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Soka Post, Port Moresby (2026)

13/01/2026

Joint Statement: Resignation of Vanuatu United FC General Manager Christian Happel and Head Coach Lars Hopp

Port Vila, 12 January 2026*— Vanuatu United Football Club (VUFC) and the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) announce the resignations of General Manager Christian Happel and Head Coach Lars Hopp, effective later this month. Happel’s last day is 23 January 2026, while Hopp will remain until 26 January 2026 to support the team’s preparations.

In their joint statement, Happel and Hopp expressed gratitude:

“This announcement may come as a surprise, and it was certainly not an easy decision. We are deeply thankful for the trust placed in us by VFF and Vanuatu United FC...we look back with immense pride and gratitude.”

They noted that differing views on the club's strategic direction influenced their decision:

“There are simply different opinions on how the future of the club should be managed...As we no longer feel fully aligned, we concluded that stepping aside is the right move...We part ways with full respect, no hard feelings, and no grudges.”

They added:

“We leave on good terms, thankful to all who supported us...While we understand this news may cause disappointment, our decision was made carefully and with conviction. Vanuatu will always have a special place in our hearts. Tankyu tumas.”

Statement from the VUFC Board and VFF:

“We are saddened to see Christian and Lars step down just as VUFC is ready to kick off its first professional match this week. Both have made invaluable contributions to football in Vanuatu...While we regret their departure, we respect and honour their decision and wish them continued success.”

12/01/2026

Ready for PNG Hekari FC

12/01/2026

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has today taken over the management of the Central Coast Mariners on an interim basis while a sales process is completed.

The operator of the Central Coast Mariners notified the APL of the forfeiture of the club participation agreement (CPA), and with this, the APL has taken the proactive action to terminate the CPA.

The APL has made this decision to ensure stability and continuity for the Club, its players, staff, partners and fans, whilst in the middle of the 2025-26 season.

06/01/2026

CHRISTIAN GRAY KEY SIGNING TO COMPLETE SOUTH ISLAND UNITED SQUAD

South Island United has signed experienced defender Christian Gray to complete their squad for the inaugural OFC Pro League.

The 29-year-old is moving to Christchurch after a fairytale season with an all-conquering Auckland City team and making headlines around the globe after his goal secured a famous 1-1 draw against Argentine giants Boca Juniors at the FIFA Club World Cup.

“Things have been a bit crazy the past season, especially after that goal against Boca,” Gray who lost track of the number of interviews he has done with international media after the now legendary header in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I can’t even remember how many-interview requests I got from Argentina and my social media just exploded,” says Gray, who topped off a remarkable year with another prominent, extra-time goal in the National League Grand Final last month to force a penalty shoot-out and sign off with another trophy.

The centre back seems to have found his goal-scoring touch in 2025 with six goals across all competitions, after only scoring five goals in previous eight seasons and 120 matches for Waitakere United, Eastern Suburbs and Auckland City.

Gray does not really fancy himself as a remodelled striker and admits there is a lot of good fortune involved scoring those memorable goals.

“So many things have to happen before you score those goals, like David Yoo winning that corner against Boca, and then the ball landing just where I was making my run. I guess it’s a question of right place, right time,” says the modest hero who grew up in Gisborne and moved to Wellington in Year 10 with his parents, former All Whites captain Rodger Gray and former Silver Ferns captain Sandra Edge.

South Island United Chief Executive Ryan Edwards says that attracting Gray was a major coup for the club and a vital piece of putting together a competitive squad.

“Christian will be the oldest player in a relatively young squad and will bring an incredible amount of experience and leadership in the group after playing so many years around the Pacific and the rest of the world,” Edwards said.

“We know he is a class defender and he does seem to chip in with a few goals as well.”

Gray is looking forward to explore his new home town of Christchurch after playing all his senior football in Auckland.
Gray is particularly excited about no longer having to juggle football and study after he somehow managed to complete a teaching degree, while competing at the OFC Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the National League.

“That was pretty demanding with all those games and the travel, so I was pretty shattered at the end of last year,” says Gray who will be part of the playing group who will be living on site at the club’s United Sport Centre.

“I can’t wait to just have to focus on football for the coming months, not having to spend hours in traffic to get to training.”
Gray says the presence of former Auckland City team-mates David Yoo, Haris Zeb and Jackson Manuel will help him settle in, and is looking forward to get to know the rest of the squad.

“It’s a brand-new club, a brand-new team in a brand-new competition, so I am pretty excited being part of this new competition, which I expect to be a big step up from the OFC Champions League.”

06/01/2026

Former PNG Head coach Warren Moon is Mariners head coach.

After two months as interim coach, A League's Central Coast Mariners have appointed Warren Moon on a permanent basis! 🌴✍️

Moon will remain in charge until the end of the 2025-26 season.- A League.

🗣️: 'Warren has proven himself to be a fantastic fit for our organisation”

08/12/2025

WAWENS FC ENDS EIGHT YEARS GRANDFINAL DROUGHT, EYES FIRST TITLE

An eight years grandfinal drought has come to an end for FC Morobe Wawen’s following their 5-4 victory after penalty shootout against the PNG’s Premier soccer league 2025 minor premiers, the Lae City FC yesterday in Lae.

Wawens handed Lae City FC their first defeat of the season, and it happened in the semi-finals to break the eight years grandfinal drought since entering the then National Soccer League, now National Premier League competition in 2017.

The youthful Lae City FC scored the match opener and held Wawens off for the rest of the first half. However, experience paved for Wawens as they equalize in the second stanza and brought the match into the extra time.

The drive to end the eight years drought saw Wawens held their position and ushered the season minor premiers into shootout before handing them the marching orders. An upset of the season that will go down PNG Football history for the years to come.

