Oceania Football Center

Tommy Semmy scores in his 50th match at New Zealand’s Premiership

One of the most important footballers from Papua New Guinea achieved another very impressive milestone this weekend in New Zealand; Tommy Semmy played his 50th match at New Zealand’s top-tier league ISPS Handa Premiership. The striker also scored in his side Hamilton Wanderers win over Canterbury United by 3-2.

Semmy first made a fantastic individual play to assist for Derek Tierku – Hamilton Wanderers 1-0 up. It did not take long as Canterbury’s Tom Schwarz leveled the score through a header. In the second half a defensive mistake allowed the Papua New Guinean international to score his first goal in the season, but the home side was still able to find an equaliser through a penalty-kick taken by Garbhan Coughlan. The final and winning goal of the match was scored by Jordan Lamb after being in an one-on-one situation with Canterbury’s goalkeeper – you can check here the highlights of the game. With the three points collected from the clash, Semmy’s Hamilton Wanderers is now at the top of the ISPS Handa Premiership.

Semmy is recognised as one of the most prolific strikers of New Zealand’s top-tier as the player recently trialled at A-League’s professional side Wellington Phoenix but was not offered a pro-contract.

African duo win national league in Samoa

Lupe o le Soaga had a perfect season in 2020, as they won all their league matches to be crowned national champions. The team coached by Paul Ualesi defeated Vaipuna by 8-2 in the final contested this weekend.

Two footballers from Africa played important roles in the season: Kenneth Kerewi and Oscar Anto. Kerewi is a 38-year-old midfielder from Nigeria, while Anto is a 17-year-old forward from Ghana. Both players scored in the final against Vaipuna and helped Lupe o le Soaga in this marvelous season.

Both players are expected to stay with the team for the next OFC Champions League. Oceania Football Center team congratulates Anto, Kerewi and Lupe o le Soaga for winning this title. You can check more information about the Samoan football season by clicking here.

Brian Kaltak shines in Auckland City’s victory against Hawke’s Bay United

Brian Kaltak had a great performance in Auckland City’s victory

Auckland City faced Hawke’s Bay United at Freyberg Field in the third matchweek of ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership, the most important football league from New Zealand. The Navy Blues suffered a lot in this match, but they managed to win this clash with a late goal.

Brian Kaltak played an important role in this match. The 27-year-old defender from Vanuatu had a solid defensive performance. He also played a crucial role in the offensive sector, as he made a great play that resulted in a goal scored by Dylan Manickum in the stoppage time. You can check the goal by clicking here.

With this victory, the Navy Blues reached the fourth position in the league table with six points in three matches. You can check the current ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Wanderers reach the top as Auckland City win thanks to a late goal in the Premiership

Hamilton Wanderers’ forward Derek Tieku celebrating a goal

The third matchweek of 2020-21 ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership was contested this weekend in New Zealand, and it was a perfect round for Hamilton Wanderers, as they defeated their opponents to reach the top of the table.

In the first match of the weekend, Eastern Suburbs smashed Wellington Phoenix Reserves by 4-0 at Fraser Park. The final score was not a bigger win for the Lilywhites because goalkeeper Alex Paulsen made important saves, including a penalty defense that denied Adam Thurston’s hat-trick.

Waitakere United received Team Wellington at Seddon Fields. Portuguese forward João Moreira opened the scoreboard for the visitors while Luke Searle equalized. Team Wellington took the lead again with a penalty kick netted by Hamish Watson. However, Waitakere did not give up as Joshua Redfearn equalized the match in the stoppage time to steal a point from their opponents.

Current league champions Auckland City received Hawke’s Bay United at Freyberg Field. Before the match, striker Emiliano Tade, who is currently injured, came to the field on crutches carrying an Argentina National Team’s jersey. He placed the jersey in the center circle while everyone paid tribute to Diego Maradona with one minute of silence.

Back to the game, Hawke’s Bay United opened the scoreboard with a nice goal scored by youngster Jesse Randall. This match marked Mohammed Awad’s official debut for Auckland City. He came from the bench in the 60th minute to replace Albert Riera.

