PORT MORESBY – Inspac Rapatona coach Posman Kisakiu says his tea must produce some Manusian magic for it to defeat PNG National Soccer League table toppers Hekari – or bid farewell to its season when they play their last match against Hekari this weekend.
Inspac Rapatona will play their crucial match on Saturday hoping to keep its finals hopes alive despite its fourth spot on the Telikom NSL Cup competition ladder.
After an unbeaten run in the first round, Rapatona has endured a torrid second round losing a host of key fixtures that has left it struggling in mid-table obscurity.
Rapatona’s task is made even more daunting by the fact it has failed to defeat Hekari in nearly two seasons of NSL Telikom Cup football.
Kisakiu is making a critical game plan that will stand against Hekari tomorrow. One option available to Kisakiu might be to use Elijah Stigmata, John Baulo, Ricky Mesak, and Kialou Pouru to create a brick wall in the defensive backline and use the pace of Robert Diau and Chiquie Posman in the midfield and Selan Elijah, Ravu Habuka and Percy Mataio in the frontline to play Hekari on the counter attack.
This likely lineup might do for Rapatona in its last match in the competition tomorrow but Kisakiu as to sit down and look at the game plan twice to defeat Hekari.
Competition leader Hekari United is well prepared and more confident for the match tomorrow.
As they are leading the ladder with 23 points it won make a difference whether they loose of win but Hekari coach Jerry Allen doesn’t want to lose any of his last crucial games as he thinks keeping a good run of form and competitive edge are very important for the clubs playoff ambitions.
Allen will use the same line-up that defeated Rapatona in round one but might make one or two little changes due to losing players to the Papua New Guinea U-23 team for the Olympic Qualifiers in Fiji.
Jacob Pekau, Tasalo Niembo and Brian Tuhiana will never let a single Rapatona bypass them.
Andrew Lepani and Solomon Islands player Benjamin Mela will fight for the ball in the middle while Kema Jack will look for opportunities to increase his goal scorer tally with Michael Lohai.
In the other match Welgris Highlanders face its own do or die match to fight for a top four spot while Gelle Hills will struggle hard against Welgris to maintain their second place.
Welgris coach John Bain is confident regardless of losing his key players Samuel Kini and Koriak Upaiga to the Papua New Guinea U-23 team to Fiji.
Bain hopes Welgris can achieve a positive result despite its many challenges.
The points ladder after game thirteen (13) is Hekari United is leading with 23, Gelle Hills with 19, Morobe Kumuls on 17,Inspac Rapatona on 16 Welgris Highlanders on 14, Besta Fighters on 10 and Madang Fox on 4 points.