Erema show promise

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

 THE National Soccer League season has been pushed back a week to November 21 but that has not stopped clubs, especially in the Southern Conference, from getting quality game time.

Newcomers Erema FC, representing the Gulf province, showed they would not be pushovers come the start of the season which was initially scheduled to start on Nov 14, when they took on eight-time champions Hekari United in a friendly on Saturday at the Bisini soccer ground.

Hekari had to work hard for their 2-0 win but the signs are good with regards to the quality of teams in the league for season 2015-16.

NSL competition manager Simon Koima made the announcement on Saturday morning radio, citing a number of reasons for the delay, one of which was the announcement of the season’s draw which would be done today.

Koima said all franchises had met the league deadline for the payment and submission of registration fees and other information for the 12-team competition which is divided into two conferences.

With an extra week to prepare, clubs are expected to face off in friendlies as coaches look to use the squads before the competition for points gets underway.

The Hekari-Erema was expected to be a one-sided affair with the NSL rookies not picked to provide much of a contest but to the surprise of most fans and the Reds this was not the case.

Erema held the normally clinical Hekari for the majority of the contest, only tapering off in the final 10 minutes of the first half allowing the Reds to score back-to-back goals.

The second half saw Hekari’s vaunted attacking game nullified and forced into a more conservative approach as Erema got their second wind.

Erema assistant coach Kevin David said he was pleased with the efforts from the team given that it was their first trial game.

“Most of our guys are new and we’ve only one or two players who have experienced this level of football and our aim was to give everyone a taste of NSL football against one of the best teams in the competition,” David said.

“This game has given Steven (Mune, head coach) and me a good idea of what we are capable of and where we need to improve before the competition kicks off.”

David said he was generally impressed with the performance his players and put the two goals conceded to a lack of concentration.

“We started off well and actually competed on even terms with Hekari but as soon as we took our foot off the gas they scored so that’s something we have to work on.

“We also didn’t transition well from offence back to defence when they counter attacked.” 

He admitted that the Jerry Allen-coached Hekari were strategically superior with their experience and savvy giving them a decided edge but he was proud of his charges for  showing plenty of courage.

The team is made up of players from Kerema, Port Moresby Soccer Association and some from Rigo (Koupa). Erema’s NSL experience is limited to three players: Tau Winnie, Leana Geno and Pikot Poesi.

David said Mune would name his final 25 for the season by the end of the week. Results: PS Huawei 2 Port Moresby 2, Hekari 2 Erema 0, Rapatona 5 Gigira 0.