Bismarck lift Wawens Cup

B-Tech’s Israel Felix securing possession ahead of Bismarck’s Freddy Steven and Emmanuel Simon during the seventh Wawens Cup final at Lae Football Association Park on Sunday. – Nationalpic by LARRY ANDREW

PAPUA New Guinea international goalkeeper Ishmael Pole helped Bismarck claim the seventh Wawens Cup with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over B-Tech in the final in Lae on Sunday.
PS United beat Poro 1-0 and Nadzab edged Bumneng by the same scoreline in the third-place playoff and Under-17 final respectively at Lae Football Association Park.
The men’s final went down to the wire in regular and extra time before going into the penalty shootout.
The experience of Hekari United custodian Pole in saving B-Tech’s third penalty kick gave Bismarck the edge as Emmanuel Airem missed the fourth.
The decisive kick was then left to Henry Gawi who sailed the ball past B-Tech goalkeeper Sammy Kal to snatch a dramatic victory.
Bismarck and B-Tech had to navigate their pool matches, with other teams also fielding Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League (NSL) players.
For B-Tech, the men from Bumbu had to overcome some of the tournament’s stronger teams before defeating favourites Poro in a penalty shootout in the semifinals.
Bismarck shattered PS United’s hopes of a berth in the final with a 1-0 win in the other semifinal of Lae’s biggest offseason football tournament.
“This season was tough as many teams fielded NSL players,” 27-year-old Pole told The National.
“But we managed to make it into the final and we are thrilled to win such a big tournament.
“We acknowledge Wawens Cup patron Andrew Namuesh for staging the tournament to help keep some of us out of trouble during the festive season.