Central stun Star while Hekari sink Bulolo in Lae

By HENRY MORABANG and GABRIEL LAHOC
GIGIRA Laitepo Central Coast FC has sounded a warning that they are not here to make the numbers when they hammered City Pharmacy Eastern Stars 2-0 in the Telikom National Soccer League at Bisini Oval on Saturday.
In other NSL matches Hekari United FC beat Bulolo United 3-0 while Besta United FC downed Petro Souths 2-0 at the National Sports Institute in Goroka.
After a scoreless first half, Central under coach Wesley Waiwai shifted to high gear to register their first win of their debut season.
Central scored their first goal through a spot kick by Nathaniel Lepani after Stars goalkeeper Paul Peter brought down Naime Kepi in the box.
Reserve Richard Matanga volleyed another goal to beat Peter at the net to consolidate their victory midway through the half.
But the day belonged to Central goalkeeper David Aua, who made crucial saves to help his team win.
Despite fielding a strong line-up which included strikers Karol Kakate and Lap Embel Stars could not convert any of their opportunities.
Stars franchise owner Joseph Eleadona was disappointed with the loss saying it was a matter of grabbing chances which his side failed to do.
“Our boys played well but did not find the net while Central had a penalty and a long shot at the goal that found the net,” he said.
He congratulated Central FC for their first win which has forced his team back to the drawing board for the upcoming match.
Meanwhile, champions Hekari saw off a strong challenge from newcomers Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) Bulolo United beating the Morobe team 3-0 in Lae last Saturday.
The Sir Ignatius Kilage stadium was packed to capacity by Bulolo fans, whose vocal support was in vain, as the visitors’ brilliance shone on the field.
All three goals were registered in style through new recruits and local boys Raymond Gunemba, Nigel Dabinyaba and Neil Hans, who arrived late to join the match with team manager Vonnie Kapi Natto in the first quarter from a late flight.
Gunemba was the first to score, after curling one from the edge of the field into the net.
Dabinyaba, who is one of the success stories of young Papua New Guineans progressing into professional football, also capitalised on poor defence by the Bulolo backline and belted home the second goal after finding himself unmarked in front of the goal.
Bulolo looked to contain the brilliance of Hekari, but their midfielders could not match their counterparts in ball distribution, which resulted in Hekari forwards having the lion’s share of chances.
Hans, a PNG international, replicated Gunemba’s earlier effort which saw the Reds take an unassailable 3-0 and crushing the spirit of the Ludwik Peka-coached Bulolo franchise.
Last Tuesday, Bulolo MP Sam Basil predicted in the company of MMJV’s sustainability and external relations general manager David Wissink, that Bulolo would cause the upset of the season so far by beating Hekari, and even promised each player K500 for the win.
Wissink also announced the company’s  sponsorship of K150,000 during that time