City to recruit players

By PARKER TAMBUA
LAE City are looking at recruiting local and overseas players to bolster the depth in their squad in an attempt to maintain their dominance in the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League (NSL).
Reigning champions Lae City changed their name from Toti City after a warning from Fifa and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) over the use of their sponsor’s brand name.
City have won five NSL titles since 2015 and with the bulk of their current squad aging, the side are planning ahead to set the benchmark as a model football club in the country.
Club founder and head coach Peter Gunemba told The National that they would send scouts to recruit players from the associations in Morobe and around the country.
“We will be recruiting players from the Lae Football Association, Madang, Highlands, New Guinea Islands and the Port Moresby Soccer Association,” Gunemba said.
“We are look to import two players from Ecuador, one from the Solomon Islands and one from Vanuatu.
“Obviously, this is to improve our squad and improve the level of football in the country as we look to boost our OFC campaign.”
Gunemba said the Morobe Football Association had been a breeding ground for Lae City talent over the years.
He said City were also in talk with their sponsor Lae Biscuit Company and other business houses to set up a football academy in the city.
“We already have the plan for an academy to be set up early next year after we sort out a few things,” Gunemba said.
“We are also in talks with clubs in second-tier competitions in Europe for a club exchange programme which will see City players play in their competitions and they will also send their players here to compete in the NSL. “