Wawens play Dwellers to prepare for NSL

NATIONAL Soccer League (NSL) sides Morobe Wawens and Lae City Dwellers played out a goalless draw in a friendly at Lae Football Association Park on Sunday.
The match, which attracted a good crowd, was part of the teams’ preparations for the upcoming National Soccer League season.
Wawens, playing their third trial match ahead of the new season, were equal to the task against coach Peter Gunemba’s Dwellers whose strikers were kept quiet.
Dwellers also had strong defenders in Mossie Milubwa, Eddie Managu, Alwin Manase and Edward Joshua who snuffed out Wawens on every attacking raid.
The game seesawed throughout the match as both teams failed to make use of their scoring opportunities.
Gunemba told The National that he was happy with the friendly, especially the defensive part of the match where he had doubts, but his men rose to the task.
He said it was their first trial against an NSL side, apart from a Ramu select side who they played.
“I’m pleased with our general play as it has given us an indication of what areas to fix,” Gunemba said.
“I have confidence in my players.
“That is why I left (Papua New Guinea international) Raymond Gunemba out, so that we could trial most of our young players who are new to the NSL.
“I have a young team with a few experienced players.”
Wawens coach Jack Jonathan said his players needed to focus on their roles on the pitch.
He said the combinations of the team were good, but they needed to polish up on their attack prior to next Saturday’s season kick-off.
“We need to better in front of goal,” Jonathan said.
“We had scoring opportunities, but our strikers were unable to convert those chances into goals.”