B-Tech win Wawens title

By LARRY ANDREW
AFTER trying for the last four years, B-Tech FC finally claimed the Wawens Cup when they beat Medics 4-3 in a penalty shootout at Lae Football Association Park on Monday.
In the senior men’s final, B-Tech from Bumbu were no easybeats in their Pool D matches and qualified for the playoffs.
B-Tech went ahead 1-0 in the opening minutes of the final.
B-Tech’s Biharo Julius, Casper Jason, Ian Rerong, Freddy Tommy and young Joseph Rodney created headaches for Medics defence.
Medics fought back with Bruce Tiampo sending a through ball for workaholic Joshua Oscar who hammered the goal past B-Tech goalkeeper Chris Masalu for the equaliser.
The second half was scoreless sending game into extra time but neither team could not find the match-winner forcing a penalty shootout.
With the shootout tally level at 3-3 B-Tech’s last kicker Rodney showed little nerves to seal the win for his side.
Wawens Cup patron Andrew Namuesh thanked teams that came from Madang, Kainantu, Goroka, Tamigidu, and Bulolo and the city teams for participating.
Namuesh said the tournament had been run annually becuase of the great interest from the football community.
“The purpose of the tournament was to keep youths out of trouble during the festive season and reduce lawlessness in the settlements and communities,”Namuesh.
He pledged to improve the tournament next season.
In the Under-17 grandfinal, the game was played at a high tempo and North Morobe did not give any room to Wawens as they slotted the first goal.
Wawens were awarded a direct penalty after a North player was penalised for a handball however the Morobe players disputed the referee’s call and the game was called off with prize money split between the two teams.
For the third-place playoff EWA from Erap-Wain, beat Unitech FC 2-0 to take the third spot in the 2018 Wawens Cup.