Latest news with #Solomons
Scoop
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Write History With First OFC Women's Nations Cup Crown
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation The Solomon Islands have defeated Papua New Guinea 3-2 after extra-time at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, winning the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 title, and their very-first continental crown. Thrice the Solomon Islands took the lead, but twice ten-man Papua New Guinea reeled them back in to force the game to extra-time, where substitute Jemina David scored the winner to secure a piece of history. In doing so, the Solomon Islands become the fifth different nation to win the OFC Women's Nations Cup, etching themselves into the record books for eternity. Playing in their first-ever OFC Women's Nations Cup final, the Solomon Islands weren't overawed by the occasion and got off to a hot start under the lights in Suva. Lorina Solosaia had scored the goal when the Solomon Islands held Papua New Guinea to a draw during the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament last year and was the first to have a say in the final. In the 18th minute she latched onto a loose ball through the middle of the pitch, before advancing into the box and rolling a shot into the bottom left corner of the net on her right foot, handing her nation a shock lead. It was almost two goals four minutes later, when Almah Gogoni was played in-behind the Papua New Guinea defence but Lavina Hola came to the rescue with a top save to divert the ball away from the bottom left corner of the net again. Papua New Guinea had played in two finals before, but were clearly rocked after conceding, and struggled to settle into the game. With ten minutes left in the first half, Keren Kalapai came close to springing them into life, smashing the crossbar with a long-range effort on her left foot. The goal came soon after in the 42nd minute, when goal-keeper Zainab Donga spilled a delivery into the box, and Papua New Guinea captain Ramona Padio was on hand to tap the ball into the net from point-blank range to level the game. Still celebrating the goal, it all came crashing down for Papua New Guinea almost straight from the restart though. Defender Merolyne Sali was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Madeline Arukau on the edge of her own box, from which the Solomons attacker stepped up to convert the direct free kick into the top of the net on her right foot. Papua New Guinea were behind on the scoreboard again, except this time they had a whole second half ahead of them with just ten players on the pitch. Despite the odds, the defending champions still harboured belief and pushed forward in numbers in search of a response. Captain Padio stood up again when needed most to level the final back up, scoring her second goal of the game in the 65th minute with a direct free kick that beat Donga into the top of the net, helped by the crossbar. Locked at two goals apiece, and with the game wide open, extra-time was quick to dawn in Suva – the first time it had ever been required in an OFC Women's Nations Cup final. Finally, Papua New Guinea began to fatigue as the realities of playing with just ten came to fruition though, allowing substitute Jemina David to pounce for the Solomon Islands four minutes into the start of the extra half hour. Played in behind by Ileen Pegi, slotted the ball past Hola to give the Solomons the lead for the third time, and for most importantly, the final time. There was no response from Papua New Guinea on this occasion as weary legs began to get the better of them, and any efforts to get Marie Kaipu involved up top were largely restricted. Instead, the Solomon Islands slowed the game down and managed the remainder of extra-time to seal an historic win, and the nation's greatest ever footballing achievement in the women's game.
Scoop
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Topple Tonga To Advance To Women's Nations Cup Semi-Finals
Solomon Islands came into their final Group B game against Tonga knowing they needed to win in order to secure likely passage to the semi-finals and put Vanuatu under pressure to get a result against hosts and group leaders Fiji in the second game of the evening. They settled quickly into the game, opening the scoring in the eighth minute through Madeleine Arukau. Lorina Solosaia unselfishly laid it off to an unmarked Arukau in the penalty area, and the Solomon Islands number eight made no mistake slotting it home. Pegi doubled her side's lead in the 29th minute, capping off a well-constructed move from the Solomons. A gorgeous short pass from Arukau to Solosaia took out two Tongan defenders, and Solosaia then laid off to her captain to score her second of the tournament and her country's second of the game. The Solosaia-Arukau-Pegi combination produced the Solomons' third goal just before half time. This time it was Solosaia releasing Arukau to create the opportunity for her captain, Pegi, who had the time to pick her spot and put the Solomons out of sight. Despite being down, Tonga came out in the second half determined to show they weren't done yet, earning an early corner and soon after a free kick in a dangerous position. However, they were unable to capitalise on either opportunity. Tonga held out until the 77th minute, but the Solomon Islands' attacking quality eventually broke through again, with the fourth goal sealing their dominance. Almah Gogoni started the move, driving a quick counterattack down the right wing before slipping the ball to Arukau. Arukau danced around her markers to shoot, only for her shot to take a deflection, and second half substitute Jemina David was on hand to finish. Arukau got her name on the scoresheet again eight mnutes later , latching onto a long ball over the top of the Tongan defence, taking a touch and coolly slotting past goalkeeper Keira Wolfgramm to seal a dominant victory for the Solomons. HT: 3-0 Solomon Islands: 5 (Madeleine ARUKAU 8', 85'; Ileen PEGI 29', 41'; Jemina DAVID 77') Tonga: 0
The South African
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs star set to survive the big chop!
