Race for fourth spot

By ROBINSON LEKA
THE race for the fourth spot of the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League continues tomorrow with Bougainville, Tusbab Stallions, Gulf Komara and Star Mountain eyeing round-17 wins in Lae and Port Moresby.
After a 2-1 win over Gulf Komara last week, the Stallions will be aiming to retain fourth spot when they face Morobe Wawens in the opener of Lae’s double-header.
“We’d like to reach the finals and that was our aim from the beginning of the season so we have to play hard and keep focused,” Stallions coach Rachel Wadunah said.
“We’re going to be working hard on our defence in our remaining matches.”
Behind the Stallions are fifth-placed Bougainville, who will be looking to register their fourth consecutive win when they face Kutubu in Lae’s main match.
David Passam-coached Bougainville remain upbeat about their top-four hopes with two rounds left.
“The top-four is something we’ve been thinking about but for our case, it will depend on other teams’ results,” Passam said.
“So we can only hope to play well and get those wins.”
Sitting in sixth spot are Gulf Komara who face Vitiaz United in Port Moresby with Komara’s Ilagi Geno, Kila Numa and David Hauka to miss out following one-match bans on disciplinary grounds. The main match in Port Moresby will see seventh-placed Star Mountain face competition leaders Lae City and Hekari United host Morobe United in the opening match at Papua New Guinea Football Stadium.
Fixtures: Sat, Sept 19 – Tusbab Stallions v Morobe Wawens, Hekari United v Morobe United, Kutubu v Bougainville, Vitiaz United v Gulf Komara, Star Mountain v Lae City.