Last year, YFC Lions beat FC Wantoks 1-0 in the grand-final. The victory was a memorable achievement for player/upcoming coach Eric Komeng, who could not play because of injury but Captain Daniel Joe ensured that they won the match after setting Koriak Upaiga for the only goal of the match.
Wantoks showed their all-round strength winning four of the five grades on the grand-final schedule. The men’s A-League victory was icing on the cake for the club, who earlier won the title in the women’s competition beating Lions 2-0.
In the Under-19 men’s final, Wantoks beat Lions 2-1 and in the U15 girls Wantoks scored a 2-1 win over Tarangau. Lions won U17 boys final 3-2 over Wantoks and Morata Roots won the U15 girls final on forfeit against Murat.
The men’s A-League final was mostly a tense and torrid affair. Wantoks’ Roland Conn and Philadelphia Vela missed chances to score and the Lions also came close through Rube Kai as both sides showed their nerves on the day.
Goalkeepers David Kavulio (Wantoks) and Felix Belu (Lions) had strong games. With the half-time score at 0-0, the second half was always was going to come down to which could capitalize better on any opportunity.
In the second half, both teams came back strongly with peep talk from respective coaches, Komeng (FC Wantoks) and John Pips (YFC Lions). The Lions opted for long balls but Wantoks’ defenders Roger Kareva, Brian Tuhiana, Daniel Joe and Lole Wainama were up to the task while Lion Danny Ling stood out.
It was midway through the final half when Upaiga headed in the match-winner which Joe supplied.