Oceania Football Center

Lae City FC: Papua New Guinea football kings

Lae City FC remains unstoppable in Papua New Guinea; this Saturday (04th Feb) the team coached by Bob Morris once again celebrated the title of the PNG National Soccer League after beating Port Moresby’s Hekari United on the penalty shoout-out. Lae defended their crown in a very lively game that saw them coming from behind to celebrate the national league at Sir John Guise Stadium.

Lae City players celebrate the title – *SOKA PNG*

Ati Kepo scored for Hekari at the 13th minute of play with an individual effort; beating the defenders with his pace and sending it past Charlie Lepani to score the first of the game. Lae City was only able to level the match with a marvelous long-range free-kick finish from Kapuls members Alwin Komolong at the 71st minute. The game finished in an 1-1 draw, forcing both sides to play extra-time – after the extra 30 minutes nothing separated the two sides and the game needed to be decided on the penalty shoot-out.

Experienced players Alwin Komolong from Lae City and Hekari’s team captain Daniel Joe scored the first penalties for their teams. All kicks were scored until Lae City’s veteran goalkeeper Ronald Warisan – that subbed Lepani in the second-half – stepped-up and defended the last kick from Hekari. Lae City’s captain Emmanuel Simon converted the final penalty-kick for his team as celebration erupted in the stadium in favour of the Morobeans. Mancii, as Emmanuel Simon is nicknamed, was also chosen as the best player of the match. You can watch the highlights of the match by clicking here.

The exact moment when Warisan saves the penalty – *KingPrins*

Lae City is now seven-times Papua New Guinea national champions – seven-times in a row. The last time the Morobean side won the leage was in 2020 after a 1-0 win over Vitiaz United. In the 2021 season the national league was abandoned due COVID-19 restrictions – at that time Lae City and Hekari United were at the top of the table of its conferences and ended-up playing a playoff to decide which team would represent Papua New Guinea at the OFC Champions League in 2022.

Lae Natives, also from Lae, won the 3rd place-match against Gulf Komara by 1-0, claiming so the bronze-medal in the national league. Both Lae teams emerging victorious in the two decisive matches create a scenario of football dominance of Lae over Port Moresby currently in Papua New Guinea.

Lae City and Hekari United will meet once again this year; as per the OFC Champions League regulations, the top-two teams of the country must decide which of them will represent the nation at the competition. Thus, the finalists of the season will also have a playoff-like confrontation to determine the PNG’s representative at the O-League.

Raphael Lea’i gets worldwide recognition

The recent move for Raphael Lea’i is still making the world of football efusive; the 19-year-old striker deal with FK Velež Mostar from Bosnia and Herzegovina got attention not only in Solomon Islands or Oceania region – his achievement got worldwide recognition. The transfer speaks by itself, but the momentum proves the importance of this milestone reached by not only the young Lea’i, but as well for the entirety of Solomon Islands’ football community.

The first governing body to notice Rapha‘s achievement was Oceania Football Confederation, that wrote about the pro-deal signed by the player in Europe: “Raphael Lea’i, who was one of the stars of the OFC Qatar Qualifiers last year, has become the first player from the Solomon Islands to play professionally in Europe“, said the entity. Not much later, the 19-year-old appeared on FIFA’s official website on the spotlight: “One of Oceania’s brightest prospects, Raphael Lea’i underwent a successful trial with the Herzegovinian team in early January 2023 – which included a fruitful friendly appearance – thereby crossing the threshold he and his peers have been attempting to traverse since football’s nascent years on the islands“, said the rulling football governing body in an article wrote by Akshat Mehrish.

Important journals worldwide also reported the history-breaking moment for the local football; the Spanish Marca said: “A new barrier has fallen in European football. Raphael Lea’i, born in the Solomon Islands in 2003, has become the first player in the history of the Oceanian country to sign a professional contract with a European team“, wrote the big media outlet in an article wrote by Victor Romero.

Oceania Football Center – YouTube Channel

Media enterprises from all over the globe took a moment to report about this moment; in Poland, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, and certainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina were found reports by media. On social media a number of mentions from users about the deal were found.

It is a fantastic moment to be a fan of Oceanian football; Raphael Lea’i is the main reason at the moment. The expecations are high, but the player himself already achieved something very big. Hopefully, this is the first player from the South Pacific to break-through professional football. The door needs to opened – it was – there is talent in Oceania and it needs to be scouted!

Solomon Islands’ powerful-duo to join Rewa for upcoming season

The Delta Tigers recently announced their team-list for the 2023 football season in Fiji; two key additions were noticed in the squad: Alvin Hou and Atkin Kaua. The Solomon Islanders, both members of the Solomon Islands national team, are in the team for the upcoming season. Nazeel Buksh, Rewa’s FC president, confirmed the deals: “Alvin and Atkin both joins the team from next week. They will miss 1st leg of CVC series although“, said the chairman – confirming the players and also stating they are set to not play this weekend’s Champion vs Champion series first-leg match against Suva FC.

