PNG’s best lift Marist

FOUR Papua New Guinean soccer players have helped Marist FC to qualify for the 2017 OFC Champions League starting in February.
Marist is pooled in group D along with Tefana (Tahiti), Rewa (Fiji) and Vanuatu Team 2.
The four players are Daniel Joe, Tommy Semmy, Koriak Upaiga and David Muta, who were loaned by Hekari United in Port Moresby to assist Marist FC during their campaign in S-League.
Striker Semmy was the star by picking up a hat-trick of goals against Malaita Kingz 3-1 last weekend to book the first Solomon Islands spot on the Champion League.
Coincidently, the only goal for the Kingz was scored by another Papua New Guinea player, Michael Foster.
The second spot was given to United FC, which should see James Naka and his players trying out for their local club in Honiara.
Hekari United owner John Kapi Natto said he was pleased with the performance of his players, and would be happy to see them back once their commitment was over in Honiara.
“They are still part of Hekari United and they will lead the Hekari campaign in February,” he said.
Despite the football politics, Hekari United will still fly the PNG flag during the OFC campaign, along with Lae City Dwellers.
Hekari is pooled in group A where they would play Central Sport (Tahiti), runners-up of the qualifier, and hosts Magenta of New Caledonia.
Hekari will play their first game on Feb 25 against Central Sport, then on Feb 28, they play the runners-up of the qualifying challenge and on March 3, they will play Magenta.
Whoever tops the pool will qualify for the semifinals and the finals.
Other PNG players plying their trade overseas are Lae City Dwellers captain Raymond Gunemba (Hamilton Wanderers) and Nigel Dabinyaba and Felix Komolong (Canterbury) in New Zealand League).