Reds keen on ending NZ’s dominance

 By HENRY MORABANG

FORMER champions Hekari United want to break the New Zealand dominance in the OFC Champions League as the action kicks off in Auckland, New Zealand this afternoon.

Group C gets this OFC championship underway at QBE Stadium; the two PNG representative clubs, Hekari United and Lae City Dwellers, are set to keep the football busy over the weekend.

For Hekari’s first game tomorrow, franchise owner John Kapi Natto has instructed his coaching staff and players to go one-step better from their previous outing by making the semifinals of the region’s premier club competition. 

He said New Zealand clubs had dominated the competition since its inception. New Zealand teams had earned nine title wins to Australia’s three before the latter broke away from the region.

The franchise owner said he was pleased that Hekari was the only team to break that stranglehold, with a triumph in 2010 and went on to represent Oceania at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.  

Kapi Natto told The National from Albany, Auckland, yesterday that he was confident that his team can repeat the performance.

Hekari will open PNG’s campaign tomorrow against AS Lossi of New Caledonia, while Dwellers will take on Amicale FC of Vanuatu on Sunday.

Kapi Natto, who wished Dwellers all the best in their pool, was more concerned that his side produced positive results.

Kapi Natto told players to believe in themselves and give their best for their club and the country.

Hekari, with a majority of PNG representative players, who will be assisted by international players Pita Bolaitoga, Tekieta Numeura (Fiji), Joses Nawo and Gagame Feni (Solomon Islands), and Barry Mansale (Vanuatu), should show good results.

Debutant Felix Komolong, who has come of age and played remarkably well, will play in place of Pita Bolaitoga.

Kapi Natto will rely on skipper David Muta, Wira Wama, Tommy Semmy, Daniel Joe and Koriak Upaiga to play a big part in ensuring Hekari advance to the semifinal.