Alvin Hou, also a Kurukuru member with experience at FIFA Futsal World Cup, is a very experienced attacking midfielder as well as Atkin Kaua, they can add a lot of fire-power upfront for the Delta Tigers. Both Hou and Kaua already represented Rewa last season when they joined the team for InterDistrict Championship; both players already played club football together as well for local powerhouse back in their country, the Solomon Warriors. Most recently, Kaua had a stint in Australia’s NPL side Wynnum Wolves FC, he also trialled in Europe before – this is not the first team of Kaua in Fiji as he already played for Nasinu.

Hou and Kaua also represented their country last year at the FIFA OFC World Cup Qualyfing Tournament, where they reached the grand final match against New Zealand, but unfortunately for them they were beaten in the match and denied a spot at the FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoffs.

Talented Solomon Islands’ Barrie Limoki set to rejoin the Green Machine

More football transfers are set to happen in Fiji for the upcoming football season; this time an international move links the return of the still 18-year-old attacker Barrie Limoki to Nadi FC. The Solomon Islands’ promising young-star played for the Green Machine last season and impressed the coaching staff; according to sources inside the Nadi FC board, the talented young player is confirmed back to Nadi.

Limoki played eight games last season for Nadi in the Fijian Premier League, but had also impact in the traditional local tournaments such as the Inter-District Championship. Despite so young, Limoki already has experience of playing in important local teams in Solomon Islands such as Kossa FC and Central Coast FC.

Barrie Limoki (right) as player of Central Coast FC – *SIFF Media*.

Limoki played for both U-17 and U-19 Solomon Islands national teams; including taking part of the historical first ever FIFA football tournament played by his country in 2019, when he helped Solomon Islands to qualify for the U-17 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. The striker also took part on the last year U-19 OFC Championship as one of the most important players for his team.

Lae based teams face difficulties to arrive in Port Moresby for NSL Finals; clubs blame PNGFA management

The two last matches of the 2022 football season are set to be played this Saturday (4th Feb) in Port Moresby; the local side Gulf Komara is going to play against Lae Natives in the 3rd/4th place playoff for the National Soccer League, while the grand final match will be played by the local two-powerhouse sides Lae City FC and Hekari United, also held in Port Moresby.

Throught a lot of polemics, Lae City wanted the game to be held at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, in Lae, after hooliganism attacks in a semifinal match of the national league between Gulf Komara and Hekari United. The current national champions also released a statement last week emphasizing its critics on the organisation of the league in the current season.

Lae City and Lae Natives battle for the final in a seminfinal match of the PNG NSL – *LaiMages Photography*

“NSL champion Lae City FC and Northern Conference Runners-up Lae Natives were advised by PNGFA’s NSL competition department to board the early 7am flight out of Lae today to Port Moresby for the season grandfinal but were turned back as the PNG semi-professional league competition department failed to make actual payment for their tickets. Both teams turned up as early as 4am this morning at Nadzab Airport for check-in, only to find out their booking references have not been paid thus they don’t have ticket numbers“, said Frankiy Guval Kapin, Media Manager of Lae City FC in a social media post, “While this is not the first time that PNGFA and NSL has failed its core duty to exercise neutrality against Lae based teams and especially the Lae City FC, both teams are more than motivated to make the grandfinal happen“, added Mr Kapin.

While the players of both teams were stuck in an airpot, Lae Natives management appeal the fans to step up and help the team to reach Port Moresby in good conditions; also in social media, the team management urged the Morobe football fans in Port Moresby to help the team as they did not count on any logistics in place, lacking accomodations, food and transportation when already in the capital city.

It is known both sides already touchdown Port Moresby for their matches scheduled to this Saturday (04th Jan), but certainly not as planned for the competition management and making the both teams to go through a serious embarrassment. On the meantime, PNGFA President John Kappi Nato blamed the local Air Niugini for the problems on the flights of both teams.

Lues Waya under trials with Ligue 2 side

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Lues Waya is one of the most promising New Caledonian players of this next decade – the striker needed less time than expected he got his chance in Europe. Waya was top-goalscorer of Super Ligue in New Caledonia last season playing for AS Tiga.

After spending weeks on trial with Ligue 1 club Nantes, Lues Waya is now trialling with Stade Lavallois’ B team, which currently plays in the National 3 – while the first team plays in Ligue 2. If the striker is sucessful in his trials he can play either the first team or the B team of Lavallois.

