NSL champions Lae City wary of capable Besta United

The National Sports

By ISAAC LIRI
DEFENDING champions Lae City Dwellers are wary of a potential to upset by Besta United and are ready to prevent that tomorrow at Laiwaden Oval, Madang, in the first NSL semifinal match at 12.30pm.
Despite being unbeaten all through the season, the Dwellers would not take their opponents lightly, says coach Peter Gunemba.
Gunemba said playing in the finals would be different with an increase in intensity.  “We can be minor premiers but playing in the finals is a different scenario altogether,” Gunemba said.
“Finals have a different fever. Teams are capable of stepping up and causing upsets so we are aware of that and we will not take them lightly.”
The Dwellers named a full strength team welcoming the services of PNG representative goal keeper Ronald Warisan and midfielder Jacob Sabua back. In the Besta camp, coach Harrison Kamake was delighted to make the finals and believed that anything was possible going up against the heavyweights.
“My message to the boys is straight and simple. We just have to get the basics right and maintain our discipline,” Kamake said.
“Last time we met, we did well but there were some areas we failed in and we fell short in the end.
“If our midfielders can step up this weekend, we can cause some problems for them but then it won’t be easy. We will have to work extra hard.”
In the other semifinal at 3pm Madang will be counting on their home ground advantage to get past PS United.
Madang coach Francis Moyap is busy attending a family matter in Port Moresby and handed the reins to assistant Amos Romo.
“We have a pretty good home record this year winning all our home games and drawing one so we want to maintain that,” Romo said. “We know that PS United are a good team. They beat us once this year and they have been really strong over the last games.”
Madang will be counting on veteran midfielder Neil Hans and Samuel Kini to direct traffic in centre field while Felix Komolong will organise defence to put pressure on United’s strikers.
Fixtures: Madang, Laiwaden oval – 1230pm: Lae City Dwellers v Besta United; 1500 PS United v Madang.