The Navy Blues were facing difficulties to find the net, but everything changed in the 76th minute, when Cameron Howieson equalized from the penalty spot. The match was heading towards the end when Brian Kaltak steals a ball and starts a counter attack. He passed the ball to Dylan Manickum, who scored the winning goal for Auckland City in the stoppage time.

Hamilton Wanderers travelled to the Southern Island to face Canterbury United at English Park in Christchurch. With goals scored by Derek Tieku, Tommy Semmy and Jordan Lamb, Wanderers defeated their opponents by 3-2 to go back home with an important victory that placed them on top of the table with nine points in three matches.

Four more matches are going to be contested next week, including an exciting clash between Auckland City and Team Wellington. You can check the current ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.

Makira Ulawa and Isabel Frigates register debut wins at Solomon Cup

One of the most traditional football tournaments of the Solomon Islands continued this Sunday in Honiara at Lawson Tama Stadium with the two debut matches of the Group B; Makira Ulawa smashed Renbel Ibis while the hosts Honiara Warriors suffered a heartbreaking defend in hands of Isabel Frigates.

The first match saw the talented side of Makira Ulawa to jump in front of the scoreline against Renbel Ibis thanks to George Hanua at the 16th mintue of play. Steward Hagatepu still added another before half-time to double the lead and confirm the dominance of his side over Renbel.

Makira Ulawa players celebrate one of their goals – *SIFF Media*

In the second half the party for the team in black continued; the same Hanua and Hagatepu scored one more goal each to put 4-0 upfront Renbel Ibis. In the late stages of the game, the veteran Nicholas Muri added another in the account to give final numbers for the clash: Makira Ulawa 5-0 Renbel Ibis.

The second match of the day between Isabel Frigates and Honiara Warriors was very intense and equal until the final minutes of the clash; the first was goaless, but the last ten minutes of the clash decided the outcome of the debut of both sides in the competition: Franster Rukumana scored first for the hosts Warriors to give them the lead at the 82th of play, but what seemed to be the start of a narrow ended up in a nightmare for the team representing the capital of Solomon Islands.

Isabel Frigates’ players celebrate an unlikely comeback – *SIFF Media*

Minutes later the hosts goal, Mostyn Kelly equalised for Isabel – a relief for the team, but more was just down the corner: Obed Havimana scored the second for Isabel Frigates to complete the comeback and already near to injury time the team captain Samuel Osifelo confirmed his team win scoring the third: Isabel Frigates 3-1 Honiara Warriors.

The Solomon Cup is a tournament where players of the national league – Telekom S-League – do not take place. Local players represent the islands and regions of the country in the ‘Solomon Islands’ World Cup’ as recently called by officials in the country. This can be pathways for tallented players to join the national league. You can check the updated results of the tournament by visiting our session about the 2020 Solomon Cup.

New Caledonia: everything tied up in the first matchday of Mobil Super Ligue’s decisive phase

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The first two matches of the decisive part of the season of New Caledonia’s top-tier league Mobil Super Ligue ended up all square this Sunday in Nouméa at Stade Numa-Daly; both national giants AS Magenta and Hienghène Sport were unable to confirm their favouritism in their debuts in the top-four of Mobil Super Ligue.

The first match of the day was between Tiga Sport and Hienghène Sport; the match started very well for the current national champions as the star player Joseph Athalé fired from long range a perfect free-kick to open the scoreline in favour of Hyehen. Still in the first half, the young gun Rayan Oué double the lead for Hienghène as he finished from the edge of the box with a powerful kick.

But in the second half the story of the game completely changed; Tiga had a number of chances to reduce the scoreline, but only at the 61th minute of play the talented Lues Waya scored for the red and white side. Hienghène seemed to get tired while Tiga got confidence after finally findiing their first goal of the day.

William Yentao made the things even harder for his team as he saw a second yellow at the 78th minute of play, reducing Hienghène to play with one less player. The experienced Bertrand Kaï was introduced in the second half and wasted a real chance for his team at the 82th minute of play.

The wasted opportunity by the New Caledonian legend costed a lot for his side: the New Caledonian international Richard Sélé finally scored a deserved goal for Tiga to level the score in the 88th minute of play – both sides ended their first match in the decisive phase with one point each.

