National League / OCL

South Island United FC (OFC Pro League)

152 replies · 10,770 views
17 Nov 00:59


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20 Nov 06:18
New Signing To Be Announced Tommorow By South Island United. Seems to be Lewis Partridge from Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Journalist In NZ
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20 Nov 06:43
Makes some sense. He came into the WeeNix Academy from Christchurch United.
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20 Nov 21:49
Partridge confirmed.



Bit weird seeing them go the other way tbh. But there is only so many that the Phoenix can sign to either scholarship or full senior deals.

This is good proof that the extra pathways will keep players in the pro game in NZ rather than have them drop down into the National League, or out of the game altogether.


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21 Nov 08:00
YoungHeartHM
Partridge confirmed.



Bit weird seeing them go the other way tbh. But there is only so many that the Phoenix can sign to either scholarship or full senior deals.

This is good proof that the extra pathways will keep players in the pro game in NZ rather than have them drop down into the National League, or out of the game altogether.



Missed an opportunity to announce this closer to Christmas and his picture would be him up a pear tree
I have horrible opinions
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26 Nov 06:53 · edited 26 Nov 06:54 · History
Seems like South Island United are revealing their new crest on Friday. Will say it'll suck not having Stewart Island in the crest of a South Island branded team. So far, it's very reminiscent of Auckland Utd.
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26 Nov 07:51
What's the deal with them signing international players? What are the rules for this league?
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26 Nov 09:43
Elemenop
What's the deal with them signing international players? What are the rules for this league?

Clubs can have 3 imports from OFC nations and another 3  imports from non OFC nations
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26 Nov 18:17
which means that more than half the players on the pitch will more than likely not be local to the city/club they are playing for.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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26 Nov 18:35 · edited 26 Nov 18:41 · History
So?

What’s the problem?

Wouldn’t it be great that say a young 17 Samoan gun striker is unearthed from a village in Samoa and the Fijian team give him an opportunity.

And I doubt in any case that any club will be picking 3 OFC players and 3 imports with the exception of perhaps the Vanuatu team who may look to pick up 3 New Caledonian players.

I hope those players in particular can find gigs throughout the league.

Auckland will rise once more

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26 Nov 18:44
isnt the whole point of this league to grow local talent? Not line the pockets of journeymen quality imports?
Sure 3 of the non-local players are gonna be from OFC, and maybe they dont have a local team to go to. But, how many of the OFC based imports are going to be NZ players who would never get an Aleague? 
This league is gonna end up being a hack show of a league, it'll be worse than some of the Chatham Cup matches. 

Queenslander 3x a year.

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26 Nov 20:40 · edited 26 Nov 20:40 · History
AucklandPhoenix
So?

What’s the problem?

Wouldn’t it be great that say a young 17 Samoan gun striker is unearthed from a village in Samoa and the Fijian team give him an opportunity.

And I doubt in any case that any club will be picking 3 OFC players and 3 imports with the exception of perhaps the Vanuatu team who may look to pick up 3 New Caledonian players.

I hope those players in particular can find gigs throughout the league.

Vanuatu are the only ones who have officially filled their allocation of 3 x OFC imports and 3 x outside imports

Two New Zealanders and one Papua New Guinea international who came up through the Melbourne Victory setup (NPL). From outside the OFC they've signed an American and two Australians (one of which is Matt Acton).

PNG Hekari have signed three Brazilians for their outside quota, plus one from Vanuatu, and one from the Solomon Islands.

I think you'll be surprised who gets announced over the next few weeks, lots of Kiwi lads in the mix to be unveiled/announced as well. That and there is at least one other current Wellington Phoenix academy player who will be leaving the Nix.
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26 Nov 20:49
3 imports is not a high number for any professional league. I’m sure one of the objectives of the A league is to grow local talent, but I don’t see many complaining of having 5.

While they may be journeymen they are often the best players to teach young players how to be professionals.
theprof
isnt the whole point of this league to grow local talent? Not line the pockets of journeymen quality imports?
Sure 3 of the non-local players are gonna be from OFC, and maybe they dont have a local team to go to. But, how many of the OFC based imports are going to be NZ players who would never get an Aleague? 
This league is gonna end up being a hack show of a league, it'll be worse than some of the Chatham Cup matches. 

Auckland will rise once more

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26 Nov 21:20
With the hubs you are mostly getting each club playing 3 games in a week, and it’s gonna be warm even in Auckland though Jan-Feb esp

There will be plenty of squad rotation and opportunity for young players. 
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27 Nov 21:12
It’s ok.

 I know all the colours have been explained in the press and clearly an attempt to get away from the perception this is a Christchurch team by the absence of red.

Auckland will rise once more

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27 Nov 22:14
Reminds me of the Wanaka fc badge, but it looks clean. It definitely stands out from the Nix and afc so there's that at least
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27 Nov 22:26
I haven't seen this brought up in either this chat or the OFC pro league chat (or I just missed it) but SIU seems to be getting their home grounds at Eden Park. Surely that's just sentencing SIU to their death? I mean they're trying to broadly represent the South Island yet they won't even get to play in the place their name is based out of. How are people in the South Island supposed to identify with a club they can't even attend without traveling 1000km?
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27 Nov 22:32
farcical, but I assume it's down to Auckland proximity to the Island nations and ease of flights.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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27 Nov 22:58
Sure, I get wanting to minimize costs but you're literally sacrificing an entire club, one of only eight at that. It feels like no one at any level has faith in this lasting more than 4-5 years

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27 Nov 23:27 · edited 27 Nov 23:44 · History
You must have been snoozing the last 6 odd months. It's been mentioned from the very start that this comp was going to be played in 5 'hubs'. With NZ only getting the one hub, Auckland was the obvious choice.

