Hienghène and Les Cagous Joseph Athalé moves to French football

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Recently, it was reported by New Caledonian media that New Caledonia young star Lues Waya is going to move Europe to sign for a 4th-tier side in France. But Waya is not the only one in New Caledonia who is moving abroad to play football. Joseph Athalé, former AS Wetr, AS Magenta and most recently playing for Hienghène Sport, recently told New Caledonia Football Federation that he is moving France to play for National 2 (4th-tier side) side Olympique Saint-Quentin.

Jospeh Athalé – Reuters

Athalé helped Hienghène Sport to conclude a fantastic season in 2019 as they beat their local rivals AS Magenta at the OFC Champions League final and turned themselves into the only second team outside Australia and New Zealand to represent OFC at the FIFA Clubs World Cup – later in 2021 Tahitian side AS Piraé also took part of the tournament being the third in this list after they were invited to participate in the intercontinental tournament.

The New Caledonian international told the FCF he is in very good conditions: “I feel good, in great shape. The integration was easy and the players put me at ease very quickly. It is a very interesting challenge and the level is very high“, said Athalé. The 27-year-old also added about his game style “my position is central defender or as defensive midfielder. I rotate between these two positions but it is more in the axis behind that I evolve for the moment”, said the player.

The defender was also in the 2022 FIFA World Cup OFC Qualifying Tournament representing his country. New Caledonia failed to impress in the tournament, being knocked-out in the group stage after being defeated by Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

New Caledonia: Tiga Sport celebrates Super Ligue title

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The current Super Ligue winners of 2021 in New Caledonia celebrated last week their succesful defence of title; Tiga Sport hammered Horizon Patho in Mare to confirm their second title in a row.

In their final match in the national league, The Toka surpassed Patho by 7-1 – Jimmy Welepane scored four of the seven goals, joined by Lues Waya, David Wadra and Henri Wawalaha to complete the scoreboard in favour of the national champions.

Tiga Sport players celebrate one of their goals – Alain Vartane

Tiga left just behind them the former Oceania Champions League winners Hienghéne Sport and the traditional AS Magenta sitting third in the table.

New Caledonian top-striker set to join French ‘National 2’ side

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Important news are coming from Nouméa this weekend: the New Caledonian national team striker Lues Waya is set to move to France to join National 2 side Voltigeurs de Chateaubriant, team that is current sitting 6th in the table in the French 4th-tier. The info was confirmed by Foot-NC.

Waya, that plays for New Caledonia title-holders Tiga Sport, is enjoying a fantastic season. The young 21-year-old scored 24 goals this season and helped Tiga to defend their national title.

Waya (right) battles for the ball – Foot-NC

This is going to be the first experience of the Waya abroad. The striker represented New Caledonia national team this year in the FIFA 2020 World Cup OFC Qualifying tournament, where his team failled to impress.

Oceania Football Center will follow the next steps of Waya’s career and wishes him a lot success and goals in his next club in France.

FIFA World Cup: Oceania confirms direct qualifying spot for next editions

Argentina celebrated last Sunday (18th Dec) their third World Cup title; La Albiceleste captained by the magnificent Lionel Messi surpassed the powerful French national team to bring home another title after 36 years.

One more time, the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup did not count on a representant of OFC. New Zealand – that won the qualifying tournament this year after beating by 5-0 the Solomon Islands in the decisive match – was unable to secure a spot in the intercontinental playoff after failling to beat Keylor Navas’ Costa Rica. The last time an OFC team took part in the tournament was in 2010 when New Zealand was eliminated in the group stage after recording three draws against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay.

But OFC is not going to be excluded anymore from the most important football tournament: starting from 2026 the Oceania Football Confederation will receive a direct slot for the World Cup as the competition will have now 48 participants, not 32 as in the previous editions. It means no-more intercontinental playoff to qualify for the tournaments – the OFC teams will depend on only themselves.

Leon Kofana and Chris Wood battle for the ball during FIFA 2022 World Cup OFC Qualifying tournament – OFC Media

The best ever campaign from an OFC representative was back in 2006, when Australia – still an OFC member – was knocked-out in the Round of 16 for the tournament winners Italy by 1-0. Since them, only once an OFC team qualified for the World Cup.

This means an important change for Oceania Football: any of the 11 full-members of the confederation will have a direct chance to feature at the World Cup – winning the qualifying tournament is going to put them among the best national teams in the world. This can add a lot of competition and much more motivation to the players to represent their countries.

The Oceania football fans will wait anxiously for the next qualifying process and certainly expects much more development of the game in the region.

Brian Kaltak back to action in Australia as Central Coast beats Sydney FC

Ni-Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak got back to action in Australia’s top-tier league against Sydney FC this saturday (17th Dec). His team, the Central Coast Mariners, grabbed all points from the clash after losing their last two matches in the A-League.

Brian Kaltak warming up before the match – CCM Media

The Mariners conceded an early goal scored by Paulo Retre at the 11th minute, but still in the first the home side was able to turn around: the Brazilian striker Marco Tulio scored at the 36th minute and the defender Dan Hall – that has Fijian roots – put the Mariners ahead. Kaltak assisted for Hall’s goal, he received the ball from a corner and crossed it back to the penalty box where Hall headed it home. You can watch the match highlights here.

Mariners’ next opponent is the Newcastle Jets, match that is schedule to played this Wednesday (21th Dec). Kaltak’s side is now sitting 5th in the table with 10 points scored in seven matches played.

