Tufi wins Southern Cup

 By HENRY MORABANG

LITTLE known Tufi FC surprised the Southern Cup soccer challenge followers when they defeated a Port Moresby soccer association side 5-2 in the penalty shoot-out at Bisini Soccer Oval yesterday.

Tufi came from no where to brush aside pre-tournament favourite, Koupa, who settled for third spot, to advance into the grand final to win the major prize money of K10,000 and the championship trophy.

After a 1-1 draw in regular time, and also in the extra time, referee Albert Maru called for a penalty shoot out which a cool  Tufi used to get over Port Moresby.

The victory was sweet for the famous off-season soccer tournament, Tufi Soccer Association (TSA) which has been in existence for more than two decades promoting soccer among people from Oro province living in Port Moresby.

President of TSA Johnsford Bunaga was over the moon at Bisini Parade and said they were looking for more honours during the 2011 season. 

University settled for K3,000 while Koupa with K2,000 and fourth-place getter, Yamaros of PMSA picked up their refund of K1,000 registration fee.

In the women’s division, Mungkas defeated Gabutu 3-2 to win K5,000 along with the championship trophy. 

Gabutu collected K3,000 and Guria picked up K1,500 while Tufi women’s team collected K1,000 coming in fourth.

The week-long Southern Cup soccer challenge attracted 14 men’s teams including Western’s Tabubil Chauka, who were unfortunate to miss out on the finals. 

Only four teams played in a round robin format to see who would take out the placings for the women’s division.

The chairman of local organising committee and the newly appointed president of Port Moresby Soccer Association Komet Parkop said he was pleased with the tournament.

He said despite the short notice, he was pleased with teams in NCD putting their hands up for the tournament apart from teams from other centres in the Southern region.