Calm down, fans told

By HENRY MORABANG

THE Lae Football Club is appealing to its fans not to threaten and intimidate visiting teams.

The plea came from coach Peter Gunemba, who personally diffused an off-field incident that could have turned nasty between security personnel at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration venue and Lae supporters and players in Port Moresby over the weekend.

“I can confirm the incident but it was minor as no-one was injured,” Gunemba said.

“The incident occurred due to a misunderstanding between the guards and the Lae fans.” 

Gunemba, whose son Raymond plays for Hekari United, said he did not want this incident to spoil the relationship he had built with Port Moresby-based franchises, including Hekari.

Apart from Raymond, there is another of Lae’s favourite sons, Nigel Dabinyaba and Ian Yanum in the Southern Highlands club.

While downplaying the incident, Gunemba called on the league management to beef up security by engaging the police to provide security. He repeated his call for all soccer supporters to remain calm and enjoy the game.

Gunemba said Lae was a newcomer in the semi-professional competition and he did not want supporters to drag it down with such incidents.

He called on supporters not to use social network sites to instigate ill-feelings among soccer fans.

“We have to forgive and forget and move on. The biggest thing, Lae FC wants is to set the standard in Morobe and not too be involved in such petty things,” he said.

Hekari’s John Kapi Natto said he was investigating the incident and the people involved would be dealt with under the law.

He condemned the actions of the few.

National Soccer League development officer Chris Brown said he had not received a formal complaint from Lae or Hekari.

Brown said any comment on the issue had to come from board chairman, Isaac Lupari.