Twelve champion football clubs from across Penama Province will meet on Saratamata, Ambae, for the Penama Football Association (FA) Men’s Champions League, scheduled to kick off on 11 May 2025.
This marks the first time the Penama FA is organising the tournament since its Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this year, where the competition was officially approved.
Six area leagues from Penama’s three islands—Pentecost, Ambae, and Maewo—will each send their top two teams (winners and runners-up) to the tournament. The six leagues include:
- Melsisi
- Loltong
- North Pentecost
- Maewo
- West Ambae
- North East South Ambae (NESA)
Speaking to VBTC News, NESA League President Tarimea Linvanua said the tournament is an important milestone in football development for the province.
“Penama football has grown with multiple leagues—futsal, 7-a-side, and 11-a-side—all now affiliated. The meeting resolved that each league will send two champion teams to play qualifiers in Saratamata,” he said.
The official group draw has now been completed, placing the 12 teams into four pools:
- Pool A:
- Maewo runner-up
- West Ambae runner-up
- Melsisi winner
- Pool B:
- Melsisi runner-up
- NESA winner
- North Pentecost runner-up
- Pool C:
- North Pentecost winner
- Loltong winner
- NESA runner-up
- Pool D:
- Maewo winner
- Loltong runner-up
- West Ambae winner
VBTC Sports understands that area league finals are expected to wrap up by the end of April, allowing time for qualifying clubs to travel to Ambae ahead of the tournament.
The winning team of the Penama FA Men’s Champions League will go on to represent Penama at the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) Men’s Champions League.
