Lae side keep it local for O-League

 By HENRY MORABANG 

New Zealand-bound Lae City Dwellers want to give every opportunity to young Papua New Guineans to take part in the OFC Champions League, and will not recruit overseas players.

This was the undertaking given by LCD coach Peter Gunemba after his side walloped PKA Rapatona 5-0 in Round 3 of NSL Champions League in Port Moresby over the weekend.

A strong advocate for local PNG football talent, Gunemba wants to see a full Papua New Guinea team taking part in the highest football club challenge in the region.

 “Yes, I have only one overseas player in Joachim Waroi, and he is the last player and we will close the door for outsiders,” he said.

Gunemba admitted that there were enquiries from as far as Italy, Serbia, Australia and New Zealand wanting to help out at the OFC Challenge.

Gunemba said LCD had eyed a number of local players from other NSL clubs with Cyril Muta as the first sign-on to bolster the defence.

“We tied down Muta because of his O-League experience,” he said.

The Lae City Dwellers is placed in a tough pool at the OFC Champions League and faces reigning champions Auckland City (New Zealand), Amicale FC (Vanuatu) and Solomon Warriors (Solomon Islands).