. His talent, skill, and dedication to the sport have made him a valuable asset to his team, and he has become a fan favorite due to his impressive performances on the field.

The match against Labasa also marked the debut of Lautoka’s new head coach, Ronil Kumar. Kumar will be hoping that Nalaubu’s performance is a sign of good things to come for the team as they aim to compete for the title this season.

Roy Krishna: “At one point many had written us off, but that only motivated us to work harder”

Bengaluru FC managed to qualify for the Indian Super League’s play-offs; with a thrilling eight-games winning streak, the team coached by Simon Grayson has 100% record in 2023- their last defeat was still in 2022. Roy Krishna, the Fijian national team captain, is one of the stars of the team; the striker did not impress in the first part of the season, but things changed as the 35-year-old star player found back his brilliance and helped his team to a fantastic comeback in the season. The striker scored a total of five goals in the season and also recorded five assists – including one on the last match of the regular season in a convicing 3-1 win over Goa FC.

“At one point many had written us off, but that only motivated us to work harder and give our all. While it’s not over yet, the fact that we’ve come this far means a team that’s passionate and doesn’t give up can overcome any obstacle that comes their way. Thank you all for being part of our team and for your faith in us“, said the Fijian superstar in a social media post after confirm their eight-win streak and getting a spot in the play-offs.

This Friday (03rd Mar) Bengaluru will return to the pitch to face Kerala Blasters at home ground – a team they have beaten in their eight-win streak thanks a goal of the Fijian striker. This match will seal a spot for the Indian Super League 2022/23 season semifinal stage. After the fantastic comeback regular season, Bengaluru that was once at the bottom-ranked places in the the league, finished ranked third in the process.

Krishna and his teammates warms up for one more match, expecting to keep their tremendous moment. This time no more mistakes are allowed, if they are unable to surpass Blasters, this will be their final say of the season.