Michael Foster (footballer)

Foster was born in Lae, in the Momase Region of the country. He is the son of former international goalkeeper Max Foster.{{Cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/michael-foster-inspired-lead/|title=Michael Foster inspired to lead|date=2017-05-23|website=Post Courier|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-24}}

It is likely Foster began his career around 2003 at Mopi, a club based in his hometown of Lae.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oc-u20-03.html|title=Oceania U-20 World Cup 2003 Qualifiers|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-18}} The side had won the inaugural Papua New Guinea National Club Championship in 1976 and again in 1981.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/pngchamp.html|title=Papua New Guinea - List of Champions|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-18}} When Foster joined the club, the side had been readmitted to the local Lae Premier League, but the club finished bottom of the league.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png03.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2003|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-18}}

For the 2004 season, Foster moved to Port Moresby to play for Cosmos in the Port Moresby Premier League.{{Cite web|url=http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20041015/sport04.htm|title=Moment of Truth|last=|first=|date=2004-10-15|website=Post Courier|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041022114301/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20041015/sport04.htm|archive-date=2004-10-22|access-date=2019-12-18}} The club reached the Preliminary Final on 24 October, but lost to Rapatona, meaning they finished third.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png04.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2004|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-18}}

It is unclear where Foster played between 2004 and 2008.

Foster was part of the Hekari United squad for the 2008–09 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png08.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2008|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-26}} He scored the only goal in the side's 1–0 semi-final victory over Welgris Highlanders, before the playoffs were called off and Hekari declared champions as the best regular season team.

As champions, the club qualified for the 2009–10 OFC Champions League, and Foster was retained ahead of the new season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/hekari-wiser-for-o-league/|title=Hekari wiser for O-League|first=|date=2009-10-12|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/uni-hold-tigers/|title=Uni hold Tigers|first=|date=2009-12-21|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} The club ended up winning the Champions League, becoming the first club outside of Australia and New Zealand to do so, and Foster was an unused substitute in the second leg of the final against Waitakere United.{{Cite web|url=http://210.48.80.94/OFC/Portals/0/Images/Articles/2010%20O-League%202nd%20Leg%20Final%20Match%20Summary.pdf|title=2010 O-League Match Summary - Final|last=|first=|date=2010-05-24|website=Oceania Football Confederation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524175855/http://210.48.80.94/OFC/Portals/0/Images/Articles/2010%20O-League%202nd%20Leg%20Final%20Match%20Summary.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-24|access-date=2019-12-26}} Hekari United went on to win the domestic title in the 2010–11 National Soccer League, beating Eastern Stars 4–0 in the Grand Final.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2011.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2010/11|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-26}}

In July 2010, it was announced that Foster was one of three players released by Hekari United to make way for new recruits ahead of the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, denying Foster the chance to impress on the world stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/two-more-fijians-join-to-boost-hekari%e2%80%99s-campaign/|title=Two more Fijians join to boost Hekari’s campaign|first=|date=2010-07-06|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} Foster joined current runners-up Eastern Stars for the following season,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/stars-in-uphill-battle/|title=Stars in uphill battle|first=|date=2010-11-18|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} and the club finished second in the regular season of the 2010–11 National Soccer League, eventually taking on former club Hekari in the Grand Final.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/hekari-and-star-to-meet-in-final/|title=Hekari and Star to meet in final|first=|date=2011-03-28|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} Stars went down 4–0.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2012.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2011/12|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-26}}

Foster stayed with Eastern Stars for the 2011–12 season,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/archives-637/|title=CPL Eastern Stars and Hekari battle to 0-0 draw at Bisini grounds|date=2011-11-14|website=PNGFootball.com.pg|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} and the club enjoyed another successful season, coming second in the regular season and reaching the Grand Final – and another match-up with Foster's former club Hekari – once again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/archives-995/|title=Stars hopes to shine in NSL grand finals|date=2012-04-13|website=PNGFootball.com.pg|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} However, the club suffered the same fate in the final, losing 3–0 to the champions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/hekari-united-win-sixth-straight-title/|title=Hekari United win sixth straight title|first=|date=2012-04-15|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}}

