Muta shines in 9-1 rout

 By HENRY MORABANG

FORMER international goalkeeper Scott Vavine rates Hekari’s David Muta as the best midfielder he has seen for a long time.

Vavine issued the accolade after the West New Briton lead the 9-1 rout of a lack-lustre Eastern Stars in the Telikom National Soccer League mid-week clash at the Sir John Guise Stadium yesterday.

Vavine said Muta read the game very well, and he knew where to put his next pass. 

Vavine, now a sports development officer with PNG Sports Foundation, said he was impressed with Muta.

“My only hope is that other midfielders come and watch him when he plays,” he said. 

“He is just a class above anyone at the moment,” the Makerupu villager from Central said.

Muta orchestrated the historic win, the highest number of goals scored in any single match since the competition started six years ago.

Striking pair Raymond Gunemba scored four, his frontline partner Joachim Waroi scored three and substitutes Samuel Kini and veteran striker Kema Jack picked one each to emphatically take the champions back to the top of the table.

The Stars lone goal came from good play by fullback John Ray, whose long range strike at goal hit the cross bar and Ben Max was there to tap the rebound into the back of the net for some consolation. 

Vavine said despite the score there were certain individuals in the team who were shining stars and Muta was no exception.

Muta and his Hekari boys needed the win to consolidate their position.

Manageress Vonnye Kapi Natto said she was happy with the win to go back to Oceania Champions League (formerly O-League) competition.

“We have four games, two against Besta FC, WNB Tavur and Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC. We need to win one more game to cement our minor premiership title, a ticket to next round of OFC Championship League in 2014,” the elated team manageress said.

The other match between Welgris FC and Gigira Laitepo was deferred to today.

Eastern Stars franchise owner Joseph Ealadona was disappointed, describing it a very bad loss.

“We know Hekari will come and play hard. We did not stick to what we talked about and play the simple football of passing and moving that Hekari played,” he said. “It is a very hard lesson for us.”