Fans at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium were treated to a weekend of quality football from teams representing the four Papua New Guinea regions of Momase, Southern, New Guinea Islands and Highlands.
Having improved on last year’s performance to make this year’s final, Bougainville was unlucky not to pose a bigger threat to the well-oiled Lae side.
Lae goalkeeper Ronal Warisan was forced to prove his worth saving five direct shots on goal from the Bougainvilleans, led by Jonah Philip.
With Warisan taking care of things at the back, Lae were able to sink three goals in the first half followed by four more in the second, with Ian Yanum and Nigel Dabinyaba contributing a goal each in both halves.
It was Lae’s Eliude Fugre who opened the scoring with Yanum then setting up Dabinyaba for the second before running onto a cross from Agi Moses to score one of his own.
The lanky Moses was rewarded for his strong support play on the flanks with a calm header from a Yanum-delieverd corner kick, while a rebound off the cross bar from a Dabinyaba shot fell to Yanum, who made it 5-0.
Dabinyaba struck his second goal at the end of the third quarter before substitute Emmanuel Simon easily scored the last goal when the Bougainvillean goalkeeper let down his guard after thinking Simon was offside.
The Lae women’s team made it an even double for the association as they too earned their second consecutive Besta Cup title winning 5-4 but not before being given a run for their money by a spirited youthful NCD PSSA side.
Lae’s Megan Gunemba was essential to her team’s win netting a hat-trick in the final, while player of the tournament Sandra Birum also made it onto the scoreboard.
PSSA coach Eric Komeng says his side’s lack of experience showed against the veteran Lae team.
“Our girls are young compared to Lae but I believe they have given their best,” he says.
“As I said, they are a bunch of young girls but we look forward to coming back next year to ensure we take the cup back.”
Meanwhile Lae coach Otti Noah says his charges were well prepared for the match but commended PSSA for posing such a formidable threat.
“I must congratulate the girls as they gave us a good challenge but we are still the champions,” Noah says.
To qualify for the Besta Cup final, teams take part in one of four regional tournaments with the winners going on to the qualifying stages which find the top two men’s and women’s regional sides who enter the finals showdown.
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg

Share