Coach commends City, Madang for putting on spectacle

By ISAAC LIRI
Coach Peter Gunemba described Toti City FC’s semifinal win over Madang FC on penalties as a spectacle that football fans pay to be a part of.
It was a thriller for those who watched the match between the two National Soccer League giants in Lae on Sunday.
City fans were all on their toes watching their team being stretched by an impressive Madang outfit.
Gunemba summed it up as a victory driven by faith in God which got them home in the end.
The game was up for grabs after the first penalty shootout was drawn 3-all.
It was City goalkeeper Ronald Warisan who got his side home in the second penalty shootout, scoring the match winner to send their fans, friends, families and sponsors into a frenzy.
Gunemba said the victory, which secured City their third grand final appearance, was still being talked about in Lae.
It was a heartbreaking result for the visitors after a hard fought effort, but there could only be one winner.
“Many described the match as the grand final,” Gunemba said.
“The game is now the talk of the town. Everywhere you go in Lae, people are talking about it.
“At one point during the match, I thought that we weren’t going to make it when Madang’s Samuel Kini scored during extra time to lead 2-1.
“But my players had faith in God to guide us and that is when we won a penalty which allowed Raymond (Gunemba) to equalise in the last two minutes of extra time to finish with a 2-all scoreline.
“When Madang scored to lead 2-1, many of our fans walked out of the stadium thinking we were going to lose but when they heard screams from the stadium, they all came back to watch the penalty shootout.
“I could see our sponsors Ian Chow, from Lae Biscuit Company, and Ronald Ram, from Panamex Pacific, were edgy when we went to penalties. Everyone was nervous.
“My young granddaughter Oscalyna, who was watching her father (Raymond) play, prayed so hard that her prayers were answered. I was amazed by the passion.”
City FC will defend their title against first-time grand finalists Besta PNG United FC in Lae on Saturday.