Hekari look to sustain run

By BENJAMIN KOITAKA
HEKARI United are keen to continue their unbeaten run when they face the Eastern Stars in the second leg of their home-and-away series at the Papua New Guinea Football Stadium on Saturday.
The second leg will see Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League Southern Conference runners-up Eastern Stars host Jerry Allan’s Hekari.
Hekari beat the Anthony Pakakota-coached side 2–0 last week and are aiming for a repeat to seal a spot in the grand final.
Solomon Islander Allan said they were keen to remain unbeaten and were preparing to come out firing on all cylinders.
“It’s an away game and our target is to win so we can go through to the grand final.
“We were good last weekend but we will need to improve in attack and defence if we want to get a result.
“Last weekend was tough and the Stars were dangerous in attack.
“But they remain weak in certain areas and we are working on our game to take advantage of them.
“They are a quality side and we expect them to be tough this weekend.
“They have quality players in Andrew Lepani, Gregory Togubai and Tau Winnie.
“So we will be working hard to limit their impact on the game.
“Lepani is such a man of great experience and a leader, and we expect him to perform his duty.
“He took the team up to where they are now and they won’t give up very easily.
“We contained him last weekend and he was inactive.
“But this time, it may be a different story.”
Allan said he will be relying on veteran skipper David Muta, his deputy Koriak Upaiga and the Kepo brothers — Atti and Kolu — to trouble the stars.