By Jeremy Mogi, EMTV Sport – Port Moresby
Hekari United Football Club has taken the first step in creating a pathway for central provincial players to get a crack at the big league, by creating the first-of-its-kind Central Cup Challenge.
Featuring 12 teams from the Rigo District, tournament organisers have said that this concept is a stepping-stone to greater things for Central players.
The tournament featured teams from the Rigo villages of Hula, Babaka, and Keapara and was fast paced from the onset. 12 teams vying for top honours, with individual players also being scouted as potential National Soccer League players.
President of the Kamali Soccer Association, Maino Kwalimu, has said he is ecstatic about the opportunities for his players, especially after the success of the Koupa teams during last year’s BESTA Cup.
Tournament Organiser, Kevin Isorua, who is also part of Hekari’s support staff, said the concept was only in its infancy, but that it could grow to become something bigger in the future.
Former Hekari goalkeeper Gure Gabina, who was part of the success of Hekari United to the Club World Cup in 2010, believes that more central players can reach the heights that he and only a handful of other players from Rigo have done.
In the days midday match, a rampant Papaka 2 thrashed a hapless Alukuni 7-0, showcasing the potential that many of these players could have on the national scene.
