Fugre praises team

By ROBINSON LEKA
VITIAZ United skipper Eliud Fugre has praised his men for working hard to reach Saturday’s Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League grand final in their debut season.
They beat perennial contenders Hekari United 4-3 via a penalty shootout after a 2-2 scoreline at the end of regulation time at Papua New Guinea Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Vitiaz, who finished the regular season a place behind Hekari in third spot, will now face reigning champions and minor premiers Lae City (7pm kick-off).
Fugre said the hard work and commitment of his teammates and club officials, including the coaching staff, had paid off in the country’s premier football competition. “Despite Hekari’s equaliser (2-2) in regulation time, I had confidence in my men,” the former Morobe United skipper told The National.
“I told them that we would win if we kept calm and played our game.
“We’ve been working hard all season and Saturday’s grand final will be no different.
“We’re determined to give a good account of ourselves against City.
“We’re happy to be in the finals and even happier to qualify for the big one.
“But now we have to return to training and work on what we didn’t right against Hekari.
“We have to be prepared for anything that City throw at us.”
Fugre said Vitiaz, who are made up mostly of Lae-based players, and City were no strangers to each other.