Football clubs backed

By ROBINSON LEKA
Papua New Guinea can compete with top football clubs in Oceania, say Hekari United coach Jerry Allan and his Toti City counterpart Peter Gunemba.
City finished the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League as champions after a penalty-shootout win over Hekari last month. Both clubs have qualified for the Oceania Football Confederation Cup in October.
With only four months to go, both coaches are confident that Papua New Guinea has put forward its top two teams to take part in the tournament.
Allan emphasised the importance of clubs bringing up new talents in the game to allowing them to compete at national and international levels.
“They are the two best teams around Papua New Guinea. They will go on to and represent the country, which is good.
“We will have a challenge at the Champions League and we will make sure to do well. I’m sure City are looking forward to doing well also.”
Gunemba said his team were up for the challenge as he maintained that City and Hekari had a good mix of players with experience in their sides.
PNG is part of the seven football associations in the region.
Hekari and Toti will be going up against fellow champion clubs in the qualifying stage set for later this year.