FOCUS FOCUS Locker-room Issue 3 May 2010 Welcome to our first editon of this year Our heroes 2010 as we bring you “Football Focus” which is published by PNG Football As- sociation. First of all congratu- lations to our Hekari United FC, our cham- pion team of winning the O-League. Certainly their mile- stone has put PNG on the World football map. This publication will be a quartely newslet- ter as we keep you updated on the latest happenings in PNG, Oceania and in the World. OUR very own champion team Hekari United FC put Papua New Guinea on the football world map after a historic O-League win over giants New Zea- land’s Waitakere United FC. In doing so, PNG became the first island country outside of New Zea- land and Australia to have won the O-League. No island country has gone past New Zealand. Despite a 2-1 loss to a Waitakere United at Fred Taylor Park in the return leg final on May 2, Hekari claimed their first OFC Champions League title win with a 4-2 aggregate score over two legs and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in UAE, Dubai, in December Continues Page 2 Page 1 - Papua New Guinea Football Association Hekari dedicate win to Pacific Islands IN a moving tribute, Papua Emblen. New Guinea club champions “I thought after our goal Hekari United have dedicated after two minutes we were their historic 2010 O-League going to go on and do the job. title win to all Pacific Island From set plays and balls into nations striving to reach the the box they looked vulner- top in football. able but we just couldn’t Two-time champions Waita- capitalise.” kere showed early intent with Hekari assistant coach a Neil Emblem goal in just Tommy Mana commended the third minute but Kema Solomon Islands international Jack equalised from the pen- Alick Maemae for another alty spot on 35 minutes after outstanding performance Alick Maemae was brought and paid credit to his strik- down by goalkeeper Danny ers Kema Jack and Tuimasi Robinson. PNGFA president and OFC senior vice president hands over the O- Manuca for their efforts. On what was a perfect League cup to Hekari captain David Muta “We had a mind to play autumn day, the home side at this level.” goal on 35 minutes. attacking football. You could pushed for goals throughout Hekari got off to a poor Waitakere threw everything see that we weren’t holding but could only manage one start, conceding early when at the visitors in the second our strikers back. That was more in the 84th minute when Martin Bullock’s corner was half, hitting the woodwork part of the strategy and they Brent Fisher converted from met with a powerful header in the 54th and 55th minutes did well.” the penalty spot following a from Waitakere player-coach before Jack Pelter’s shot in The Papua New Guinea side foul on Dakota Lucas. Neil Emblen. the 57th minute was cleared will now head to the FIFA Hekari manageress Von- Waitakere should have off the goal line. But Brent Club World Cup in UAE nie Eteaki Kapi-Natto, who doubled their lead on 14 Fisher’s penalty late in the this December which Mana has been with the team since minutes when Benjamin game proved too little too late admits it will be a tough chal- it was established in 2003, Totori rounded the keeper and for the home side. lenge. expressed just what it mean to played a ball across the six- Speaking after the match, “That’s another step up. the team following the match. yard box for the waiting Allan Emblen says he was surprised Here we know the standard “I never dreamed to come Pearce and Martin Bullock by Hekari’s choice to stick but there it will be a lot this far. We’ve been work- but scrambling defence from with a 4-4-2 formation and higher. We know it’s not ing for it but I never thought Hekari somehow kept the ball push numbers forward on going to be easy but we will we would come to this,” said out. attack. work hard.” Kapi-Natto. Just after the half hour mark, “If we had gone to their The FIFA tournament in “I want to dedicate our suc- Alick Maemae was brought place with a 3-0 lead we prob- Abu Dhabi will include cess to all the Pacific Island down in the box by Waitakere ably would’ve played with a minimum payday of nations. I’m sure this will goalkeeper Danny Robinson a sweeper and one up front US$500,000 – a huge boost be good motivation for our who received a yellow card with two wide ones. But I for Papua New Guinea foot- children and young people for the late challenge. Kema think they were very bold in ball and motivation for other because they’ve see that their Jack converted from the spot what they did and they will Pacific Islands clubs eager to brothers can compete and win to give his side a crucial away feel it worked for them,” said achieve similar feats. Youth gets the nod Computers for NSL teams THE Papua New Guinea Football Association THE Papua New Guinea Foot- nominee for the PNG Young Ambassador for the ball Association President David 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Shannon Andrew Chung with assistance from FIFA/ has been selected ahead of 7 nominees. The talented 17 year old player from the Milne OFC “WIN IN OCEANIA PROJ- Bay Province attends Port Moresby International ECT” distributed new computer School in the Nations Capital. sets to all the franchise team in the According to the Deputy Secretary General for 2009/10 Telikom National Soccer the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Com- League. mittee, Auvita Rapilla, he was chosen because he The presentation was at half time is a young and capable leader. of the Grand Final of the league Communication was the other factor and between Gigira Laitepo Morobe PNGSFOC considered this to be very significant FC and Hekari United on the 24th attribute that he would use through his work as April. Hekari becoming victors of a young ambassador when he return from his the match by 5 goals to 0. Competitions Manager, Edward August duty. Shannon thanked the Papua New For most franchises that have Guinea Football Association for the nomination Tauloi says this will help the teams to become more efficient with the been with the league since its and is very proud to not only represent his sport inception, this shows that the NSL but all PNG at the 2010 YOG in August. administration of their club and also assist in strengthening and and PNGFA are helping to develop professionalizing the NSL. the game for all. Page 2 - Papua New Guinea Football Association Quote of the month I want to dedicate our success to all the Pacific Island nations. I’m sure this will be good motivation for our chil- ‘dren and young people because they’ve see that their brothers can compete and win at this level A look back at NSL ’ Gigira fall short . THE Telikom National Soccer League ended on a very high note here in Port Mo- resby on the 24th April at the PRL Ground in Boroko. For the first time, a team from the regional PNG, Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC played in the grand final against the defending cham- pions, Hekari United FC. Since the start of the League, Hekari United FC have had the champions’ title Golden boot under their belt. award winner is Gigira went into this event as the under Hekari’s Kema dogs of the game and for Hekari, favorites Jack. for the day as the week before they trashed O-League rivals, Waitakere United FC 3-0 at the PRL grounds. Just as the O-League, the stands were packed with supporters for the day. The game was officially kicked off by Te- likom’s Head of Commerical, Xavior Victor, in the presence of PNGFA President, David Hekari’s Stanley Chung, National Soccer League Chairman, Waite faces a chal- John Kapi Natto and the Competitions Man- lenge against a Gigira ager, Edward Tauloi. opponent during the Telikom NSL Grand Both teams started their match on a very Final on April 24. tough note, as the battle was on to find out Hekari won 5-0. who gets the champions title for the season. In the first half teams, were at lock show- ing all their skills and techniques of the game, but the break came for Hekari United FC , when in the 31st minute, Kema Jack found the back of the net with a header. Gigira FC tried their best to attack the backline but to no avail as the likes of Cyril Muta and Koriak Upaiga stood their ground, defending their goal mouth. Beautiful Telikom models displaying the NSL cup. In the 36th minute, Kema again scored his Below: Hekari shows of their second goal for the game bringing the score spoils to 2- nil. It was a test of strength between both teams to succeed. At second half, Hekari United continued their winning streak with a goal from Mr Cool, Alick Maemae, Captain David Muta piled on another goal bringing the score line to 4 nil. Benjamin Mela finished the season with the last goal in the 78th minute. In the play offs for the third and forth plac- ing, CMSS Tigers managed to beat Esi Loan Uni Inter FC 3-0.