The Junior Futsal Tournament in Lae ended successfully on Friday with a good turnout attending the final day. A PNGFA spokesperson said technical staff had found and identified excellent young talent full of creative skills in the game despite futsal being new to the country.
St. Paul’s Primary school were too strong for Chevasing in the U12 Girls Grand Final winning comfortably 2 – 0. In the U13 Boys Grand Final Bugandi prevailed over Gagidu of Finschafen.
The U14 Girl’s Grand Final provided a highly competitive game between Taraka and Ramu Primary Schools. Taraka took the lead with a goal in the first half however, a Ramu player equalized late in the second half.
There was huge expectation of a penalty shoot out between the teams but a Taraka snatched a late win with a solo effort with minutes remaining.
The U15 Boys Grand Final capped off the Futsal Tournament with Western Star of Finschafen and Holy Spirit Primary School of Madang battling all the way to a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Western Star of Finschafen held their nerve and won 2 – 1.
Western Star was rated by the the public as the best keeper in the tournament when he saved four out of the five penalties Holy Spirit took.
A Western Star spokesperson said the team was elated at winning the inaugural tournament and would strive to retain their title next season.