Maiyela claim double trophy at Eastern Papua Carnival

MAIYELA FC are the kings and queens of the 2017 Eastern Papua Carnival soccer competition which ended at the Bisini Park yesterday.
In the men’s Maiyela bagged their third consecutive title but it was not easy as they were stretched by Kiriwina Islanders — Latama into a penalty shootout in the end.
Maiyela won 4-3 and the man who saved the day for the team was experienced keeper Charles Lepani who defused what would have been the equaliser.
Lepani said after the shootout that he knew how the opposition players positioned their shots and stopped the direct shot at him.
Captain Emmanuel Liosi said the win was not easy as they were challenged strongly by Latama.
Both sides had the golden opportunities but failed to hit the target in regular time.
Member for Samarai Murua Isi Henry Leonard was present to witness the finals and commended the level of the game.
Leonard had a lot of praise for the Kiriwina village team for making to the finals.
In the women’s final Maiyela beat Solgen 2-0 to bag their maiden crown after a three-year campaign.
Captain May Mogi John was voted the best and fairest for her outstanding efforts.
Her father John, who coached the team, said the players deserved the win as they worked tirelessly throughout the tournament from the pool matches to the finals losing only one game.
Maiyela collected total of K12,000 in cash prize with the men’s winning K7000 and women’s K5000.
The men’s runners up Latama received K2500 and women’s runners up Solgen got K1500.
The competition is one of the longest and had deep history for over many years as the longest running competition.