Fiji international Esala Masi continues to shine for his Altonia Magic club in Victoria.
The latest OFC survey has found that Masi is among the top finishers for the month of June.
Masi and his Solomon Islands strike partner Henry Fa’arodo have maintained the charge of the Altona Magic in Victoria’s Foxtel Cup in June – each contributing significantly to a tough month in Australia’s south.
Fa’arodo and Masi have completed 90 minutes in each of the Magic’s most recent matches, with Fa’arodo netting Altona’s second goal in a 2-0 triumph over the Fawkner Blues on June 7.
The Magic now sit in third place in Victoria’s top flight competition, with Fa’arodo and Masi sitting on four goals a piece with some eight regular season rounds to play.
Also in the Foxtel Cup, much-celebrated Papua New Guinean Reginald Davani made three appearances for ninth-placed Coburg United throughout June and completed 90 minutes in one fixture – away to the Oakleigh Cannons on June 6.
Davani was substituted in each of Coburg’s subsequent games – wins against the Australian Institute of Sport (4-3) and reigning champions the Preston Lions (2-0).
For Samoan goalkeeper Pasi Schwalger and his Fawkner Blues , who suffered the aforementioned 2-0 defeat at the hands of Fa’arodo and Masi’s Magic in early June, the situation is not so positive, but perhaps improving.
The Blues are second last of the Foxtel Cup’s 14 clubs leading into the business end of the season but have won three of their past five matches, each of which has featured Schwalger in goal for the duration.
Schwalger has kept one clean sheet in such time – at the Blues’ CB Smith Reserve home against the Whittlesea Zebras on June 22 in a match won 1-0 by Fawkner.
Another Solomon Islander Benjamin Totori, has suffered a setback at new club the Portland Timbers in the United States’ second tier United Soccer League First Division (USL-1).
The exciting 22-year-old attacking lynchpin sprained his right medial collateral ligament within 18 minutes of his second appearance for the Timbers – away to the Montreal Impact in late May.
Totori has subsequently been sidelined for the entire month of June, where the Timbers have consolidated their position near the summit of the USL-1, though they have played several more games than many of their title challengers.
Totori is expected to be available for selection for the Timbers’ upcoming exhibition matches against Mexican Primera Divison sides Monarcas Morelia and UANL Tigers.
In Queensland, Papua New Guinea pair Kema Jack and David Muta have continued to feature for Sunshine Coast FC, which leads the top-tier Queensland State League competition after 12 rounds.
Jack and Muta’s last goals for the high-flying Sunshine Coast were against the Whitsunday Miners in early June in a match won 5-0 by the table toppers.
Vanuatuan pair Richard Iwai and Fennedy Mausavakalo also found the back of the net of late in the sunshine state – for Brisbane Premier League side Mitchelton FC.
Iwai and Mausavakalo netted Mitchelton’s goals in a 2-1 win over the Taringa Rovers on 29 June – Mitchelton’s first win of the current season that still leaves them seven adrift of second last place in the 12-team competition.
