After a win and a draw in their O-League fixtures, Solomon Islands soccer champions Koloale FC are cautious of the importance of the match against Hekari Souths United today.
Koloale arrived in Port Moresby on Monday for the return leg of the O-League Group B match against PNG National Soccer League leaders Hekari Souths United.
The side defeated Hekari 3-1 in Honiara last month and then went on to draw 0-0 with Ba FC of Fiji in Suva in their next O-League fixture.
Koloale Coach Luke Eroi said the team were gunning for more of the same style of play that earned them victory in the first clash.
However, he conceded that the Hekari they face would be a different kettle of fish after their raucous performance in Fiji, where they beat Ba 3-1.
“We are aiming for a repeat performance that got us the win in Honiara but we know that Hekari will have gotten a big boost from the Ba win and we’re probably going to face a new team high on morale,” Eroi reflected.
Koloale have further strengthened their line-up with the inclusion of Australian-based Henry Fa’arodo in the midfield.
Fa’arodo, who missed the Hekari match because of a one-match suspension, is currently on loan from Altona Magic FC in the local Melbourne competition and has played for Perth Glory in the A-League in 2004.
Koloale founder Peter Eke was confident his team would compete strongly but admitted that playing conditions would take some getting used to.
“Just give us a week to get used to the conditions and we’ll give Hekari a good game. The fields in Fiji and Solomons are of a high standard but I think we can adjust and the team is ready,” Eke said.
In a high stakes match, the winner of Group B will play the winner of Group A to decide who will qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in Dubai.
Story courtesy of Solomon Star News