It is not over for Wawens, they now have season 2024 runner-up in Gulf Komara FC standing in their way to decide who gets to lift the trophy. Both clubs are yet to win the domestic competition trophy ever since joining the competition.

Komara has only one grandfinal experience laced around their cleats after going down to the PNG giants Hekari United last season.

The club took their revenge yesterday in Port Moresby with a 3-0 victory. The new look Hekari just did not show up to win under skipper Peter Junior Dabinyaba’s leadership. Even the coach Erikson Komeng left his coaching box and joined the substitutes on the bench for the rest of the second half.

The logo on their chest itself could be too heavy to carry for the youth league grandaunts who took up the challenge to carry the club forward after chunk of the experience players were given the OFC professional league call up to represent PNG Hekari United FC.

Wawan’s veteran skipper Dallas Namuesh who have led the team from Lae Football Association through to PSL to Oceania Football Confederation League (O-League) now OFC men’s championship will be there to lead his side to the quest to secure the clubs first domestic trophy. The club is coached by one of the experienced coaches in PNG, Bob Morris.

For the first time in the recent PNG’s football history the grandfinal match will not feature either Lae City FC or Hekari United FC. The grandfinal match will be played in Port Moresby this weekend.

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08/12/2025

The Oceania team South Melbourne FC is the champions of the Australian Championship!

📸 - Football Australia

02/12/2025

Fiji Football Association’s Competitions Manager, Shaniya Shankar, is in Australia representing Fiji as part of the PacificAusSports Football Australia Shadowing Program.

Shankar was part of the operational team for last night’s Matildas match against New Zealand in Adelaide, gaining valuable hands-on experience in international match day operations.

Her involvement in the program provides an important professional development opportunity that will strengthen the Fiji FA’s competition management and advance football administration in Fiji.

Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel commended Shankar’s participation, stating:

“Shaniya’s involvement in this program is a proud moment for Fiji Football. The knowledge and experience she is gaining at this level will greatly benefit our competitions department and the overall development of the sport in Fiji.

We extend our appreciation to PacificAus Sports and Football Australia for creating these opportunities for our administrators.”

The Australian Government, through PacificAus Sports, continues to support pathways that empower Pacific sports professionals to build their skills and enhance the capacity of national sporting organisations across the region.- FFA

02/12/2025

Rene Wasi - ‼ 100 APPEARANCES ‼

Rene Wasi achieved a significant milestone in Saturday’s National Women’s League Grand Final at Keith Hay Park, making her 100th appearance for Auckland United.

She marked the occasion with another high-quality performance, showcasing her trademark pace, strength, and attacking intent — contributing to the team’s overall control of the match and their title-winning display.

Across her 100 matches, Rene has been part of an exceptional nine major trophies, including:

🏆 2× Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership
🏆 3× National Women’s League
🏆 2× Kate Sheppard Cup
🏆 2× OFC Women’s Champions League

Her 100 appearances span five major competitions, with an outstanding goal-scoring return:

• OFC Women’s Champions League: 7 matches, 3 goals
• National Women’s League: 27 matches, 18 goals
• Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership: 53 matches, 23 goals
• Kate Sheppard Cup: 12 matches, 9 goals
• FIFA Women’s Champions Cup: 1 match

Total: 100 matches, 53 goals.

A dynamic, clinical, and highly influential attacking presence, Rene stands as Auckland United’s most prolific all-time goalscorer and a key figure in the club’s continued success.

Congratulations, Rene — a remarkable achievement- Auckland United.

01/12/2025

Swiss governance expert: "Infantino copies the autocrats he cosies up to" 📢

Swiss governance expert and professor of criminal law and criminology Mark Pieth has closely followed FIFA’s management over the past 15 years.

🗨️ In an interview with Play the Game, he raises serious concerns about the erosion of internal democracy and the fact that none of FIFA’s members debated the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia ⚠️

His key observations include:

⚠️FIFA’s internal democracy has deteriorated under Gianni Infantino, who, according to Pieth, shows “no need for democracy in FIFA”.

⚠️FIFA increasingly aligns with powerful states engaged in sportswashing, with decision-making concentrated around political networking.

⚠️Compliance structures may look strong on paper but are not implemented in practice – creating what Pieth calls a “paper tiger”.

⚠️Member associations failed to challenge the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, even though they could have taken the case to the Swiss civil courts.

⚠️FIFA did not acknowledge the formal complaint submitted by Pieth and colleagues regarding FIFA’s failure to implement its own human rights policy in choosing Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup.

Pieth warns that the issue is no longer just about human rights compliance, but about the state of democracy in global football governance!- Play the Game

28/11/2025

South Island United unveils logo to represent unity, geography and ambition

South Island United has unveiled its new logo for the OFC Pro League that captures the natural beauty of the region and the unified support for the first professional football team in the Mainland of New Zealand.

South Island United Chief Executive Ryan Edwards says the new club has taken its time to create a symbol that would truly represent the football community and its position in the world.

“We worked with a top international creative agency to guide us through the process and have been liaising closely with coaches, players and other stakeholders inside and outside the club to make sure we got this right,” says Edwards, who adds that the club opted for a more traditional round logo, instead of a monogram.

“It is our goal to create a unified voice for the South Island football community and we think the round shape represents that we are stronger together.”

Edwards says South Island United wants to be more than a club and needed a logo that embodies the pride, resilience and spirit of the South, from the coast to its peaks.

“We believe the Southern Alps represents the spine of the South Island that holds us all together and gives strength, determination and a sense of belonging for every South Islander.

“Our backyard is one of the most stunning and recognisable settings on the planet, so it was an easy choice to wear that on our chest.”

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