Dwellers on OFC mission

The National Sports

By ISAAC LIRI
LAE City Dwellers’ third appearance at the OFC club championship starts in Port Vila, Vanuatu this weekend.
The Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored franchise arrived in Port Moresby yesterday evening and were to leave for Port Vila this morning.
The Dwellers take on Cook Islands’ Tupapa Maraerenga on Saturday.
After going undefeated over four rounds of the National Soccer League coach Peter Gunemba was confident that the NSL matches had contributed to their preparations for the OFC fixtures.
Lae City are pooled with Tupapa, Ba FC of Fiji and hosts Nalkutan in the Group A (scheduled for Feb 10-18).
Carrying the flag PNG and Morobe province on the Oceania stage, the team comprises a number the country’s top internationals along with two Solomon Islands imports in defender Andrew Rarangia and Tutizama Tanito — both national representatives.
Dwellers core group include PNG international and 2016 OFC Nations Cup golden boot winner Raymond Gunemba, star striker Nigel Dabinyaba, midfielders Jacob Sabua, Emmanuel Simon, Obert Bika and goalkeeper Ronald Warisan.
While striker Tommy Semmy is another player who could be whisked into the team from his New Zealand club Wanderers.
“We have some very good experience players in our team for this year and we’re aiming to win all our group stage matches,” Gunemba said.
“The inclusion of the two Solomon Islands players has boosted our team and they have bonded well with the squad.”
Gunemba was wary of both Ba FC and Nalkutan FC, who will be fielding some of their best players, however with the high level of football displayed by the NSL reigning champions over the past seasons, he was confidence his side could hold its own in Group A.
“We want to play our part in improving the level of soccer in our country and taking part in the OFC Champions League is one way of doing that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Madang FC, who are in Group D, will be travelling to New Zealand next week to play their Group D fixtures.
Madang FC will play AS Venus of Tahiti, Lautoka FC of Fiji and reigning OFC Champions Auckland City.
Madang will be taking part in the OFC event for the second time and will be bolstered by inclusions of PNG internationals Michael Foster, Abel Redenut, Samuel Kini and veteran Neil Hans to name a few.