By Jeremy Mogi – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
PKA Rapatona midfielder and captain, Michael Foster, has departed the Southern Conference side to join 2015 grand finalists Lae City Dwellers.
The move however isn’t surprising, with the current PNG representative, obviously moving to greener pastures with Lae set for the Oceania Champions League in April.
Foster has been key to Rapatona sitting in third placing in the National Soccer League (NSL) so far.
The roving midfielder has been able to settle the side’s young and often impatient attack by controlling that key area of the park. His loss will mean that Rapatona will struggle through the centre.
For Rapatona Coach, Max Foster, the loss of his finest player comes at a crucial time for both Rapatona and football in the country.
Currently in third place, Rapatona needs three straight wins from five matches to make it to second place – a difficult prospect without Foster.
But the midfielder leaves to PNG’s second city, and the quality that he will bring will certainly be a boost to Lae City, who take on the Pacific’s biggest clubs in the Oceania Champions League.
That is a sentiment also shared by FC Port Moresby Coach, Reginald Davani. Davani, who assisted former national coaches, Frank Farina and Ricky Herbert, understands the importance of good footballers given better opportunities.
He said that Lae City Dwellers will definitely be enhanced by his talent. Lae City are currently at the top of the Northern Conference table with three wins and two draws from five matches, and they will need to improve upon those results, considering they take on Club World Cup semi-finalists Auckland City in April.
