Coach Morris sees need for structure in Lae City’s game

REIGNING premiers and perfect starters Lae City ended round one of the National Soccer League Northern Conference with a 6-2 defeat of Morobe United on Saturday.
The win at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium sees the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored side sitting in pole spot with 18 points from six matches.
But City coach Bob Morris said they needed to play more structured football, given the experience of siblings Alwin and Felix Komolong, Jacob Sabua, Emmanuel Airem and Emmanuel Simon.
The former national coach said it was easier to work with the five men as he had been involved with them at the representative level.
Morris said others who had joined the team for this season were starting to understand how the five played.
“It’s the players that we are working with and how you play football is just the same,” he said.
“Football has its moments and it depends on players, how well they read the game, how well the players read the coach and the coach reading their characteristics.”
Morris said his philosophies may be different from those of other coaches, but it all boiled down to players having great team spirit, and a willingness to learn and progress.
“Some of my players are seasoned campaigners,” the coach said.
“We have the Komolong brothers, (former Vitiaz United trio) Jonathan Allen, Joshua Talau, Yagi Yasasa, (one-time Tusbab Stallion) Stahl Gubag and import Jibola Afonza.
“It’s a big task to get players to combine well with coaches expected to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, and maximise their potential.
“The aim is to get my players to play more structured football.”