South Island United aim to end their PNG tour strongly against Hekari FC in Saturday’s OFC Pro League match.
South Island United wants to finish their stint in Papua New Guinea on a high with a good performance against hometown heroes Hekari FC in Saturday’s OFC Pro League match.
Coach Rob Sherman says the players were slightly disappointed with their 0-0 draw against the Solomons Kings FC and hopes to secure three points in their next match to stay in the running for a top-four finish.
“We have shown in other games that we can be more consistent than we were against the Solomon Kings,” says the Welshman, who is expecting the local crowds to come out in force to support their team.
“Playing on Saturday afternoon against the home team, we hope that the local fans will create a decent atmosphere that our boys can feed off as well.”
Hekari FC are currently bottom of the OFC Pro League with a single point, and were agonisingly close to their first win against Vanuatu United, only to be denied after conceding a late equaliser from the penalty spot.
The team suffered a major setback earlier this week when coach Marcos Gusmao quit his job for “personal reasons”, leaving assistant coach Jerry Allan to manage the team for the upcoming games.
Sherman says Hekari FC is a physically strong team with good ball players that cannot be underestimated in spite of their recent results.
“They will be keen to prove themselves in front of their home crowd and they have players that can really hurt us in these hot conditions, if we let them play,” says Sherman.
The coach says that the South Island United squad are still getting used to their combinations after only playing four games together and expects considerable improvement as the OFC Pro League progresses.
“I totally believe in this squad, and we have shown how well we can play in several periods across every match so far. We just need to do that more consistently across longer periods and against every opponent,” says Sherman, who gave his team a day off from training on Thursday to visit local special education centre Cheshire School and stretch the legs in a local mall.
A small team delegation also attended the Waitangi Day celebration at the New Zealand High Commission in Port Moresby and invited High Commissioner Peter Zwart and his staff to the match to support their fellow Kiwis.
“It was great for the players to experience a bit more of the country than just the football pitch and the hotel, and they enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with the children at the school,” says Sherman, who has been impressed with the arrangements in Port Moresby for accommodation, trainings and matches.
“The hotel, the food, the stadium and the pitches have been outstanding, and we really want to thank the people of PNG for looking after us so well,” says Sherman, who will have a nearly full squad to select his team from, with only Charlie Beale missing from the team-sheet because of a niggling foot injury.
South Island United vs Hekari FC
Saturday, kick-off 6.30pm NZT
South Island United players get a warm welcome at Cheshire School.
SOURCE: SOUTH ISLAND UNITED PRESS PELEASE