For the 2013 season, Foster joined new club FC Port Moresby,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/hekari%e2%80%99s-winning-start/|title=Hekari’s winning start|first=|date=2013-02-03|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} and despite the club finishing third in the regular season, Foster found himself once again up against Hekari United in the Grand Final, and again the midfielder was left empty-handed, with Hekari securing a 3–0 victory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2012a.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2012/13|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-26}}

With FC Port Moresby withdrawing from the 2014 National Soccer League, it looked like Foster would return to Eastern Stars, having trained with them early in January 2014,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/coach-happy-despite-defeat/|title=Coach happy despite defeat|first=|date=2014-01-05|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} but he eventually went to Admiralty,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/hekari-stars-open-season/|title=Hekari, Stars open season|first=|date=2014-02-07|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} another new franchise for the season. He was named captain for the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/dabinyaba-hat-trick-lifts-reds/|title=Dabinyaba hat-trick lifts Reds|first=|date=2014-05-04|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} In Foster's worst domestic season to date, the club finished fifth and failed to qualify for the playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2014.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2014|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-26}} Foster stayed with the club for the 2015 season,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/newcomers-fight-back-for-a-draw/|title=Newcomers fight back for a draw|first=|date=2015-02-02|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}} but the club again finished fifth and outside of qualification for the playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2015.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2015|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-26}}

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Foster moved to Rapatona,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/raps-reds-clash/|title=Raps, Reds clash|first=|date=2015-11-27|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} with whom he had occasionally joined up with in the local Port Moresby Premier League during previous NSL off-seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/rapatona-beat-yamaros/|title=Rapatona beat Yamaros|first=|date=2013-07-15|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/rapatona-maclaren-battle-for-competition-dominance/|title=Rapatona, Maclaren battle for competition dominance|first=|date=2014-08-08|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} Despite losing four matches out of ten in the first stage, the club qualified for the four-team Champions Playoff in February 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2016.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2015/16|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-27}} However, ahead of the final stage, Foster moved to Lae City Dwellers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/archives-333/|title=Ronny leads Rapatona|date=2016-01-13|website=PNGFootball.com.pg|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} and the side qualified for the Grand Final behind Hekari United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2016.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2015/16|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-27}} After being defeated in all of his previous three Grand Finals, Foster picked up his third domestic title after Lae defeated Hekari 2–0 in the final. Foster was also part of the side's 2016 OFC Champions League campaign, scoring in the club's 5–4 defeat to Solomon Warriors.

With the problems surfacing domestic with the league split, Foster moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Solomon Islands side Malaita Kingz in August 2016 for the entirety of the 2016 Solomon Islands S-League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/gunemba-joins-eastern-suburb-fc/|title=Gunemba joins Eastern Suburb FC|date=2016-08-09|website=The National|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} The club finished fourth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/solom2017.html|title=Solomon Islands 2016|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-27}}

In 2017, Foster joined Geelong SC, competing in the Victorian State League Division 1, a league on the fourth level of the Australian league system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/sports/national/item/19508-foster-rejoins-kingz|title=Foster rejoins Kingz - Solomon Star News|website=www.solomonstarnews.com|access-date=2019-12-27}} The side finished in second place, with Foster playing 16 matches for the club and scoring a single goal, before returning to Malaita Kingz for the second half of the 2017–18 S-League season.

