Club appeals use of field

HEKARI United is appealing to the National Soccer League (NSL) Board to allow them to stage their home games at the recently upgraded PNG Institute of Public Administration Oval at Waigani.
The club, under a mutual agreement with the PNGIPA management has improved the football pitch which is expected to be completed before next month so it can host home games depending on NSL Board’s approval.
Team Manageress Vonnie Kapi Natto said Hekari United needs an international size football pitch akin to the size of the Lloyd Robson Oval.
The current pitch – Bisini Soccer Oval – is too short compared to Govind Park in Ba where the OFC Champions League will be staged.
She said if NSL gives the green light to the Southern Highlands team, it will greatly help them to prepare for the 2014 OFC Championships League. The club also needs more international matches compared to only two friendlies in Solomon Islands last month.
Hekari will play in the Pool of Death which includes Ba (Fiji), Tafea (Vanuatu) and Magenta (New Caledonia) for the tournament.
She said: “It’s frustrating and I am not very happy because sponsors are spending a lot of money to sponsor the team to represent the country and PNG Football.
“But if no one sympathises with us, I just feel like keeping myself away. It’s a lot of pressure.”