Peter Gunemba

The unpredictable happened when Lae City FC franchise owner, Ian Chow, announced cutting loose the services of founding coach, Peter Gunemba, yesterday.

Standing by his word to set high discipline standards within the franchise, Chow was aware that players loyal to the former coach may walk off with him.

Upon arrival yesterday at the Jackson’s International Airport, coach Peter Gunemba said making it to the quarter finals is a success story for the team.

Toti City Dwellers FC, formerly known as the Lae City Dwellers, were undefeated in their Group A matches, registering one win and two draws at Stade Yoshida in New Caledonia. 

They finished two points behind group leaders and hosts, Hienghene.

Toti City coach Peter Gunemba said the toughest teams were pooled in Group A, and the high competition pushed his boys beyond their limits.

The match this Saturday against Team Wellington at David Farrington Park in New Zealand will be the first time the two teams have crossed paths at an OFC tournament.

“I don’t underestimate them but I don’t underestimate my team either. It all comes down to who can play for the full 90 minutes.

“We don’t fear any team and I have all the trust in my team. I know our attack from the front will cause headaches. All we have to do is score and then defend.”

This was stated by Toti City FC coach, Peter Gunemba, after touching down today at the Jackson International Airport with the lads from Lae, Morobe Province.

Finishing second in the Pool A matches of the OFC Champions League 2018 played this month in Vanuatu, Gunemba said the team did quite well despite not having any lead up matches to the tournament.

However, the team still played four games which gave them enough workout to get them prepared for the tournament.

“Overall I was very pleased and proud with the performance of the boys.”

The Dwellers just didn’t click on game day resulting in their 4-1 demise to Nalktuan FC on Friday.

“We were supposed to play our best but something went wrong.”

Miscommunication between the back four cost them dearly, conceding four goals in the second half.

In attack, the Dwellers forwards didn’t have enough supply from the backline.

“We were thinking we would play better in the second half, even though in the first they raided our defence a few times. I know we can play better but I think they went in and went to sleep.

Dwellers’ 7-2 win over Tupapa Maraerenga FC over the weekend has not only put them on top in Pool A but also sent out an ominous warning to the other teams that the lads from Lae mean business.

The current standings:

There were mixed emotions after another close game that got away tragically as the boys lost two of their qualifying match in Pool A against New Caledonia and Vanuatu respectively.

PNG U20 Coach Peter Gunemba was happy with the boys for doing their best but unfortunately, missed out to qualify for the U20 world cup next year in Korea.

“We were determined to win this game but we knew it would only be by one goal or something, but we go out happy,” Coach Gunemba said.

Papua New Guinea national team coach Flemming Serritslev cast a critical gaze on the performances of players in Peter Gunemba’s U-20 side to see who might be able to step up to the senior side.

Primarily, Serritslev’s concern is succession planning so the process of transforming Papua New Guinea into a regional football force – a process which took a major step with making the final of the OFC Nations Cup in July – can continue.

Coached by Peter Gunemba and supervised by master coach Flemming Seritslav PNG will be among eight other Oceania countries to participate in the 13th edition of the biennial international tournament.

Participating countries include Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu and Cook Islands.

The qualifier will start on September 3 to 17.