Hekari get bankrolled

O’LEAGUE champions Hekari United have more reasons to smile ahead of their daunting Club World Cup mission in December after Bank South Pacific got on board with the country’s leading football club with a K100,000 sponsorship.
Having recently return from a short tour of New Zealand, Hekari have just over two months to prepare for what will undoubtedly be a massive step up in class as they look to equal previous Oceania representative Auckland City’s fifth place performance last year.
The Petroleum Resources Kutubu (PRK) backed club scored an unlikely 4-2 aggregate win over tournament favourites Waitakere United in the 2009-10 O’League finals to progress to the world’s  premier club championship.
BSP’s Rosemary Mawe said the bank was committed to supporting sports in the country and, to date, Hekari had done PNG proud.
“Hekari have done the country proud on several occasions, and we see the club as good ambassadors of our nation abroad and we are pleased to be stand behind their Dubai campaign,” she said. 
“Hekari have definitely made achievements that have earned their place and respect from all Oceania countries, and PNG as a nation, and we congratulate them in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi tournament and wish them the best.”
Hekari team manageress Vonnie Kapi Natto thanked BSP for their support which she said would help the club as they prepare for the World club titles.
She added that Hekari United FC had returned from the short New Zealand trip feeling stronger after three tough matches against NZ’s best sides.