Ahead of the 2018 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, Foster joined Madang FC to boost their maiden OFC Champions League campaign.{{Cite web|url=http://www.looppng.com/node/72499|title=Foster to boost team's Oceania league dream|last=Yaruso|first=Sophie|date=2018-01-21 |website=Loop PNG|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/foster-redenut-lepani-signed-madang-fc-2/|title=Foster, Redenut and Lepani signed up by Madang FC|date=2018-01-17|website=Post Courier|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} Foster played in all three of the club's group matches, but the side exited the competition without a point. Domestically, Madang finished in fourth place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/png2018.html|title=Papua New Guinea 2018|website=RSSSF|access-date=2019-12-27}}

However, Foster secured a return to champions Lae City before the start of the 2019 season, and as such was part of the squad for the 2019 OFC Champions League. Foster played in all four of the side's matches as they reached the quarter-finals, playing the full 90 minutes in their 4–0 knockout defeat to Auckland City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/match/|title=Match|website=Oceania Football Confederation|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} However, Foster was able to pick up his fourth domestic title after Lae City defeated his former club Hekari United on penalties in the 2019 Grand Final. Foster scored the opening penalty in the shoot-out.{{Cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/toti-city-win-title-thriller/|title=Toti City win title in thriller|date=2019-06-02|website=Post Courier|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}}

After a brief stint with Malaita Kingz again at the end of 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2019/11/20/emmanuel-simon-and-nigel-dabinyaba/|title=Emmanuel Simon and Nigel Dabinyaba set to leave Malaita Kings|date=2019-11-21|website=Oceania Football Center|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} Foster rejoined Hekari United for the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2019/12/16/hekari-united-signs-kapuls-captain-michael-foster/|title=Hekari United signs Kapuls captain Michael Foster|date=2019-12-16|website=Oceania Football Center|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}

Aged 17, Foster was called up to the U20s side for the 2002 OFC U-20 Championship in December 2002, which doubled as qualifying for the 2003 World Youth Championship. Foster played in both of the matches in the group stages before the side's elimination.

Still just 17, Foster was called up to the full senior squad in July 2003 for the 2003 South Pacific Games. Foster made his international debut on 7 July 2003 against Micronesia, scoring one goal in a 10–0 victory. It would be another eight years before he would play for the national side again.

Foster earned a recall to the senior squad for the 2011 Pacific Games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/archives-457/|title=Farina names final Pacific Games squad|date=2011-08-09|website=PNGFootball.com.pg|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-30}} He played in all four of the country's fixtures, coming on as a substitute in all but one match: on 3 September 2011, he started and scored his second senior international goal in the 17–1 victory over Kiribati. Papua New Guinea failed to progress from the group stages of the competition.

Since then, Foster has played in all but two of Papua New Guinea's senior international matches: at the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, he started in all three of the nation's fixtures before their group stage elimination. In 2016, a busy year for the country, he started nine and was subbed on in the tenth of ten fixtures for the national team, including the five which saw them finish as 2016 OFC Nations Cup runners-up, having scored one of the goals in the crucial semi-final against the Solomon Islands.{{Cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/15463/Papua_New_Guinea_Solomon_Islands.html|title=Papua New Guinea vs. Solomon Islands (2:1)|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|website=national-football-teams.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}} He played in all four of the side's qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and all but one of the country's five fixtures at the 2019 Pacific Games.{{Cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/27809/Michael_Foster.html|title=Michael Foster|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|website=national-football-teams.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}}

{{updated|27 March 2022}}

:As of 20 July 2019. Scores and results list Papua New Guinea's result first.

Hekari United

• OFC Champions League: 2009–10
• Papua New Guinea National Soccer League: 2008–09, 2009–10

Lae City

• Papua New Guinea National Soccer League: 2015–16, 2019

Papua New Guinea

• OFC Nations Cup runner-up: 2016

{{Reflist}}

{{Papua New Guinea squad 2012 OFC Nations Cup}}

{{Papua New Guinea squad 2016 OFC Nations Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Michael}}

Category:Living people

Category:1985 births

Category:Papua New Guinean men's soccer players

Category:Papua New Guinea men's international soccer players

Category:Sportspeople from Morobe Province

Category:Hekari United F.C. players

Category:Eastern Stars F.C. players

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:2012 OFC Nations Cup players

Category:2016 OFC Nations Cup players