Hekari on song
The National, Thursday 9th May 2013
By LARRY ANDREW
FORMER Besta PNG United player Nigel Dabinyaba yesterday gave Hekari United the Telikom National Soccer League Minor premiership.
Dabinyaba struck two vital goals in the opening quarter as the national champions took control of the game.
That opened the floodgates as Hekari humbled the development side 5-0.
The victory on a water-logged Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium pitch yesterday gave the Reds the minor premiership and guaranteed them another season in the Oceania Champions League next year.
The win took Hekari to 32 points, too far ahead for second placed Besta PNG United on 27 points with two games remaining.
It looked like anybody’s game in the slippery conditions but Dabinayaba struck in just 29 seconds.
He drove home the opening goal after a superbly timed pass from Joachim Waroi to make it 1-0.
He made his double in the 15th minute when he neatly placed the ball by the goalpost to make it impossible for Besta goalkeeper Benjamin Wilbert to reach it.
The game seesawed until Gunemba scored in the 67th minute to extend Hekari’s lead to 3-0 and then backed that up eight minutes later for his brace and a 4-0 lead.
With three minutes remaining, Wama completed the rout.
Hekari 5 (N. Dabinyaba 1, 15, R. Gunemba 67, 75, W. Wama 87) Besta PNG United 0. HT: 2-0 Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.