Kepo helps Hekari edge Tavur

A FREDDY Kepo goal helped Southern Conference leaders Hekari United beat National Soccer League rookies Tavur 1-0 at Port Moresby’s Papua New Guinea Football Stadium on Saturday.
Despite winning, the Erickson Komeng-coached side were tested by cellar dwellers Tavur who put up a solid defence in the round-nine fixture.
“I’m disappointed that my players let the team down,” Komeng said.
“The whole team didn’t play according to what we expected.
“Tavur were out to beat us, so it’s a plus for them and a very disappointing result for us.
“We deviated from our structures and game plan. We turned over a lot of possession to the opposition.
“It was a dull game but we manage to come away with the win.”
With one eye on the finals, Komeng said he decided to rest experienced campaigners Nigel Dabinyaba, recovering from a hamstring injury, and Michael Foster.
“Nigel should be back on the pitch soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, despite the loss, Tavur assistant coach Andrew Marampau said he was pleased with his side’s performance. “The boys are getting better as the season progresses,” he said.
“I am now involved with the boys, with the absence of the coach (Hans Fred).
“I’ve looked into our weaknesses and we’re working on fixing them.
“Ball skills are an area I’ve identified so we’ll work on it during the week.
“We had opportunities to score but we lacked accuracy, timing and retention. These are other areas we’ll work during the week as we aim for at least a draw in our next match.”