The semi-professional club caused a major upset in 2010 when they beat the traditionally dominant Auckland based club Waitakere United in the OFC Champions League to qualify for their first FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Hekari United became the first Papua New Guinea, and South Pacific Island for that matter, not from Australia or New Zealand to be involved in a FIFA club football tournament at any level.
One man who played an important role in that victory, and who will be looking to do it again in the 2013 OFC Champions League, is talismanic striker Kema Jack. His hat-trick in the 4-2 victory, on aggregate, over Waitakere United in the 2010 Champions League final was without a doubt integral to the win.
Jack got his start in football, encouraged by his brother Moses, with a Kaparoko Village side, located about 80 kilometres south-east of Port Moresby the Papua New Guinea capital, which trained and played only at low tide.
In 2003, at age 21, Jack was invited to join Hekari United when it was formed in Port Moresby by John Kappi Natto. The fisherman by trade has gone on to become one of the most prolific and accomplished finishers in Papua New Guinea, both for club and country.
Jack represented his country at the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia and was also an important part of the side which travelled to Solomon Islands capital Honiara to take part in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup campaign.
Hekari United are currently leading Papua New Guinea’s National Soccer League with 18 points at the end of Round One, with a match in hand. And while continuing to dominate at home is a priority for the Port Moresby-based club, they will also be looking to repeat their 2010 performance in the 2013 edition of the OFC Champions League.
And if they manage to make it through group play against the champions from the Solomon Islands (Solomon Warriors), Vanuatu (Amicale) and Fiji (Ba), a victory in the final won’t come as so much of a surprise.
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg

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