Vitiaz United F.C.

Vitiaz United FC, sometimes known as Digitec Vitiaz for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional association football club based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, apparently founded sometime in 2013.[1]

Vitiaz United
Full nameVitiaz United Football Club
Founded2013
ManagerRogena Strach
LeagueNational Soccer League

The club is currently competing in the 2019–20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League,[2] following a successful regional campaign which saw them win the Division One of the Port Moresby Soccer Association in late 2019.[3]

History

According to the club's Facebook page, the side was founded sometime in 2013.[1] However, competitive records of the club begin in 2017, when the club was in Division One of the Port Moresby Soccer Association – the second level of football in the country's capital. The side finished 6th in Division One that year,[4] before being demoted to Division Two for unknown reasons.[5] In 2018, however, they secured promotion back to Division One, finishing second behind Gurupweu.[5]

An excellent 2019 season saw the club win Division One and earn promotion to the PMSA Premier Division for the 2020 season.[3] The club won 14 games and lost just three en route to the title, conceding nine goals.

In November 2019, it was confirmed that the side were one of 12 clubs in contention for a spot in the upcoming 2019–20 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League.[6] On 11 December 2019, it was confirmed that the side would be one of two debutants in the new season.[2][7]

Current squad

Squad for the 2019–20 PNG National Soccer League

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
GK Andrew Baniau
GK Russell Chris
DF Joshua Talau
DF Peter Dabinyaba
MF Donovan Murray
MF Yagi Yasasa
MF Matthew David
FW Jonathan Allen
FW Eliud Fugre

Honours

Regional Competitions
  • Port Moresby Soccer Association Division One
    • Champions: 2019

References
  1. "Vitiaz United Football Club". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  2. "Sport: PNG announces scaled-down National Soccer League". RNZ. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  3. "Papua New Guinea 2019". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  4. "Papua New Guinea 2017". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  5. "Papua New Guinea 2018". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  6. "Eight spots up for grabs in PNG's Premier Competition". Oceania Football Confederation. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  7. "10-Team PNG NSL kicks off this weekend". Oceania Football Center. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
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