Oceania Football Center

Young forward Max Mata joins Real Monarchs from the United States

After spending the past two years in Europe, Max Mata is ready for a new adventure on his career. The 20-year-old forward from New Zealand is going to play for Real Monarchs from the United States in the upcoming year.

Real Monarchs is the feeder team to MLS club Real Salt Lake. They play the USL Championship – the second most important football league in the United States. According to Monarchs’ media, his signing is pending league and federation approval, as well as the approval of a Visa.

Max will be the first ever player from New Zealand to play for Real Monarchs, and he is going to have the opportunity to be followed closely by Real Salt Lake’s staff. He scored five goals in ten matches during his stint in Switzerland with Grasshopper U-21 squad.

Mata made his debut for New Zealand National Football Team last year in a friendly match against Lithuania. He was also a National Team’s regular starter at U-17 and U-20 levels. Oceania Football Center wish him good luck in this new challenge.

Tiga Sport win 2020 Mobil Super Ligue in New Caledonia

Tiga Sport delegation celebrating the title – *FCF Media*

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The 2020 Mobil Super Ligue reached an end in New Caledonia as the last two matches of the season were contested this Saturday in the French territory – and Tiga Sport were crowned champions for the first time ever.

The first match of the day was contested between Tiga and AS Magenta at Stade Numa Daly. David Bearuné opened the scoreboard for Tiga in the 15th minute while youngster Lues Waya scored from the penalty spot in the second half to seal the 2-0 win that crowned Tiga Sport league champions.

In the second game of the day, Hienghène Sport and Horizon Patho clashed to decide which side would qualify for the next OFC Champions League. Legendary forward Bertrand Kaï opened the scoreboard for Hienghène in the first half, while Jean-Claude Jewiné scored from the penalty spot to equalize in the 61th minute. Antoine Roine found the net ten minutes later to put Hienghène ahead, but Jewiné scored two more goals to complete a hat-trick and give a 3-2 victory to Horizon, that are going to play the OFC Champions League for the first time ever.

With these results, Horizon Patho finished the season in the second position, while Hienghène and Magenta finished third and fourth, respectively. You can check more details about 2020 Mobil Super Ligue by clicking here.

Krishna scores late penalty to confirm ATK-Mohun Bagan’s win in India

The rich Indian Super League continued this mid-week with the sixth round of matches of the 2020/21 season. ATK-MB faced FC Goa expecting to return to the winning ways; their biggest hope was the team top-goalscorer of the season so far, the Fijian star Roy Krishna.

The match was very close and just a penalty-kick at the 85th minute play made the difference between both sides. The Fijian sensation made no mistake from the spot and confirmed the fourth victory in six matches played of his side ATK-MB. You can watch Roy Krishna’s goal by clicking here.

Roy Krishna celebrates his goal – *ISL Media*

Krishna’s ATK-MB is now ranked 2th in the standings of Indian Super League and tasted a win after two matches without a victory. This was Krishna’s fifth goal of the season, now the striker is 3rd in the golden boot race behind Nerijus Valskis and Igor Angulo. After scoring against FC Goa, Krishna reached an impressive mark: scoring against all teams of the Indian Super League – this is only the start of the Fijian’s second season.

Kapuls’ training squad is target of controversy in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) recently released a 59-men list to attend National Team’s training camp. However, it became the target of controversy in the country, as important players are not in the list.

It was reported that Alex Kamen, Ishmael Pole, Jacob Sabua, Joshua Talau, Langarap Samol, Nigel Dabinyaba, Raymond Gunemba and Ronald Warisan were left out of the training camp after disciplinary problems during the 2019 Pacific Games, held in Samoa. According to The National, these players are now facing a four-year ban from international duties.

These players went public this week to talk about the case: “We have taken into account our failures as professional players […] We believe and understand that our attitude and behavior during the Pacifc Games has resulted in the exclusion of our names in the training squad,” said Raymond Gunemba to Post Courier.

As it was mentioned above, 59 players were called-up for National Team’s training camp. These players were divided in two teams, which will face each other three times. The biggest name on the list is surely David Browne, who had a great season playing for HJK from Finland, while forward Tommy Semmy was left out of the list because he is in New Zealand playing for Hamilton Wanderers at ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership. You can check the full list by clicking here.

Western Tomoko celebrates Solomon’s Cup title after famous win over Malaita Eagles

The traditional Solomon Cup came to an end last Saturday in Honiara after the decisive match between Malaita Eagles and Western Tomoko. Both sides came to the final match in an impressive run; Eagles were keen to defend their glory as Western Tomoko was looking to get their first ever title of the Solomon Cup.

The game was very close at Lawson Tama Stadium, thousands of fans came to support their teams in the decisive game of the tournament. Tomoko took the lead after a lapse of concentration of Malaita Eagles defense that allowed Gheso Kituru to get the ball and with his pace get past the last defender and place the ball calmly in the down right corner of Eagles’ goalkeeper – watch the goal here.

Kituru’s finish was enough to seal the first ever title for Western Tomoko – sending the Western province to delirium. Tomoko’s striker Jaygray Sipakana earned the golden boot award after scoring seven goals in the competition, Dickson Brimson, also of the champions side, won the golden glove award. The MVP of 2020 Solomon Cup was Malaita Eagles’ Junior Zimri.

Western Tomoko players celebrate title in Gizo – *WFA Media*

Tomoko players already reached their province and celebrations continue in Gizo, Western Province. A number of fans came to welcome the champions that met important figures of their community and also visited many places to swho its trophy and celebrate with the supporters.

