NSL back in capital

Sports

By ISAAC LIRI
SOCCER fans in Port Moresby will get to see National Soccer League action with tomorrow’s round two match between the visiting Besta PNG United and FC Momase at the Bisini soccer ground.
United, who lost 3-2 to Toti City last week in Lae, arrive in Port Moresby today feeling confident they can upset the debutants.
Coach Harrision Kamake said he saw enough in his side’s performance against the defending champions to suggest that they had the quality to trouble any of the other teams in the competition.
“We played really well against the best side in the country and I think if we can maintain that level against Momase we’ll do well,” Kamake said.
“We’re not writing Momase off because they have some NSL experience but we feel it’s within our capability to win this game.”
Meanwhile, Momase play their first NSL match tomorrow after they aborted the opening round fixture against the Southern Strikers.
The Port Moresby-based franchises (Momase and Strikers) will play their cancelled match on Jan 24.
PNGFA senior vice-president John Wesley Gonjuan said he was pleased to see Bisini was now available for NSL matches after they were initially refused the use of the venue by the National Sports Trust Limited, the body in charge of the state venue.
Gonjuan said the PNGFA and PNG Sports Foundation, whom the NSTL reports to, had come to an agreement to use the Bisini soccer grounds.
Gonjuan said the NSTL had agreed that the two Port Moresby-based franchises would be allowed to host matches at the venue.
“The main thing is that we have secured the venue because the youths want to play and that’s important,” Gonjuan said.
NTSL chief executive David Aua could not be reached for comment after a report claimed the NTSL had barred the PNGFA from using its venue on the grounds of its user-pay policy.
Meanwhile, the Southern Strikers arrive in Madang today to take on Madang FC.
In Lae, defending champions Toti City will fancy their chances against Buang. who play their first match after having the bye in round one.
Fixtures: Sat, Jan 20 – 3pm FC Momase v Besta United PNG, Bisini, Port Moresby; 3pm Toti City v Buang, Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae; 3pm Madang v Southern Strikers, Laiwaden oval, Madang.