Minor premiership at stake in NSL

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE National Soccer League minor premiership is at stake as Lae City Dwellers host Hekari United in what could be a clash of the titans at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae tomorrow.

Both teams have won three games apiece but the hosts are favoured for the minor title, with five goals to their advantage.

Dwellers coach Peter Gunemba is wary of the kind of football Hekari play and has prepared his charges for the battle.

Gunemba, who has high hopes for the minor premiership title, told The National that his men must beat Hekari. 

He will bank on lethal duo Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba, who will be assisted by Joachim Waroi.

All three are former Hekari players now playing from the opposite end of the pitch and it would be interesting to watch how they face up to their former teammates.

Hekari coach Jerry Allen does not want to talk much but would rather allow his men to do the talking on the field.

He said he would not count on his side’s clean slate over the Dwellers during the regular season but would work hard to prove that Hekari was still the best club in the country.

The Solomon Islander will depend on his midfield trio of David Muta, Emmanuel Simon and Wira Wama to call the shots.

However, he is mindful of the pace of Gunemba and Dabinyaba, who could easily put the Hekari defence in all sorts of trouble.

Hekari defenders Daniel Joe, Tekieta Remuera, Jone Vesikula and Otto Kusunan must rise to deny the Gunemba- Dabinyaba onslaught.

Acrobatic goalkeeping by Ishmael Pole was the deciding factor against Welgris Morobe United, and he is expected to rise against Lae City Dwellers.

In the other Champions League game in Port Moresby, Welgris Morobe United coach Raymond Nasa is keen on avoiding the tailender tag and must beat Rapatona to prevent that.

Likewise, Rapatona coach Selan Elijah is interested in the three competition points and will send his charges out to get them at all cost.

This should be an entertaining encounter.