Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League

FC Bougainville and Star Mountain played out a 1-1 draw while Gulf Komara picked up another three points with a 2-0 victory over Kutubu FC at PNG Football Stadium on Saturday.

In the triple header in Lae, Morobe United drawn nil all with Tusbab Stallions in the opening encounter.

Vitiaz United worked hard for a 1-0 win over FC Morobe Wawens.

But all eyes were on the matchup between defending champion Lae City FC and Hekari United who played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in the main game of the triple header.

Two of the matches played in Port Moresby included Vitiaz United FC against Gulf Komara FC and Bougainville FC against FC Kutubu.

The main game to watch was the Vitiaz and Komara, with Vitiaz comig out victors 1 - 0. 

While Vitiaz was the team to watch, Komara gave the favourites tougher challenge.

Both sides struggled to score.

Komara FC’s game plan was short-lived when Vitiaz scored their first and only goal to break the tie.

In the second match, FC Bougainville defeted FC Kutubu 3 - 1. 

In the opening match, FC Morobe Wawens will play host to vastly improved Laiwaden FC followed by one of the form team in the competition, Morobe United FC, taking on Snax Lahi FC.

Morobe United after last weekend’s nil-all draw against Toti City FC, sees them entering the match posing a credible threat to the table leaders.

Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League manager, Leslie Babaga, said the transfer window would be opened for only a week and closes on March 16^th, 2019.

He added that the Kumul Petroleum NSL office is calling on the clubs to start making arrangements for players’ transfer rather than leaving it for later.

The PNG Football Association and the Kumul Petroleum NSL board are confident all transfers will be done transparently to ensure all parties concerned benefit.

Babaga says he wants to see a professional approach taken in the process.

The highlands conference has six teams vying for the top two spots to qualify for the finals.

The six franchise clubs for the Highlands leg of the NSL are Aporomai FC from Hekari Soccer Association in Kutubu, Simbu Angra FC supported by Simbu Governor Michael Dua, Laima FC from Wabag backed by Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas and two teams from Mt Hagen – Blue Kumuls FC and Hagen FC – backed by Hagen MP William Duma. Kagua-Erave FC is supported by Vice-Minister for Sports and Kagua-Erave MP Wesley Raminai.