Former Amicale and Tafea FC striker, Joses Nawo inspired Western United to yet another victory on Saturday and with it the vital three points they needed to claim the Telekom S-League trophy and qualification for the 2015 OFC Champions League.
A hat-trick from the influential Nawo, who is currently in devastating form, a double from James Naka and a first half penalty converted by Benjamin Totori helped United to a routine 6-0 win over Koloale FC.
The result rendered Solomon Warriors’ 5-2 win against Marist Fire also on Saturday meaningless and sees Western United crowned the Telekom S-League champions, having missed out to Warriors last season.
United fans streamed on to the pitch at the final whistle to mob their heroes, with both players and supporters forming orange scenes of celebration.
Western United remains four points clear of former champions and closest rivals Solomon Warriors with only one game remaining for both teams this season, meaning a defeat for United next weekend will not stop them from lifting the S-League trophy.
This will be Western United coach Commins Menapi’s first major trophy since taking up a coaching role and he will go on to take his talented squad to the OFC Champions League, a competition he won as a player with Waitakere United of New Zealand.
United’s transformation into champions may somehow be credited to new owners and sponsor Douglas Concrete who have splashed the cash in recruiting some of the country’s top players and it was certainly money well spent.
With the inclusion of players like Nelson Sale, Jack Wetney, Benjamin Totori, James Naka and Joses Nawo, all of whom have been priority targets for other clubs in the region in recent years, Western United have dominated this season.
And Saturday’s dismantling of two time S-League champions Koloale FC proves the new-found strength the club possesses after second place finishes in the last two seasons.
And it was their energetic right winger Nawo who gave the side the extra push in the match against Koloale.
Naka opened the scoring for United after an error by Koloale FC’s goalkeeper Shadrack Ramoni before Totori doubled from a spot kick to wrap up a rather nervy first half by United.
The second half was all Joses Nawo as he was almost unstoppable down that right flank powering in a third goal for United within minutes of the restart.
Nawo grabbed his second and fourth for United in similar fashion before Naka guided in a well placed free-kick from the assured boots of Totori.
Nawo wrapped up a commanding individual performance for the former Amicale FC man with a simple tap in to make it 6-0 booking Western United’s ticket to Oceania’s biggest club competition, the OFC Champions League to be hosted in Fiji in April later this year.
Western United is pooled in what has already been described as the ‘pool of death’ comprising of defending champions Auckland City, Vanuatu champions Amicale FC and Fiji champions Suva FC.
For more on Solomon Islands football visit www.siff.com.sb.