Fijian top-striker Sairusi Nalaubu turns 26

14th December is a very important day for one of the most prolific footballers from Fiji and Oceania: Lautoka’s Sairusi Nalaubu celebrates one more birthday – completing now 26-years old. The striker is enjoying the best moment of his career, being the top-scorer of the last two editions of the Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier league of Fijian football system.

The best of Nalaubu 20/21 season – Pacific Football Fan channel

Nalaubu also played for the national this year during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. The striker helped Fiji to secure an important 2-1 win over New Caledonia with two goals scored, but not enough to qualify the Bula Boys to the semi-finals of the tournament. Nalaubu also scored a hattrick in a friendly match against Vanuatu – five goals in the year for Nalaubu playing for the national team.

Watch Sairusi Nalaubu goals against New Caledonia

His numbers for the national team and Lautoka impressed the Czech Republich’s top-tier side FK Padurbice; the now 26-year-old international had a three-month trial period with the European side. The striker was hopeful to secure a pro-contract with the Czech side, but the trial period went unsuccessful forcing him to return his club Lautoka – where, once again, he ended as the top-scorer of the national league season.

Nalaubu playing for Lautoka – The Fiji Times

Oceania Football Center wishes Nalaubu a happy birthday and will continue following Nalaubu’s career expecting him to earn even more accolades in his football career.

Auckland City celebrates national glory in New Zealand in a fantastic season

The current OFC Champions League winners Auckland City needed to fight hard against Wellington Olympic in the grand final of New Zealand national league; 3-2 win gave Auckland City one more glory for their fantastic 2022 season: the Navy Blues won the Northern League, OFC Champions League – as mentioned – and Chatham Cup.

At the big Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, the team captained by Cam Howieson added up two goals in the first 45 minutes throught the efforts of Liam Gillion and the Spaniard Gerrard Garriga.

But in the final part of the match the situation turned around: Reid Drake saw a red card after a harsh foul on Jack-Henry Sinclair and his side was forced to finish the game with only 10-men.

The Wellington-based side pushed forward, but only could cut the deficit at the 77th minute thanks to a long-range shot of Tor Davenport-Petersen. The pressure was applied; Auckland City needed to hold on – and they did it successfully. The prize for good defending came in at 88th minute when Angus Kilkolly sealead the win for the Navy Blues – as it seemed to be at that time – from the edge of the box.

Two minutes from Kilkolly goal, Wellington Olympic had the chance to score one more through the penalty spot: the Cook Islands’ captain Ben Mata stepped up and scored the second for his side. But it ended-up not being enough to confirm Olympic’s reaction.

Howieson lifts the trophy – Photosport

This was the first time the National League Championship was finished as planned; the COVID-19 restrictions forced the last two seasons to changes; in 2021 Auckland City nor other Northern Region side could take part in the final part of the season.

Roy Krishna is still to have impact in Bengaluru as he faces his former club in Indian Super League

The Fijian Flyer is set to have a big match this weekend in the most-important Indian football league; the Fijian National Team captain Roy Krishna is going to play against his former club Mohun Bagan in the next matchday of the Indian Super League. The 35-year-old star player is still to have a major impact in his new club Bengaluru after impressive seasons in the Kolkata-based side.

The Fijian scored only one goal this season for Bengaluru in the Indian Super League – against Chennaiyin in the second matchday of the season. Bengaluru, that also counts on the Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri in their squad, is not having a good start of Indian Super League, despite their recent Durand Cup title in September – competition where Krishna helped Bengalaru to earn the trophy scoring three goals in the process.

The Bangalore-based club only won two of their past seven matches, losing four of them in the process, sitting now 9th in the table of the Indian top-flight league. This Saturday (03rd December) is going to be a fantastic opportunity for the Fijian star and his teammates to improve their records as they play Mohun Bagan at home. The former club of Krishna is having a good start of season as they are now ranked 4th in the table.

Roy Krishna in Bengaluru colours – ISL Media

Krishna, that this year turned himself into the all-time top-scorer of the Fijian National Team, needs to prove himself for the Bengaluru fans and this chance against Mohun Bagan is a very good opportunity to make them happy of their recent signing for the season. Krishna himself seems eager to step up as he recently posted on his Twitter account:

Ifira Black Bird records historical win over A-League’s Central Coast Mariners in Vanuatu

Ohe of the most known clubs of Vanuatu recorded a fantastic win over A-League’s Central Coast Mariners from Australia. The club is having a tour in the South Pacific nation and had its first friendly in Port Vila against Ifira Black Bird at Korman Stadium.

Mariners is the team of Vanuatu National Team captain and star Brian Kaltak. Despite the technical difference of the teams Ifira won by 1-0 thanks a very good header scored by striker John Tas. You can watch the goal below:

Ifira Black Bird 1-0 Central Coast Mariners

New Caledonia international signs with French team

Titouan Richard is one of the great football hopes of New Caledonia. He has had stints with the Cagous youth national teams and was in New Caledonia’s participation in the 2017 U-17 World Cup in India after helping the team reach the final of the OFC U-17 championship.

Since 2021 Titouan Richard has played for AS Tiga Sports after a successful stint AS Mont-Dore. His performances in the New Caledonia Super League led to the national team having been called up to play in the World Cup qualifiers – Richard made his national team debut in the 2-1 loss to Fiji.

Now the talented striker will play for Olympique Salaise-Rhoida of Regional 1 – the sixth tier of French Football as reported by the New Caledonia Federation.

Titouan Richard – Olympique Salaise Rhoida

The Oceania Football Center wishes good luck to Titouan Richard in this adventure in Europe and that he may inspire others to try the same path.