Hekari cry foul over unruly behaviour

HEKARI United have cried foul over the unruly behaviour of soccer supporters during the triple header of Telikom National Soccer League (NSL) fixtures at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae, Morobe province, on Saturday.
Hekari United team manageress Vonnie Kapi-Natto, who was disappointed, made the comments when her team management and players were on the receiving end of the verbal abuses and threats.
She was stunned to see it happening at a high level football competition in PNG.
Mrs Kapi-Natto, who is from Solomon Islands, raised concerns because she had several international players who were brought in to beef up Hekari’s FC quest in O-League challenge.
“What disappointed me was the behaviour of spectators who were very abusive to my coaching staff and players.
In fact, a plastic containing alcohol was thrown at her and just missed her.
“It was really shocking,” she said. 
Despite a record crowd watching the three matches, the incident  brought all the excitement at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium to an all-time low.
She said it would mean that there was no guarantee for the safety of her officials and players and she intended to stop Hekari travelling to Lae for their remaining matches.
She also challenged Lae-based NSL match commissioner Oti Atu why there were no security or police personnel during the game.
Soccer spectators from Morobe province, she claimed, were renowned for creating problems and disharmony, especially against visiting teams from Port Moresby and outside centres.
Mrs Kapi-Natto said as a former player and coach, Atu should have known by now.
She added that such behaviour would only taint the good image of football in PNG.
Hekari FC are committed to supporting football and it would mean getting the best of the PNG players, blended with a few internationals to raise the standard in the country and the region like the O-League.