Kaizer Chiefs will be looking to reshuffle their squad ahead of the 2025/26 season with a crucial window approaching. Despite winning the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs finished outside the top eight for a second consecutive campaign. Chiefs have been linked to a whole multitude of players who could help the club rediscover their glory days. the likes of Fiston Mayele, Etiosa Ighodaro, Robert Polievka mentioned as strikers. In the wingers department Oswin Appollis, Elias Mokwana, Mihlali Mayambela and Keletso Makgalwa have been touted. There have been talks of Amakhosi adding playmakers to their squad such as Feisal Salum, Rowan Human and Sipho Mbule. So far, it is the defensive players that Chiefs are heavily linked with and thought to have signed. The likes of Thabiso Monyane , Paseka Mako , Aphiwe Baliti and Ime Okon. Some of those defensive signings are expected to influence some of the projected outgoings set to be announced. The arrival of the three full backs in Monyane, Mako and Baliti will come as a welcome boost. Chiefs struggled both on the right and left side of tcheir defence especially after Reeve Frosler's injury. The now released Njabulo Blom filled in at right-back initially before he also suffered from bad form. In the end, that gave an unlikely opportunity to Dillan Solomons to revive his Amakhosi career. Now according to FARPost, his end of season run-in may have saved his stay at the club. 'While Solomons showed several shortcomings in his game, Nabi lacked an alternative in that position. Njabulo Blom reportedly refused to play right-back, insisting he preferred holding midfield. Monyane arrives and is expected to compete with Frosler for a starting role. The Steenberg-born talent, Solomons, signed a four-year contract upon joining Chiefs in 2022 and has one year remaining. The Soweto giants are likely to retain him as a squad player, making him their third option at right-back.' Wrote the publication. Chiefs fans are you happy with Solomons staying or is his time supposed to be up at the club? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab. Or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
To address food shortage, activists call on govt to compel farm owners to share unused land with workers
CAPE TOWN - Community activists at the Food Indaba in Cape Town have called on government to compel farm owners to share unused land with workers to address food shortages in the Union Against Hunger held a mini indaba for World Hunger Day on Wednesday to support communities in asserting their right to union said that despite constitutional rights to food and nutrition, 15 million people go hungry in South on Farms activist, Colette Solomons, called for the redistribution of productive farmland, specifically to women seasonal farmers and poor communities. READ: 'We are slaves on the farms': Women farmworkers want a seat on the table "It really boggles the mind that there is such a lot of land unused, but at the same time, the workers on those farms would love to have access to land so that they can grow their own vegetables."Solomons added that there was little transformation in the commercial agriculture sector, especially in the Western Cape."If you go to Stellenbosch today, if you go to Paarl today, the land is still in the hands of white male farmers." She said the people who continued to work the land were still poor black workers.
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Misfiring Chiefs fail to reach the MTN8 again
A point is not enough for Nabi's Chiefs to finish in the top eight. Thato Letshedi of Polokwane City is challenged by Tashreeq Morris of Kaizer Chiefs during their goalless draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix Kaizer Chiefs will not play in the MTN8 for the second season in a row after a goalless draw with Polokwane City at FNB Stadium in their final Betway Premiership match of the season. While Amakhosi have lifted the Nedbank Cup, their first trophy in a decade, this has been a miserable end to their Premiership campaign. Chiefs' Premiership misery is complete Chiefs failed to win any of their last nine league matches. It remains to be seen if winning the cup is enough to keep head coach Nasreddine Nabi in his job. As Chiefs failed to find a way past a side that had not kept a clean sheet in its last nine matches, sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr and football manager Bobby Motaung did not exactly look best pleased in the director's box. Nabi handed Tashreeq Morris a first start for Chiefs in over a month, but it didn't last long. Morris struggled against Polokwane City's defence and the Chiefs coach hauled him off before half time. Chiefs were getting more joy down City's flanks, particularly on the right wing. In the 20th minute, Dillon Solomons broke forward and thundered a shot back off the post. Morris failed to get enough power on his header from the rebound, and City's Kenyan 'keeper Brian Bwire easily gathered. Chiefs also came close to grabbing the lead on the half hour mark. Mduduzi Shabalala's cross, was touched by Bwire straight to Inacio Miguel. But the Angolan defender, sporting his new blonde haircut, could direct the ball into an empty net. City's glorious chance City were not creating much, but they did waste a glorious chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute. Mokibelo Ramabu danced past Bradley Cross and slid a ball across the face of goal. But Bonginkosi Dlamini, arriving at the far post, somehow managed to shoot wide. In the 40th minute, Solomons did well to win a free kick and Cross' delivery found Edmilson Dove. The Mozambican's header hit the top of the crossbar and went out of play. Nabi brought on Mfundo Vilakazi for the second half, the Chiefs youngster fresh from winning the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations with Amajita. It was a scrappy start to the second stanza. Glody Lilepo was booked for raising an elbow and then Thato Letshedi was also shown yellow for a cynical challenge on Ashley Du Preez. Letshedi was actually fortunate, because he should really have also been booked for a first half foul on Solomons. Chiefs hit the woodwork again Chiefs came close again on the hour mark as Solomons found space on the right and his cross clipped the bar, before Lilepo's shot was saved by Bwira. In the 64th minute, Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart stopped to head in from a corner, but his effort was cleared off the line by Langelihle Ndlovu. Three minutes later, Lilepo did brilliantly to find Du Preez in the box, but the Chiefs striker volleyed his chance just over the bar. City almost won it in stoppage time as Ramabu's long range shot deflected off Miguel and Brandon Peterson sprung to his left to produce a fine save. Chiefs were then left screaming for a penalty as Vilakazi went down in the box, but referee Moreki Lekwape waved their appeals away.
