Hekari to meet City for a spot in league

By PATRICIA KEAMO
NATIONAL Soccer League conference winners Hekari United (Southern) and Lae City (Northern) will battle for the country’s only spot in next year’s Oceania Football Confederation Champions League, says an official.
Papua New Guinea Football Association general secretary Pius Letenge confirmed this yesterday with The National following talks with the confederation’s competitions department.
“Usually two teams (from each country) are selected to compete in the Champions League,” he said.
“But due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the confederation has changed the format.
“Given that Hekari and Lae City are the top teams (each with 22 points) in their conferences, we will arrange for a match for them next year and the winner will prepare for the Champions League.”
According to the confederation, the revamped format will see 18 teams through the qualifying stage which will be made up of a qualifying tournament and national playoffs.
The national league winners for American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands will compete in a qualifying tournament where the winner will join the victors of the national playoffs in the finals.
PNG is one of seven nations that will be staging its national playoff between the top-two teams.
Hekari or City will advance to the finals with fellow victors of Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the winner of the qualifying tournament.
“Due to Covid-19, the confederation decided to reduce the competition and pushed the Champions League dates from early next year to August,” Letenge said.
“This gives time for Hekari and City players in the national men’s football squad to return to their clubs and prepare for the national playoff.”
Letenge said the nomination of Hekari and City was one of multiple resolutions passed during a league managers’ meeting on Nov 11 and endorsed by the association’s executive committee.
He said the decision was made in accordance with league rules and in consultation with the confederation’s competitions department.