Lae eye title at hockey challenge

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

HOSTS of the Digicel National hockey championship, Lae Hockey Association, are confident of repeating their 2009 exploits of seeing their two teams face-off in the final and reclaiming the crown from defending champions National Capital District League.

Three years after hosting the event, Lae will again field two teams – Lae Green comprising experienced and old players and Lae Gold, the elite squad with promising talents between the ages of 18 and 21.

Lae Green coach Sae Dowara and Lae hockey official Michael Hebei said the first the challenge was for both sides to secure spots in the final. 

It will be a sweet revenge against NCD League, while the second will be for Lae Gold to avenge their loss when they last met in Madang in 2008.

Hebei said new players had risen through the ranks in the past three years, and with the expansion of the game into the districts, the competition was heading for an  exciting year.

While hope is on the Lae Gold to outperform their seniors with the brilliance and speed, it is the experience of the seniors in Lae Green that is their greatest weapon.

It is believed Angoram from East Sepik will attend, with participating associations expected to travel to Lae today, with the main event starting tomorrow.

The juniors event, which started yesterday, had given spectators and officials a glimpse of how dangerous the Gabensis hockey team was, after their juniors shone on the field despite their initiation into the national titles.

But Lae are on alert as NCD League are also looking forward to defend their title.

Meanwhile, Lae 2 and Lae 1 are leading the Under 18 points table in the girls and boys divisions respectively when five teams started the junior challenge yesterday.

In both divisions, Lae have two teams, Madang and Gabensis have a team each while National Capital District League (NCDL) have a team in the men’s division.

The highlight of the opening day saw debutants Gabensis shock Lae Two 2-1 in the U18 division while their girls drew Madang 1-1.

In the boys division, Gabensis are on second spot ahead of Madang, Lae 2 and NCDL who are yet to register a win.

In the girls division, Madang are on second spot, Gabensis third and Lae One have yet to register a win.

The best players from each match were awarded complimentary gift packs from Digicel PNG.