Grudge match

FIREWORKS are expected tomorrow in Port Moresby when competition darkhorses, Gelle Hills, take on out-of-sorts Tukoko University Lae in an impending grudge match in the National Soccer League.
Hills coach, Wesley Waiwai, is expecting his Morobean imports to lead the team against their former teammates from Lae University.
Towering fullback Bofeng Garambini and his controversial skipper, David Taro, will man the backline while Leana Geno will take charge of the midfield and Anslom Waluka and Billy Pukup will lead the frontline assault.
Other players who should also shine against University include the underrated Amon Mckenzie, Nane Amona and Wayne Alau, if he plays.
Lae coach, Wopai Ziziga, will rely on star recruits Clifford Wate who has become the linchpin of any Tukoko offensive.
With support from supersub, Freddie Petello, and Mofat Deremoa, University will be hard to beat at Lloyd Robson Oval.
Wopai Ziziga said they need to win more matches before the competition ends this weekend and expects his side to pull out all the stops.
In the second match, University InterFC will take on Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC.
This match should be also interesting if the Morobe boys can continue their fine form by beating the Port Moresby team.
University, who have the cream of the crop in Port Moresby, has given coach Robert Popat a hard time in making selection choices.
In Lae, Eastern Star will take on Besta PNG.
Eastern Star, after missing several important matches on default, will be out in full force to record a big score to improve their percentage on the table.
Coach Francis Moiyap wants a win and will not let this slip away come tomorrow.
Besta will be without some of their regular players due to school committments. Many of their soccer players have returned to their various schools with coach Mathew Witu struggling to find replacements.
The Hekari versus Niupetro Fox match has been deferred due to Sir Kapi Natto’s death, while CMSS Tigers are on the bye.
This weekend completes the final match of round one.
Meanwhile, the PNG Football Association competition manager, Edward Tauloi, has asked match commissioners at both venues to observe a minute’s silence for the late Sir Kapi-Natto, a major support er of the NSL competition as he wholly sponsored Hekari United FC and partly sponsored Madang Fox through Niupetro Fuel Limited 
The points ladder after the midweek clashes will see minor changes with Hekari retaining the lead. The ladder is as follows: Hekari United 16, CMSS Tigers 16, Gigira Laitepo Morobe 15, Gelle Hills 11, Esiloan University Inter 10, Tukoko University 10, Eastern Star 5, Besta United 2 and Niupetro Fox 1.