By HENRY MORABANG
THE National Soccer League Board is considering a second team for Lae following the poor performance by two Madang-based teams in the Telikom-sponsored National Soccer League (NSL) competition this year.
The chairman of NSL Board John Kapi Natto hinted at the move following the 5-1 thrashing of Madang Fox 5-1 last Saturday. The move will be a major blow to soccerís popularity in Madang town and the unemployed youths who took up NSL as part-time employment.
The secondary reason is that Madang soccer fans did not live up to their promise of a trouble-free season, opting instead to intimidate and issue threats to supporters or players of visiting teams.
Natto was instrumental in setting up Besta Fighters following good crowd and support from Madang community during the NSL maiden year in 2006. Madang Fox also had a good political support in former Madang MP Alois Kingsley.
He was disappointed that the two teams never delivered what was anticipated by NSL Board and the franchise owners which prompted the Board to set up another team for soccer crazy Morobe people.
Morobe and Lae City were upposed to have two NSL teams however, the second team fell through following the withdrawal of financial support by an intending candidate for Lae Open in the last election.
Meanwhile, Hekari United has maintained its fourth spot after thrashing luckless Madang Fox 5-1 in the final match of round one at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby last Saturday.
Four goals to unstoppable striker Kema Jack ñ one in the opening half and three in the final half was enough for the victory, however, Jack Samani added the extra to bring the tally to five.
Hekari dominated the proceeding, both in the first and the second half, making the Madang Fox look like beginners.
Many questions mushroomed over the performance of Madang Fox over the weekend, is there any need for two teams from Madang.
Madangís sole point came from an own goal by Hekari fullback Brian Tuhiana after trying to pass clear it to his goalkeeper Gure.
The match never reached any height as United outplayed Fox in all departments. The competition ladder as of last weekend TL Morobe Kumuls 12, Inspac Rapatona 12, Gelle Hills 12, Hekari United 10, Welgris Highlanders 7, Madang Besta 4 and Madang Fox 1