Tuguba Laitepo vow to light up NSL season

TUGUBA Laitepo Morobe FC will keep the fire alive in the tough National Soccer League despite the inclusion of Unitech, also from Morobe province in this year’s competition.
TL Morobe team manager Stanley Khanna told The National yesterday from Lae that the team had focused on youth development including several younger players in its 25-man training squad.
Despite acquiring the services of former Welgris Highlanders Andrew Apo, Mathias Apo, Roger Miamel, Essau Nasa and Rodney Talau plus Madang duo Boiross Popolon and Robin Malwok, the Lae-based team is shaping well for the upcoming NSL season.
Khanna said franchise owner Libe Parandali had given him the blessing to recruit new and young players for 2009-10 season.
Apart from these players, the club was proud to announce that it had retained all its players including captain Mathew Yang.
“The players have been getting some verbal approaches from new franchise Unitech but the players have put their loyalty to Parandali who has always been a good sponsor and father-figure to many of the players,” Khanna said.
Khanna admitted that last year was not a good year for them after the nucleus of the team moved to greener pastures by joining CMSS Tigers Rapatona but he said it was part of game.
TL Morobe has retained its coach Max Foster while Raymond Nasa and the well-known John Peka came out of a sabbatical to support the pride of Morobe province.
The team manager said there had been a lot of enquiries from prominent Morobeans who wanted to assist.