If Lues Waya signs for Laval – as the French club is known – Waya will be the third players from New Caledonia to defend the team’s colours after Cesar Zeoula who had a successful stint playing 133 matches from 2011 to 2018 and also Joris Kenon who played for three years in the club.

Oceania Football Center wishes Lues Waya best of luck and expecting him to represent New Caledonia football very well in the years to come.

Rusiate Matarerega completes return to Suva FC

Suva continues to work to bring reinforcements to its squad; the new name added to its team for the upcoming football season in Fiji is the strong-striker Rusiate Matarerega. The former Nadi and Rewa man is returning to Suva after a succesful season playing for the Delta Tigers – the Fijian international scored seven goals in 22 matches played for Rewa last season, including three in the OFC Champions League national playoffs against Lautoka. Matarerega also took part in the OFC Champions League campaign of Rewa that ended up being knocked-out in the group stage.

Rusiate Matarerega in international duty – *Fiji FA Media*

Matarerega already represented Fiji national team 18 times, scoring four goals for his country. The powerful striker of 30-years-old was welcomed back to the Capital City Boys in a post by Suva FC media: “Welcome back to the Suva FC family Rusiate Matarerega. He has been given the all clear and is back with the Whites for another stint with us. Welcome back Rusi!”, said in a press statement.

This is the second signing officially announced by Suva for the 2023 football season in Fiji; some days ago the striker Bruce Hughes was announced to the team – another returnee to the already very strong squad of the current runners-up of the Fijian Premier League.

Raphael Lea’i arrives in Turkey for training camp and friendly matches with FK Velež Mostar

The Solomon Islands’ superstar Raphael Lea’i is finally safe and sound in Turkey where his team, FK Velež Mostar from Bosnia and Herzegovia top-tier league, is preparing for the restart of the season; the club already played two friendly matches – 0-0 draw against Vorskla from Ukraine and a 2-1 defeat against FC Olympic Tashkent from Uzbekistan. Both of the matches Lea’i could not take place as he arrived late in Turkey. The striker had issues with his visa as he could not enter Turkey alongside ther rest of his team’s squad: “Everything is fine, Raphael has finally arrived in Turkey“, said David Houpere, one of the responsibles for the move of the Solomon Islander to Europe – “During his last two days, he was still in Sarajevo, with club staff sorting out his Schengen visa permit for travel to Turkey“, added Houpere. Velež staff member Adnan Dizdarević also spoke about why Lea’i – that arrived in time for the second friendly against Olympic Tashkent – did not play the match: “Raphael didn’t play today because we wanted to rest him, he did training and will join training with the team from tomorrow. He will be in the combination (will play) for the next game“, said Dizdarević to The Solomons Football Post.

Lea’i is going to have more opportunites to continue impressing at FK Velež Mostar: on 04th Feb the Bosnian side will taking on the current Lithuanian national champions FK Žalgiris Vilnius, the next day, 05th Feb, Velež will be playing against Romanian side CS Minaur Baia Mare Fotbal and on 09th Feb against Ukranian top-tier FC Minaj.

The Solomon Islands turned himself into the first ever Solomon Islands’ player to sign a pro-deal in Europe; the striker already played friendly matches for his new club – and even scored in one of those.

Auckland City FC succumbs against Egyptian giant and is out of FIFA Club World Cup 2022

The dreams of Auckland City FC have come to an end as they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, in Morocco today. Despite their best efforts, the Navy Blues were unable to secure a victory against a team of Al Ahly’s caliber. The African powerhouse cruise past the New Zealand club to advance to the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup and now will face the United States’ Major League Soccer, Seattle Sounders Football Club.

Head coach Albert Riera had urged his players to seize the moment, but unfortunately, the outcome was not in their favour. Al Ahly, with their wealth of experience in big competitions and exceptional players, proved to be too strong for Auckland City FC.

Despite the big loss, Auckland City FC can hold their heads high as they gave it their all on the field. “Our players can take pride in the fact that they faced one of the strongest teams in African football and competed with determination and skill.”, said Riera in the end of the game.

While Auckland City FC may be disappointed with the outcome, they can take comfort in the fact that they played 10 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Auckland City FC start line-up was: Conor Tracey, Nathan Lobo, Nikko Boxall, Adam Mitchell, Regont Murati, Gerard Garriga, Dylan Manickum, Cameron Howieson, Michael Den Heijer, Emiliano Tade and Ryan De Vries.

FIRST HALF – WELL PLAYED

It was a well played first half for Auckland City, playing with a 5-4-1 formation; the Navy Blues saw three good opportunities for Al Alhy and unlucky the Egyptians scored on the last minute before the break. The match was promising to be an exciting and closely contested affair, with both teams looking to make their mark on the game.

Auckland City FC started the game strong, having their first corner at the 18th minute with a shot from Howieson. However, they were unable to convert the opportunity into a goal.

