WeeNix
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I thought it would be nice to have a thread to talk about Islanders who are playing overseas, not including Australia, NZ or other Island countries. I guess I'm not the only one here interested in the development of the other Oceanian sides, especially as this would mean better opposition in OFC tournaments that could only be good for NZ.

I've made a list myself, feel free to add any info

Georges Gope-Fenepej (New Caledonia): He signed for Amiens when they were in Championnat National (French 3rd tier) but after only two seasons they've been promoted to Ligue 1 for the first time in their history. Gope-Fenepej played 13 times (only 3 starts) last season in Ligue 2. Maybe a new chance for him to play again in Ligue 1? IMO he will be loaned to a Ligue 2 club rather sooner than later

César Zeoula (New Caledonia): He was a regular starter for Stade Lavallois in Ligue 2 but it seems like he lost his place in the first team around mid season and in 2017 was loaned to Créteil-Lusitanos. Laval were relegated after finishing bottom last season. Was on the bench on their debut game against Concarneau

Wesley Lautoa (New Caledonia): Lorient were relegated from Ligue 1 so he was transfered to Dijon. Got injured in their last game. Does anyone know if he ever represented NC internationaly? He apparently made 15 appearances for Les Cagous but I can't find anything that proves it. I think he's a similar case to Marama Vahirua, would only play for NC if they make it to the Confeds or the World Cup

Mickael Partodikromo (New Caledonia): Playing for Rushall Olympic in the Northern Premier League. Seems weird that a francophone would travel all the way to England just to play in such a low division when he could be playing in NZFC or an Australian regional league

Jorys Mène (New Caledonia): Plays in Borain Francos, a Belgian 5th tier team

Nigel Dabinyaba (Papua New Guinea): He's the top goal scorer (4 goals in 16 matches) for Malaysain side Penang who currently sit on the bottom of the table with only 3 matches won in 18 played. They are 3 points away from avoiding relegation but there are only 4 matches left

David Browne (Papua New Guinea): This lad has a really detailed article in Wikipedia. Last season he made 20 appearances for U21 Groningen in Dutch 3rd tier

Alwin Komolong (Papua New Guinea): He just made his debut with Stuttgarter Kickers in German Regionalliga Südwest

Felix Komolong (Papua New Guinea): Playing college football for Northern Kentucky Norse in the USA

Brad McDonald (Papua New Guinea): After getting released from Central Coast Mariners, he joined Davao Aguilas in the Philippines. They are seventh in Philippines top division with 5 points from 5 draws and 7 loses. They are yet to win a match this season

Scott Wara (Fiji): Playing for Stoke City U18s. He's elegible for England but was called in the latest Fijian squad. Only 17 so plenty of potential

Leroy Jennings (Fiji): He's with Wrexham reserves (senior side plays in the National League, England's 5th tier). Was born in Sydney but played for Fiji U20. According to Oceania FC he declined a call to play for Fiji's senior side

Bong Kalo (Vanuatu): He's the one who scored against Mexico and twice against Germany in the U20 World Cup. Is on trial with Spanish side Deportivo Leganés

Special mention to Fijians Ilimotama Jese, William Valentine, Tevita Waranaivalu, Misaele Draunibaka and Kishan Sami who are all on trial with Vancouver Whitecaps. Also American Samoa had 8 players in their 2015 squad who were based in the USA, but probably they are all Americans who have relatives in Samoa so were invited to play rather than proper Samoans who made it to the USA to play football

and 1 other
Marquee
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Great thread - don't have a lot to add to it unfortunately but will definitely be following this closely.

Marquee
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www.oceaniafc.com

Trialist
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Joris Kenon (New Caledonia) playing for Stade Laval B in france.

https://www.transfermarkt.nl/joris-kenon/profil/sp...

And as far as I can remember Jean Gilles Hnamuko (New Caledonia) Goalkeeper was somewhere playing in Portugal, unfortunately no link.

Trialist
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Trialist
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Teraï Bremond (Tahiti) is playing in the U17 squad at Toulouse (France) 

http://www.tfc.info/terai-bremond

WeeNix
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about 9 years

So, with the end of the year so near I thought it was time to update what these Oceanian guys have been doing.

Georges Gope-Fenepej (New Caledonia): Has only played twice in the Coupe de la Ligue where he was awarded with an assist in the match against Tours FC. Was on the bench once in Ligue 1 against Bourdeaux. Again, he doesn't seem to be not even near to the level required to play in French top tier.

César Zeoula (New Caledonia): He's again a regular starter for Stade Lavallois who are 9th in Championnat National.

Wesley Lautoa (New Caledonia): Hasn't featured at all with Dijon since he got injured.

Mickael Partodikromo (New Caledonia):Has moved from Rushall Olympic to Sutton Town. Same league (Northern Premier League, English 7th tier).

Nigel Dabinyaba (Papua New Guinea): Penang got relegated from Malaysian top tier after winning only 3 matches out of 22 played. Dabinyaba scored 4 goals in 20 games throughout all season, making him Penang's top scorer.

David Browne (Papua New Guinea): Regular starter for Groningen U21.

