Kaipu is leading goal scorer

HEKARI United skipper Marie Kaipu still maintains her lead in the Southern Conference’s golden boot standings with 11 goals after three rounds of the Women’s National Soccer League.
The Papua New Guinea striker scored eight goals in Hekari’s 13-1 win over Amoana when the country’s premier women’s football competition kicked off three weeks ago.
The Pacific Games gold medallist showed no signs of slowing down as she scored another goal in round two against National Capital District and two more in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Port Moresby City.
Trailing the 23-year-old is fellow PNG international and Genesis skipper Yvonne Gabong who has so far scored 10 goals.
The 24-year-old scored all the goals in Genesis’ 3-0 opening-round win over Port Moresby Academy before netting a late effort in their 2-1 victory against Port Moresby City in the second week.
Saturday’s match against Central club Amoana saw a season-high for Gabong as she netted six goals in their 8-0 win over the conference cellar dwellers.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Poro forward Meagan Gunemba — another PNG international — is leading the Northern Conference’s golden boot standings.
After three (for the Southern Conference) and four (Northern) rounds of the season, the battle for the golden boot award appears to be three-horse race between Kaipu, Gabong and Gunemba.
The trio have represented PNG on the international stage, the most recent being last year’s Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.