Lae sides into U17, U20 Youth Football playoffs

 AFTER a hectic three days of soccer at the Lae Football Association park in Lae, the Tablebirds National Youth Football championship will end today with the semi-finals and final.

The Lahi Under-20s have fared well since Tuesday and currently top Pool 1 followed by Port Moresby while sister association Lae tops Pool 2.

Before today’s semi-finals kick off NCDPSSA and Madang will have a penalty shootout to decide who progreses to play Lahi in the the semi-final. In Pool 2, PMSA take on Lae. The U17’s only pool will see Madang battle with Bialla in their semi-final while Lae and Lahi play in the other semi-final.

Lahi coach David Malongalong said his girls had prepared well with no injury concerns.

“Definitely I have confidence in the girls I have trained them and believed that we will give the other teams a real good challenge,” he said.

Malongalong expects a strong challenge from sister association Lae in the U20 division and singled out Madang as a threat.

Some players and officials have claimed there were no medical personnel on standby during the tournament and made calls for improvement in this area.

Organisers are hoping for a dry day today after a rain-marred tournament.