Alwin Komolong (Papua New Guinea): Was a regular starter until recent matches when he started to got benched. Stuttgarter Kicker are 14th in Regionalliga Südwest, only 4 points away from relegation zone.

Felix Komolong (Papua New Guinea):Has played 8 matches and scored 4 goals for Northern Kentucky Norse in the 2017 NCAA season. Impresive goal scoring record for a defender.

Brad McDonald (Papua New Guinea): Davao Aguilas finished 7th out of 8 teams with 22 points in 28 matches. I wasn't able to find how much he has played.

Bong Kalo (Vanuatu): He's now with Ascona, a Swiss 4th tier club.

Ronaldo Wilkins (Vanuatu): Couldn't find anything as to whether his trial with Sao Paulo was a success or not. Probably he's back in Vanuatu but hopefully he will return for another one.

The rest are still in their clubs (Mène, Wara, Jennings, Kenon)

Starting XI
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Georges Gope-Fenepej has been featuring more for Amiens since your last post above in mid December and has appeared twice for the Amiens first team in Ligue 1 now this season, three times in the League Cup and once in the French Cup (four appearances including one whole game since December 16):

https://us.soccerway.com/players/georges-gope-fene...

In an exciting development for him, Gope-Fenepej came off the bench on 76 mins at home to PSG in the League Cup on January 10.

PSG started mostly their best line-up with Neymar, Mbappe, Di Maria, Verratti, Thiago Silva etc. playing the full 90, Draxler playing 68 and Dani Alves coming off the bench.

What a game for him to play in !

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/01/10/france...

He also played the full 90 minutes in the French Cup away to Sochaux on January 9:

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/01/07/france...

Came on as an 84 minute sub at home to Nantes on December 20 in Ligue 1.

Came on as a 68 minute sub away to Troyes in Ligue 1 on December 16. 

Was on the bench for the first team Jan 13 away to Nice.

Amiens SC now lie 13th on the table.

RR
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Anyone know what has happened with David Browne? Transfermarkt has him as unattached https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/david-browne/profil/spieler/215987

Starting XI
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Papua New Guinea and former Waitakere City man Alwin Komolong has signed a pro deal with Fortuna Koln in the 3rd tier of Germany - very good level, similar to higher end League Two I'd say. Impressed last season with Stuttgarter Kickers in the fourth tier so awesome to see him take the jump to a professional career

Apart from Komolong, Krishna and Lautoa, any other non-NZ Oceanians on pro contracts? Maybe Scott Wara?

Marquee
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Surely some of the French Polynesia guys?

Trialist
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Ruben Kutran (New Caledonia) https://www.transfermarkt.nl/ruben-kutran/profil/s...

Paul Gope-Fenepej (New Caledonia) https://www.transfermarkt.com/paul-gope-fenepej/na...

Eddy Kaspard (French Polynesia) https://www.transfermarkt.com/eddy-kaspard/profil/...

Samuel Liparo (French Polynesia) https://www.transfermarkt.nl/samuel-liparo/profil/...

Kavai'ei Morgant (French Polynesia) https://www.transfermarkt.com/kavaiei-morgant/nati...

Keali'i Wong (French Polynesia) https://www.transfermarkt.com/kealii-wong/national...

Besides that Teraï Bremond signed a pro-contract with Toulouse FC a few days ago, was first in their youth system.

Marquee
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Awesome update, thanks!

Trialist
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So I just stumbled on this article it's in dutch but it says Hans Kraay Jr had been offered the job for the national team of Solomon Islands. He rejected it because he doesn't like to travel that far.

Cool thing is the national team is coming to the Netherlands the whole month of June for a training camp, so maybe I can see them up close.

Hans Kraaij Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Kraay_Jr.

Article https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/hans-kraay-jr...

Translated: 

Hans Kraay jr. Was asked to become national coach of the Solomon Islands. That confirmed the 59-year-old trainer and TV personality this morning in the Fox Sports program De tafel van Kees. Kraay said no to the job.

,,I was called by the Solomon Islands'', said Kraay, who is a regular table guest every Sunday in the football talk show. "They play the Pacific Games from 7 to 20 July this year. They are in training camp all month of June here in the Netherlands, and they have asked me to become national coach.''
,,My wife liked it, I do not know why, but I stay here '', Kraay explained. "It's too far flying for me. And I hate flying."
RR
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Found out yesterday that Sotirio's parents are both from New Caledonia, I wonder if he will consider switching to play for them at some point?

Starting XI
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RR wrote:

Found out yesterday that Sotirio's parents are both from New Caledonia, I wonder if he will consider switching to play for them at some point?

He always does on Football Manager, would be cool if he’s as easily convinced in real life

Trialist
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Trialist
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Marquee
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Episode 3 of Football in Oceania is out on Spotify (and possibly on other platforms). Guest speaker is former Fiji NY coXh Christopher Gamel

RR
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Marquee
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Lea'i will be a loss.

Legend
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RR wrote:

https://www.abc.net.some sense au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/sols-soccer-academy/12525322

Great to see these plans for a professional academy setup in the Solomons. That U17 team they had that gave our boys a 5-0 drubbing obviously had some talent. Lea'i seemingly the biggest.

