Oceania Football Center

All or nothing for Labasa, Nadi, Rewa and Suva in Fiji FACT

Labasa, Nadi, Rewa and Suva are ready for 2020 Fiji FACT semifinals – *Fiji FA Media*

The group stage of 2020 Fiji FACT is over. Four teams went back home while Labasa, Nadi, Rewa and Suva are still alive to fight for this important title in the last football competition of the current Fijian football season.

After finishing the group stage unbeaten, Rewa will face Nadi in the semifinals. The Delta Tigers scored twelve goals in three matches so far in the tournament and they are the favourites to advance to the final. Rewa’s key players like Inoke Turagalailai and Tevita Waranaivalu have rested in the 7-0 victory over Nasinu to be ready to go all out against Nadi.

On the other hand, Nadi proved themselves as a very competitive side this year, and the Green Machine want to lift Fiji FACT’s trophy for the second straight year. Head coach Kamal Swamy relies on key players like Rusiate Matarerega and Avinesh Suwamy, who scored twice against Navua, to defeat Rewa: “We need to come out with a good plan so that we can counter them,” said Swamy to FBC Sports.

Fiji FACT hosts Labasa will meet Suva in the fight for a spot in the final. After losing the opening match, Labasa bounced back by beating Nasinu and Ba to finish the group stage in the second position. The Babasiga Lions have already won the Inter-District Championship, and lifting Fiji FACT’s trophy at home would be something really special for them, specially for Taniela Waqa who is going to retire from football after this tournament.

Despite the defeat to Lautoka in group stage’s final day, Suva advanced to the semifinals. However, head coach Babs Khan must have to deal with the absence of five players against Labasa: Beniaminio Mateinaqara, Christopher Wasasala, Kalisito Veikoka, Kelvin Naidu and Laisenia Raura. Anyway, Khan relies on powerful forward Sairusi Nalaubu, who is living a blessed season, to win the last tournament of the season.

Both matches are going to be contested at Subrail Park this Saturday. You can check more information about 2020 Fiji FACT by clicking here.

Roy Krishna makes history as ATK Mohun Bagan defeat SC East Bengal in India

ATK Mohun Bagan and SC East Bengal clashed at Tilak Maidan Stadium in the second matchweek of 2020-21 Indian Super League, the most important football league from India. For the first time in history, the Kolkata Derby was played in the Indian Super League, making this Friday’s clash a historic one.

See more:
Roy Krishna delighted for scoring in Kolkata Derby.

With a nice shot from outside the box, Roy Krishna also wrote his name in history. The 33-year-old forward from Fiji opened the scoreboard for ATK Mohun Bagan in the 49th minute, which makes him the first scorer of the Kolkata Derby in Indian Super League’s history. The Fijian star played 90 minutes until he was replaced by Bradden Inman in the stoppage time. You can check more details about Krishna’s performance by clicking here.

Krishna (in the middle) celebrating his goal

The second goal of the match was netted by Manvir Singh after a good assist by Prabir Das. At the final whistle, ATK Mohun Bagan defeated their rivals by 2-0 to remain unbeaten in the season with two victories in two matches. You can check more information about 2020-21 Indian Super League by clicking here.

Labasa: Ronil Lal thanks fans for confidence and ask for support in the semi-final

Labasa bounced back in the season; winning the Inter-District Championship made the fans forget the bad campaign at Vodafone Premier League. Now the team is seeking to repeat what they did in 2019: win two major tournaments in a year in Fiji.

After a bad start suffering a harsh 4-0 defeat against Rewa in the group stage of Fiji FACT, the team returned home to play Nasinu and Ba and grabbed two very important wins to proceed to the decisive stage of the competition.

Labasa’s boss Ronil Lal thanked the fans for believing in the players and the work done by the staff; “We are thanking all the Fans for having faith and believing in the team“, said Lal in a social media – “come out in numbers to support our boys tomorrow“, said the coach urging the fans for the decisive clash ahead against Suva.

Labasa players after wininng Ba – *Ronil Lal*

Labasa displayed confident football against Ba and Nasinu despite the bad conditions of the pitch in Subrail Park. It is expected the conditions for the this weekend are better – something that is going to help Labasa in its style of football commonly played.

Goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau comes as striker and scores for Rewa against Nasinu

One more very interesting fact happened this week in Fiji as the experienced goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau entered in the second half of the match of his side Rewa against Nasinu that were playing their final pool match of the 2020 edition of the Fiji FACT. The game was already 4-0 in favour of Rewa when Tamanisau replaced the attacker Samuela Nabenia. He was using the number 1 jersey – in fact it was Anish Khem‘s number 7 that was modified with a white tape to appear to be a number one. Tamanisau could not use a different number in the tournament because he was registered with the number 1.

Nasinu was already completely out of the match and the Rewa attackers started to try to find Tamanisau in the area to make history happen; first he almost scored, but a defender cleared the ball in the goalline – but his teammate Sailosi Rayaqona got the rebound and scored. Two minutes later, finally, Tamanisau received the ball in the area and fired a powerful shot to score his goal and the 6th of his team in the clash. You can see the event by clicking here.

Tamanisau still managed to assist for the seventh goal of the match, he got the ball, passed one defender and assisted for the goal scored by Shavnil Prasad. The final result of the match was 7-0 in favour of Rewa, qualifying Tamanisau’s side for the semi-finals of the 2020 Fiji FACT.

Ba: Sanaila Waqanicakau proves to be a decent call also as a goalkeeper

It is really not expected to see a striker playing in a very different position than usual; imagine if he is forced to play as a goalkeeper in an emergency. The striker Sanaila Waqanicakau played all games of the most recent Fiji FACT group stage as a goalkeeper for his team Ba – this is really not a great achievement for Fijian football as this proves the level of competition is still far from full-professionalism. Currently, players are even more focused and turned into specialists of certain positions of the game – it is not expected a central striker such as Waqanicakau to play as a goalkeeper.

The very tall player already played as a goalkeeper in the past, but he proved to be a good weapon for Ba in the season scoring important goals for the team: but so, why he was forced to be his team goalkeeper?

Important names such as Misiwani Nairube and Isikeli Sevanaia were left out of the tournament due injuries and the team was missing a goalkeeper to trust; as the head coach Ronil Kumar was not confident to bring a very young goalkeeper for such important tournament as Fiji FACT, he decided to give Sanaila Waqanicakau the spot: he is experienced, already played in this position in the start of his career and is almost 200cm tall.

Sanaila Waqanicakau against Labasa – *Fiji FA Media*

Sanaila was not only the goalkeeper for the last the match against Labasa, but he also served as team captain for the decisive match that unfortunately for him and his team did not go their way.

But, the truth – believe it or not – is that Waqanicakau proved to be in the level required even in a so weird scenario; the giant did not commit serious mistakes – despite scoring an own goal in his team only win in the competition against Nasinu – that influnced in the outcome of the results.

The 30-year-old is still a better striker than a goalkeeper; then when Nairube and Sevanaia can return it is natural both of them can retake their spot. What is necessary to be posted here is that due the circumstances, the striker-goalkeeper played an important role and even made impressive stops throughout the tournament.

Ba did not make it to the semis, but this is certainly a detail that is interesting to be adressed by the football fans of Oceania. But, if possible, coaches and officials, please avoid doing such decisions as this – Oceanian football is already seen as a place ‘where weirdness happens’, making this even more often is not going to help the status either the development of the game in the region.

Yatel collects first victory of the season as they best Seveners United

This Thursday marked the start of the third matchday of football in Port Vila’s top-tier league in Vanuatu. Yatel FC celebrated their first victory in the league this season as they surpassed the newcomers in the top-tier Seveners United by the scoreline of 3-1; the match was played at Port Vila Municipal Stadium.

All goals of the match were scored in the second half; the talented Frank Ruben opened the score for Yatel and Mansen Avock doubled for the team in white and blue. Seveners was able to reduce the margin, but Avock scored another in order to confirm his side win by 3-1.

Seveners lost all matches of the season so far; the win give Yatel a chance to regroup and go stronger for their next encounters in the league. The fixtures will continue this weekend in Port Vila having Galaxy FC vs Erakor Golden Star FC as one of the most exciting matches to watch. Check here the standings and latest results of the league!

Raphael Le’ai: 50 goals as a senior player

The still only 17-year-old Solomon Islands football star Raphael Le’ai reached an impressive milestone in the past weekend when his side Henderson Eels draw against Central Coast by 1-1: the teenager scored his 50 goals a senior player.

