Allen urges players to step up ahead of OFC league

HEKARI United coach Jerry Allen has warned his side to step up in their performances or he will make changes leading up to Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League next month.
Allen made the comments after his side survived a scare against Tusbab Stallions in a National Soccer League fixture on Saturday.
The Solomon Islander said he was worried about his side’s performance after managing to beat the Madang side 2-1 thanks to a late Koriak Upaiga penalty after struggling.
He said Hekari, who will host Group A of the Champions League next month, could not afford to be complacent or lose concentration.
“A win is a win and we take that but we didn’t play well today (Saturday), we were scruffy and not consistent,” Allen said. “We were lucky to get the win. Our problem was up front, we just couldn’t finish off.
“The PNG boys in the team have to step up because we are giving an opportunity to them.
“If they don’t change the way they play like what they did today (Saturday) then I will make changes.
“The Champions League is coming up and that is a totally different level of football with best of the best in Oceania. They have to step up because whoever that comes and play for Hekari plays for PNG.”
Allen said his team would go back on the drawing board and polish up before the Champions League kicks off on Feb 16.
Group A matches will see New Caledonian club Hienghene, Vanuatu’s Galaxy and New Zealand’s Eastern Suburbs come to Port Moresby and play in a series of matches from Feb 16-22.
Meanwhile, Allen said the two Brazilian imports, Erick Joe and Vinicius Kryzozun would make their Hekari debuts against Kutubu at the National Sports Institute in Goroka in Goroko on Saturday.