Do some plane spotting research and you will see that the likes of Honiara, Port Vila etc ain't easy to fly into. Limited flights per week, and for NZ they all go out of Auckland (a Pacific gateway).

It's also not easy I understand to fly within the Island countries, ie getting from Papeete to Port Moresby not that straight forward (likely via Aussie).

The hub concept is all about keeping expenses as low as possible while this baby league tries to stand up and survive. 

Sure you lose some gate revenue, as no one is going to turn up to watch SIU verus Tahiti in Melbourne - but the big travel savings will easily compensate for that.

Sounds like SIU will be undertaking some sort of South Island travelling roadshow next month - presumably with a friendly game or two - in a bid to try connect with the SI football community.

Hopefully after this first season the League can move to a proper H&A round robin league. Need an Airline sponsor! Or at least that ChCh/Dunners gets a hub. But baby steps for now.

Edit - and as others have mentioned the best parallel sporting comp is probably the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), 202/20 cricket league. The 6 teams travel around the Caribbean together playing 10 league games each, at 6 different locations, as hubs. A bit like Oceania travel between different Caribbean Islands not so straight forward with their small populations, and spread out nature. But yeah all 6 teams do get to host a hub.
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28 Nov 00:02
I think the badge is fantastic. Reflecting the Mountain range that goes pretty much the full length of the Island, A football with the 4 New Zealand stars. Job well done. Whoever designed the AFC badge should have been shot in front of their supporters. A generic EA Sports Fifa badge, lazy work that I bet the club paid top dollar for.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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28 Nov 01:26
Noah4thenix
Reminds me of the Wanaka fc badge, but it looks clean. It definitely stands out from the Nix and afc so there's that at least

Like Manakau United
Decent though 

Founder

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28 Nov 01:29
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very similar, just missing the gold.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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28 Nov 09:54
Not sure how the timing would work but a pre or post season mini comp home and away between AFC the Nix and SI united would be cool.
Im sure the public would get in behind it. Especially in the SI
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28 Nov 10:37
AucklandPhoenix
3 imports is not a high number for any professional league. I’m sure one of the objectives of the A league is to grow local talent, but I don’t see many complaining of having 5.

While they may be journeymen they are often the best players to teach young players how to be professionals.
theprof
isnt the whole point of this league to grow local talent? Not line the pockets of journeymen quality imports?
Sure 3 of the non-local players are gonna be from OFC, and maybe they dont have a local team to go to. But, how many of the OFC based imports are going to be NZ players who would never get an Aleague? 
This league is gonna end up being a hack show of a league, it'll be worse than some of the Chatham Cup matches. 

And further for the fans- I remember how new and freaking cool it was that we had Brazilian- BRAZILIAN!- players joining the Phoenix. And Felipe and Daniel did football things we’d only seen in the World Cup- step overs, bicycles, leaving players sprawling with a turn, back heels…carnival city!
If that brings fans in that’s surely only good for local football…


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28 Nov 11:10
austin111
Not sure how the timing would work but a pre or post season mini comp home and away between AFC the Nix and SI united would be cool.
Im sure the public would get in behind it. Especially in the SI

I have no idea how timings and contracts would work, and presume it woukd have to be an A League/OFC League off season thing but if you tied in in with a fourth team either the national league or Chatam Cup winner. Made a decent round robin of it over the course of a month. Gets South Island FC some proper home games in leiu of the OFC hub season. Could be quite the attraction!
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28 Nov 11:39
Noah4thenix
Sure, I get wanting to minimize costs but you're literally sacrificing an entire club, one of only eight at that. It feels like no one at any level has faith in this lasting more than 4-5 years

 I'd be suprised if it reaches season 3 in its current model/format.
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28 Nov 12:48
Rock Hopper
austin111
Not sure how the timing would work but a pre or post season mini comp home and away between AFC the Nix and SI united would be cool.
Im sure the public would get in behind it. Especially in the SI

I have no idea how timings and contracts would work, and presume it woukd have to be an A League/OFC League off season thing but if you tied in in with a fourth team either the national league or Chatam Cup winner. Made a decent round robin of it over the course of a month. Gets South Island FC some proper home games in leiu of the OFC hub season. Could be quite the attraction!

Agree to a point but problem is the Nix and AFC already play 3 ALM derbies. Do they need to play each other in pre season as well?

But yes SIU playing the two NZ ALM clubs definitely so
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29 Nov 00:49
 Thoughts on badge: Personally I'd have gone green with probably white (but black or gold could also work) for a South Island club. Black & white are pretty safe colours for any NZ team, with gold being at least a little something different. Circle is always limiting, it's pretty hard to find any great badges that are circles (better than a monogram though imo). I'd say third best in OPL.

In other news, it looks like two signings set from Nelson tomorrow with one looking to be Suburb's Dauntae Mariner. 
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30 Nov 19:22
Grover from Christchurch United confirmed

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122111247285069318&set=a.122098779795069318
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01 Dec 02:08
Mariner named.

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02 Dec 02:57 · edited 02 Dec 07:52 · History
observerfromuh
Noah4thenix
Sure, I get wanting to minimize costs but you're literally sacrificing an entire club, one of only eight at that. It feels like no one at any level has faith in this lasting more than 4-5 years

 I'd be suprised if it reaches season 3 in its current model/format.

It’s a case of not looking a gift horse in the mouth! If the fundings there, get it going and then figure out how to keep it going once it’s started. 

Lot of potential through New Caledonia and Tahiti I would have thought, to try to bring some French investment in. Similarly why they were desperate to get to Hawaii I imagine! And why they are playing in Australia too. 

I imagine there’ll also be an attempt to shame parts of the football world into funding it and often something like sport is an easier sell for sponsors than something that might have more political ramifications, however well intended or useful, like building schools or wells which can step on government’s toes.


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