The youngster got recognition in Oceania after guiding his country to their first ever appearance in a FIFA football tournament last year. Le’ai was the golden boot and best players of the 2018 U16 OFC Championship competition which his country ended up as runners-up after suffering a defeat in the penalty shootout against New Zealand.

The youngster that played for Marist FC and Henderson Eels in Solomon Islands’ top-tier league Telekom S-League recorded the mark of 48 goals in the national league since 2018. Currently, Le’ai is the joint top-goalscorer of the present edition of the national alongside his teammate Joses Nawo. The other two goals scored by Le’ai at senior level were in Vanuatu when defending Eels at 2020 OFC Champions League – he scored one beautiful against Lae City from Papua New Guinea in his team debut and helped Eels to overcome Lautoka from Fiji with another goal scored.

This is another impressive achievement in the career of the 17-year-old striker; Le’ai already trialled with an Argentinian professional club in the past and also trained with New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix for a year when in a scholarship at Wellington’s Scotts College. He also had a stint with Australian’s top-side Melbourne Victory this year.

43-0: Veitongo smash Isileli Kapeta in Tonga Challenge Cup

Veitongo (in green) playing a match in 2020 Tonga Challenge Cup – *Tonga Football Association*

The 2020 Tonga Challenge Cup is coming to its end as the men’s tournament reached the knock-out stage. Sixteen teams, eight from each group, are going to fight for this title in Tonga. However, the most interesting fact took place in the final round of the group stage, when current national champions defeated Isileli Kapeta by 43-0.

Veitongo finished on top of the Group B with ten victories in ten matches, while Isileli Kapeta finished the group stage in the last position with one point and with a -149 Goal Difference. In the Group A, Lavengatonga finished on top with nine victories and one draw, followed by Longoteme and Lotoha’apai United.

In the Women’s Tournament, Veitongo finished the first round on top and they will face Fasi & Afi in the quarter-finals, while second placed side Longolongo are going to face Nukuhetulu. You can check more all Challenge Cup’s knock-out stage matches by clicking here.

Ilisoni Lolaivalu: the man of the moment!

Labasa has some important players in its current squad; the Babasiga Lions are known for producing Roy Krishna and many other important players throughout its football history. Currently, the likes of Antonio Tuivuna and Taniela Waqa might get interest from the fans – Tuivuna played both FIFA U20 World Cup and Olympics while Waqa is a veteran of Bula Boys.

But, recently, the impact is coming from another man: Ilisoni Lolaivalu. The winger is making real difference for the Labasa fans, especially after scoring a brace against Ba that sealed the spot of his team in the semi-finals of the 2020 edition of the Fiji FACT.

Ilisoni Lolaivalu (red) – *Fiji FA Media*

On Saturday, Lolaivalu will have the duty to guide his team against the current national champions Suva at Subrail Park. The day will also be very especial for the player as he will be turning 27 in the same day his team will be having the most important match of the season.

Labasa did not have a very good season at Vodafone Premier League – finishing 5th – but Lolaivalu scored four goals in the national league. In the most recent trophy won by the Babasiga Lions, the Inter-District Champions this year, the attacker was crucial for the team scoring four goals in the competition that led to a back-to-back title after beating Lautoka in the final game.

In the current Fiji FACT, Labasa’s number 11 is being very important in the attacking force of his team and heads to the decisive part of the tournament as one of the most prolific players so far. The almost 27-year-old man is still to be capped by Fiji national team, but his performances in the 2020 season are certainly entertaining the new head coach of Fiji, the Danish Flemming Serritslev.

Fiji FACT semi-final stage set

The proceedings of the group stage are done in Fiji – the last football tourmanent of the year heads to its semi-final stage to be played this Saturday (28th Sep) at Subrail Park in Labasa. Despite the heavy conditions of the pitch, all matches went ahead as normal and four districts are qualified for the decisive part of the tournament.

The defending champions Nadi continues their battle in order to achieve a back-to-back title as the team coached by Kamal Swamy finished second in their group; they will be taking on the current Battle of Giants title holders Rewa that won their group. Suva, despite finishing with a 2-1 defeat against Lautoka, topped the group and will be taking the hosts Labasa in one of the semi-finals.

Some of the best footballers of the country will be thrilling the fans this weekend in Vanua Levu; the expectations are high and all we want to see is good football in order to give hopes of the development of football in Fiji. The pitch might be a major issue, but it is expected the workers at Subrail Park can repair everything before the kick-off this Saturday.