Former Guria FC player pays tribute

By HENRY MORABANG
FORMER PNG goalkeeper Adam Wangu has paid tribute to the late Dr Peter Pangkatana MBE, who died last week, as someone who contributed greatly to soccer in PNG particularly at former champion club Guria FC of Port Moresby.
Wangu said the club had lost a great man and one of its founding members.
Pangkatana, originally from Doyo-Lama, Sentani, West Papua died of a heart attack at his clinic at Tabari Place in Port Moresby.
Wangu described Pangkatana as a father figure to all the players. “He was there for the players, and the success of Guria at that time was through hard work and support from him and the other administrators,” he said.
Wangu, who works in Jakarta, Indonesia, was on holiday in Port Moresby when he heard the sad news.
The former international spoke highly of Pangkatana and his passion for football.
He said Pangkatana was always noticeable at the Bisini Soccer ground during the weekends.
Pangkatana was Guria FC founding president in 1978, and had contributed immensely to development of soccer both at the local level with the Port Moresby Soccer Association and the national level.
“He was one of the foundation members along with fellow doctor Hein Danomira (deceased), Adolf Hanessby, Mathew Itaar and Franzalbert Joku who gave their heart for the club during its infancy stages.”
Wangu said it was through the dedication of such people, Guria had become one of the soccer powerhouses in 1980s.
At the national scene, it was always Guria and Buresong while on the local front at Bisini it was Guria and University Inter football club.
Guria FC has produced some of the country’s best players for 33 years with names like Andrew Waho (deceased), Ruben Tama (deceased), AdamWangu, Adam Lema, Martin Laviong, David Laviong and Simon Emmanuel.