The second match of the day saw the powerful AS Magenta taking on the Maré-based side Horizon Patho; the surprising team from the islands is having a very good season and promised a very contested match against the team coached by Alain Moizan.

Horizon started having good spells of possession, but at the middle of the first half the experienced Nathanael Hmaen striked for Magenta to give them the lead. The Alain Moizan’s team ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.

As in the first match of the day, Horizon Patho got stronger in the final 45 minutes of the game and created a number of opportunities to equalise. It took long for the Islands’ team to find the nets, Jean-Paul Wamejo was the scorer for the deserved goal of Horizon Patho. Paul Ngaohiny scored another for Horizon Patho minutes later, but the goal was disallowed by the referee.

AS Magenta was controlled by Horizon Patho in the final minutes of the match; many goal occasions were created by the visitors, but they went all wasted. Both sides also ended up the first matchday of the play-off with one point each.

You can check the latest results and update standings of the 2020 Mobil Super Ligue by visiting the competition’s session in our site.

Labasa: Ashnil Raju available after his marriage as Fiji FACT is postponed

Labasa will come even stronger for the semi-finals of the last major tournament of the year in Fiji as their star midfielder Ashnil Raju will be available for the team. Raju did not play the final two poll matches of Labasa due his marriage that took place this weekend. As the games of the semi-finals and final of Fiji FACT were postponed to the next weekend, the 25-year-old player will be added to the squad of Ronil Lal.

It was expected the player to join Labasa if his team qualified for the final match, but now, due the postponement, the former Dreketi man will be available. Raju is a regular starter throughout the season for the Babasiga Lions and the fans of the team might be very happy with the news Raju is already back – as the head coach Ronil Lal confirmed in social media.

Seventeen players of Solomon Islands’ Royals Academy still stuck in England

Seventeen players of Royals Academy are still stuck in England waiting for an opportunity to go back home. According to Sun Sport, Solomon Islands’ government expects to bring these players back home in January.

These young players are part of Royals’ project that took dozens of Solomon Islanders to England to train at Stars Academy. A group of 31 athletes went back home last month, but some of them are still quarentined in Solomon Islands as ten players have tested positive to COVID-19.

It was reporeted that government is planning repatriation flights for Canada, United States and United Kingdom, so these seventeen footballers could finally go back home to continue pursuing a career as a professional player.

Fiji FACT postponed to next weekend

It was recently informed by Fiji Football Federation’s Rajesh Patel in a press release that the Fiji FACT semi-finals will be once again postponed, this time to Saturday and Sunday (6 and 7th Dec) due the bad weather conditions in Vanua Levu. “It is out of our control, it is a natural thing” said Patel.

Tickets refund will be available if the fans wish so, but the same tickets will be available to enter the stadium in the next scheduled date. Patel assumed the possibility to take the finals of Fiji FACT to another venue if the conditons do not improve in Labasa, but their first choice is to keep the games at Subrail Park.

Subrail Park were not in conditions for football – *FBC News*

Patel was also questioned regarding Rewa’s situation on asking to play the 90 minutes again, regarding only the second half. Nadi was leading by 1-0 after the postponement of the matches and the Fiji FA had previously decided to only play the remaning 45 minutes of the clash. The president of the entity answered a decision will be made during the week.

The terrible conditions of the Subrail Park were a serious issue since the completion of the poll matches at midweek; many fans expressed their indignity and said the decision to postpone the matches was late.

Double glory for Lupe o le Soaga in Samoa

Women’s team (left) and Men’s team (right) of Lupe o le Soaga

The 2020 football season came to and end in Samoa as the national finals were contested this Saturday. It was a historic day for Lupe o le Soaga, as they were crowned national champions in both men’s and women’s tournaments.

In the men’s tournament, Lupe smashed Vaipuna by 8-2 to finish the season unbeaten. In the women’s tournament, they were crowned champions after a confusion in the final clash against Moata’a. The match was tied at 1-1 when the referee awarded a penalty to Lupe, and then Moata’a players walked out of the pitch, so Lupe were crowned champions.

Lupe o le Soaga were already qualified for 2021 OFC Champions League as they finished the regular season on top of the table. Oceania Football Center team congratulates them for winning these important titles.