Lawson Tama Stadium awaits historical clash to decide ‘Solomon Cup’s king’

The final day of football action of 2020 in Solomon Islands will have the decisive clashes of the 2020 Solomon Cup; the first one will decide which side will end up with bronze in the traditional tournament – Makira Ulawa Kakamora or Isabel Frigates – and the final one, the awaited grand final, to seal a possible 5-time-champion Malaita Eagles or a new champion, Western Tomoko.

Both sides como from impressive wins in the semi-finals: the current champions Eagles had no much trouble to overcome Isabel Frigates by 5-2, while Western Tomoko shown what they are capable of after smashing very hard Makira Ulawa Kakamora by 7-1. Jaygray Sipakana was the man of the moment as he scored four for his side and he is now the top scorer of the competition – only Malaita’s Norman Ngafu can take his golden boot, the Malaita Eagles’ striker scored five so far in the league while Sipakana has seven.

Eagles and Tomoko to clash to decide the winner of the 2020 Solomon Cup

Makira Ulawa was set as favourites to surpass Tomoko after they topped the group B, but indleed Sipakana and his teammates ‘paddled’ to the grand final and will now challenge the good side and title holders Malaita Eagles for the major glory to call themselves Solomon Cup champions.

Both sides already met in the first stage as they were grouped together at group A; the result can’t say much about what’s coming next in the final as the outcome was a locked 0-0.

Alongside Jaygray Sipakana, Western Tomoko’s number 9 Arnold Neboth already scored five times so far in the competition and might be also a key figure in the grand final. For Malaita’s side the top scorer of the team Norman Ngafu might be the dangerman for Tomoko’s defense alongisde the talented Fred Anii.

You can see the complete results, top goalscores and squads of the provincial teams by visiting the competition’s session in our website.

Fiji: Labasa’s Ratu Anare shines in Police win at Sukuna Bowl

The last football appointment of 2020 was not the Fiji FACT for many key footballers of Fiji as the Sukuna Bowl’s football challenge took place recently. The Ratu Sukuna Bowl is a traditional clash between the Fiji Armed Forces against the Fiji Police in many sports events, including football.

The semi-professional status of football in the country allows the players to engage in other professions – many of important players are currently working as police officers or even as members of Fijian Army.

The clash between the two institutions saw a number of well-known players representing their sides; at Army side the most prominent profile was Suva’s Christopher Wasasala, while Police had a number of Fiji national team players such as Tevita Waranaivalu and Meli Codro. The national league and Fiji FACT top scorer Sairusi Nalaubu also represented Police side in the match.

But none of them were the ‘hero’ of the day, as the current Labasa rep Ratu Anare scored a brace for Police to seal the Sukuna Bowl’s football glory in favour of the blue side.

Ratu Anare and the Sukuna Bowl’s trophy – *Fiji FA Media*

Anare was not the only representative of Labasa in the clash as two key players of the Babasiga Lions also celebrated the pride to win the Sukuna Bowl; they were the tall goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva and the Battle of Giants’ MVP Ilisoni Lolaivalu.

Double glory for Suva

The good management of Suva proved to be key in 2020; winning the 2020 Vodafone Premier League was the peak for the team in the season, but they reached more more throughtout the year. The commanded by Babs Khan also reached the grand final of the Battle of Giants, but they ended up beaten by Rewa. Last weekend, Suva clinched their second title in the season after surpassing by 1-0 the good side of Nadi.

But not only in the pitch Suva emerged victorious last weekend: the futsal squad of Suva was crowned champions of the Inter-District Championship after beating Lami in the final by the scoreline of 3-1. Suva is the powerhouse of futsal in Fiji as the team already represented the country in the first ever OFC Futsal Champions League, that was played last year in Auckland, New Zealand.

Suva football and futsal teams celebrate their glories – *Suva FA Media*

Suva still managed to have three players receiving individual awards at 2020 Fiji FACT to complete a perfect tournament for the Capital City Boys. The club president Ritesh Pratap and his team were highly praised by media and fans for the sucess in 2020 that will see Suva back to the OFC Champions League after securing the national league title.

Roy Krishna enters in ‘All-time’ top goalscorers list of Indian Super League

The decorated Fijian star Roy Krishna has one more achivement to talk about in his already prolific football career – the striker is only in this second season in India, but he’s already the 9th player who most scored goals (19) in the Indian Super League.

Krishna, that guided his side ATK Mohun Bagan, last year to the Indian Super League title scoring 15 goals in the season, already added more four to his tally in 2020/21 season in only four games played so far.

The Fijian scored one goal in each match he played this season so far and he will be looking to continue this sensational form as him and his ATK-MB take on Hyderabad this Friday in their fifth match of the season.

Port Vila: Seveners United get its first point after comeback against Mauwia

The top-football league of Port Vila – PVFA Vodafone Premier League – continued this week as the newcomers in the league Seveners United faced Mauwia at Port Vila Municipal Stadium in the first match of round that is going to be completed on Saturday.

After suffering two goals – scored by Albert Yannick and Jack Baten, Seveners were able to bounce back in the second part of the game to equalise the match and got their first point in the table, thanks to goals of Junior Vava and Spencer Noah. At the moment, with the draw, Seveners left the bottom of the ranking, but still more four matches are to be played this weekend.

Seveners and Mauwia draw at PV Stadium – *PVFA Media*

You can check the current table of the top-tier football leage of Port Vila, its recent results and top scorers so far in the season by visiting the competition’s session in our site.