Interesting that the Victory could offer a bit of a helping hand.

I know there is obviously no cash available now, Weenix Academy has been 'mothballed' for this year after all - but in the future would make some sense for Nix to somehow have some affiliation. NZ being part of the OFC, and the OFC's best A League player being ex Nix. 

Maybe a Solomons-NZ travel bubble will happen (SI having zero Covid cases after all), and someone like Paul Temple could fly up there for a few weeks to give his advice on how to setup a successful academy. 

Could be some sort of future role for Krishna once he's retired. Being involved with a professionally run academy (with an affiliation to Weenix) somewhere in the Islands (most likely Fiji), that talent spots young kids from all around the OFC. Not such a culture shock for a 13 year old kid from PNG moving to Suva, as cold windy Wellington.

Marquee
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David Browne with 90 minutes vs Roma in the Europa League yesterday. Very unlucky to have an absolute cracker of a goal (from 30+ meters out, goal starts at 1':32") disallowed for a marginal attacking foul. I honestly think VAR got it wrong there. He had a good game. Lots of running and he was quite good on the ball
Legend
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Trialist
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You guys are right. Georges Gope-Fenepej is a very nice guy who started from nothing and who has made a lot of progress... I read some discussions about this Ligue 2 he deserved to have his chance. But there, the level is too high for him to claim playing time...
Starting XI
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RR
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So what is the latest with Raphael Lea'i? Doesn't look like he has signed overseas yet, kinda wish the Roar would look at him cuz they have 2 visa slots to fill in January.
Legend
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RR
So what is the latest with Raphael Lea'i? Doesn't look like he has signed overseas yet, kinda wish the Roar would look at him cuz they have 2 visa slots to fill in January.

I thought he had signed for a club in Turkey?

WeeNix
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coochiee
RR
So what is the latest with Raphael Lea'i? Doesn't look like he has signed overseas yet, kinda wish the Roar would look at him cuz they have 2 visa slots to fill in January.

I thought he had signed for a club in Turkey?


Someone on the forum mentioned a little while back they had a Turkish friend who told them that Lea'i had apparently completed a transfer to Super Lig club Alanyaspor despite not having the chance to trial with them due to visa issues.

He's definitely not currently part of the 1st team so he could be playing for their U19 team and we just don't know about it at the moment.
Trialist
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No lads, Rapha didn't sign in Turkey. He is in Solomons now. He is not playing anywhere. I tried contact with his agent with no success, also with the player. I will continue following the situation and asap I will make an article with the answers or non-answers I get. I will try contacting as well current team of Lea'i, media man of Solomon Islands FA and current national team coach. 
Trialist
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Btw I am one of the creators of oceaniafootballcenter.org 

I know we have a lot to improve but we continue doing the best possible for a bunch of Brazilian guys addicted to Oceania Football. We have a chat group on WhatsApp messenger, we'd love some of you who could join us to discuss and give us your views and inputs. 

Cheers
Legend
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A Brazilian addicted to OFC football. Now that is the definition of a football tragic.
Legend
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Saltori
Nice work. But again a real shame each ALM club isn't allowed one OFC (non NZ) spot. He'd be better to spend 1-3 seasons in a ALM environment before venturing to Europe a bit older & wiser.

Raphael Lea’i on trial with European professional club
Raphael Lea’i is on his way to Europe. It has been reported that the 19-year-old Solomon Islands’ rising star will spend two months training with FK Velež Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina before going on trial with top flight club in Turkey, Antalyaspor. If successful, he will sign his first professional contract.

This is the second time Raphael has travelled to Europe to get a chance as a professional footballer. The first, in August last year, had a negative outcome as he was not allowed to enter Turkey due to a visa problem. Now, five months later, he returns to Europe to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer. 

WeeNix
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coochiee
Saltori
Nice work. But again a real shame each ALM club isn't allowed one OFC (non NZ) spot. He'd be better to spend 1-3 seasons in a ALM environment before venturing to Europe a bit older & wiser.

Raphael Lea’i on trial with European professional club
Raphael Lea’i is on his way to Europe. It has been reported that the 19-year-old Solomon Islands’ rising star will spend two months training with FK Velež Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina before going on trial with top flight club in Turkey, Antalyaspor. If successful, he will sign his first professional contract.

This is the second time Raphael has travelled to Europe to get a chance as a professional footballer. The first, in August last year, had a negative outcome as he was not allowed to enter Turkey due to a visa problem. Now, five months later, he returns to Europe to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer. 

 I'd only want a non-NZ OFC spot if it came alongside New Zealanders becoming non-visas for Australian A League clubs. We should be helping the OFC nations, but not at the expense of New Zealand players. It would be massive for the domestic game, ending the monopoly the Phoenix hold on NZ players. A passport should never be as important as how talented a footballer you are, like it is in NZ. 
RR
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If Aussie ever gets the National Second Division sorted, that could be a boom for NZ and OFC players. There will be a lot more clubs looking for visa players on a tight budget. 

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