Strikers confident of strong campaign

By ISAAC LIRI
THE management of Southern Strikers are ready to embark on their second year in the National Soccer League.
After their inaugural year in the semi-professional competition last year, the club believes in not only being competitive this season but to promote development players who come through the Southern Strikers Academy and the Port Moresby Schools Football Association.
According to team manager Gordon Manub, the franchise believes in providing more opportunities this year with their talented side especially in terms of being a pathway to national representation.
With the Strikers playing against newcomers Star Mountain in front of home fans at the Papua New Guinea Football Stadium on Sunday, Manub is calling on parents, guardians and fans to come along and support.
Club board member Wesley Waiwai is also confident that the Strikers can come out bigger and better than last season under one of the leading female coaches in the country, Margaret Aka.
“We started our preparations for NSL last year and we have a team who can play,” Waiwai said.
“All our players see our participation in the NSL as an opportunity to improve themselves as footballers and I am sure they wouldn’t want to waste it.
“We have also recruited some skilled footballers from Central who took part in the U17 championships last year.
“Adding them together, we have a talented side.
“By the end of the season, we want to see some of our players making the national team and that is our main objective.”
The Strikers officially launched their season last night at the Lamana Gold Club in Port Moresby.
Star Mountain FC have also travelled down from Tabubil to Port Moresby and are eager to have their first taste of semi-professional football.