Despite Al Ahly having more ball possession in the first 20 minutes, Auckland City put in a strong defensive effort, limiting the opportunities for their opponent.

In the 38th minute, Al Ahly had a good chance to score, but striker Sherif was unable to convert the opportunity. This was due in part to a strong defensive effort from Adam Mitchell of Auckland City. In the 42nd minute, Auckland City had a great chance to score with a shot from Argentinian Emiliano Tade.

Nearly at the end, El Shahat made the most of a well-worked opportunity, finding himself in a prime shooting position. His shot was a powerful one, and it sizzled past Auckland City’s goalkeeper, Conor Tracey, and into the back of the net.

**Hussein El Shahat celebrating first goal of the match. FIFA Twitter**

SECOND HALF – THE TEAM GETS LOST

The expectation was the team to return with different mindset and look to score however it seemed the Navy Blues was lost in the second half. Al Ahly had much more goalscoring chances than the first half of the game. The second goal was scored by Mohamed Sherif on the 55th minute.

Al Ahly sealed their victory with a stunning goal by Percy Tau in the 85th minute. Tau’s right-footed shot from the center of the box found the bottom left corner, assisted by Kahraba. The goal was a beautiful one and marked the end of Auckland’s efforts to mount a comeback. With this goal, Al Ahly secured a comfortable 3-0 lead.

In the closing minutes of the match, the VAR was checked a possible penalty/red card offence conceded by Auckland City’s defender Adam Mitchell. The red card was confirmed to the central-back; however, it was determined that the foul was committed outside of the penalty area. Afsha attempted to take the free kick but the shot was blocked. Despite the late drama, the final result remained 3-0 in favour of Al Ahly.

Auckland City ready for FIFA Club World Cup battle against African powerhouse

Auckland City is set to have one the most important matches of its football history; the OFC Champions League ten-time champions is going for its 10th appearance in a FIFA Club World Cup, this time, once again, in Morocco. The North African nation was the host for one of the most important achievements of Oceania football history as Auckland City in 2014 FIFA Club World Cup edition surpassed the local champions Tétouan, the African champions ES Sétif and almost reached the final match, but they were stopped by South American champions’ San Lorenzo – losing by 2-1 in the extra-time. The Navy Blues still claimed the bronze medal after beating in the penalty shootout the Mexican outfit Cruz Azul, then the North American champions.

Once again Auckland City is back to Morocco; after not taking part in the last three editions of the competition – in 2019 the New Caledonians of Hienghène Sport won the OFC Champions League, in 2020 Auckland City was awarded the right to take part of the tournament as the regional tournament was forced to an early end due COVID-19 pandemics, but they declined the proposal in order to fulfil New Zealand’s actions against the pandemics, thus OFC did not have a representant in 2020. The last edition of the tournament, the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup held last year, counted on the Tahitian champions AS Piraé – they were also invited to the tournament as Auckland City declined the invitation also due COVID-19 restrictions. The Tahitians were knocked-out in their first game after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Al Jazira, from United Arab Emirates.

The FIFA Club World Cup will be once again held in Morocco – *ACFC Media*

After beating AS Vénus last year in the OFC Champions League, Auckland City booked their place for the FIFA Clubs World Cup once again – the New Zealand representant is the team that most participated in the tournament. But, this time, the club might have their biggest opponent ever in their opening match: the African powerhouse Al-Ahly.

Al-Ahly won already ten times the CAF Champions League, being the runners-up in the last edition; as Wydad Casablanca won the continental tournament and also will be hosting the tournament, a spot was awarded to Al Ahly in the FIFA Clubs World Cup. The Egyptians collected three bronze medals in the tournament, being the last of them in the 2021 edition of the competition.

“In that regard we’re going to encounter a game where Al Ahly are the favourites. I like that on paper. The fact they’ve played 15 games gives them an advantage. That’s the reality, we know that. We come from New Zealand where we are normally the favourites and that means we are the underdogs here and that can be in our favour, we can utilise that in our favour“, said Albert Riera, the Spanish coach of Auckland City – but the despite the fact of the clear favouritism of the African side, Riera believes in his team: “A one-off game everyone knows anything is possible. My main concern is the players must believe they can do it and I believe they can do it. We believe we have a chance for a positive result“, added the coach in talks with Auckland City media.

Al-Ahly counts on a number of players on the Egypt football team, such as its main goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and the industrious midfielder Amr El Solia. The strong midfielder from Mali national team Aliou Dieng might be also a standout player for his club, alongside the Tunisian Ali Maaloul, that played the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year for his country.

Auckland City enters the pitch today in Tangers, Morocco (01st Feb) at 8am New Zealand time to play a very important match in their history, looking forward to make history once again where they achieved one of the most important milestones for Oceania football.