Lae City Dwellers FC

Coach Peter Gunemba relies on a mix of youth and experience, with veterans Raymond Gunemba, Valentine Nelson, and Nigel Dabinyaba providing crucial support.

Midfielders Daid Tobem and Jason Wadunah are poised to play pivotal roles for the Dwellers as they aim to secure a spot in the finals. Gunemba remains cautious but confident that his team won't be an easy opponent.

Coach Marty Terry of Port Moresby Strikers anticipates a challenging encounter and places faith in veterans Michael Foster, Pascal Kundi to guide the young talents.

It was double the celebration for the undefeated Dwellers, who secured the minor premiership in the National Soccer League competition to automatically qualify for next year’s Champions League challenge.

Chasing behind are Madang FC, who also secured a spot at the Champions League.

The current standings:

Lae City Dwellers (28), Madang FC (19), Huawei PS United FC (16), Besta PNG United FC (11), Buang FC (8), Vitis Yamaros FC (1).

Competition Manager, Simon Koima, said finals for the NSL will be played next month. 

In the first match of the triple header yesterday in the nation's capital, Madang FC won the match against Besta PNG United FC with a scoreline of  1-0.

Dwellers outplayed Vitis Yamaros FC 6-1 during the lunch time match.

Meanwhile, in the main game, PS United defeated Buang FC 4-0.

The first match of the day will kick off at 10am between Besta PNG United FC and Madang FC.

This will be followed by Vitis Yamaros FC taking on Lae City Dwellers FC at 12:30pm.

In the main game in game eight of round two, Buang FC go head to head with Huawei PS United FC. This game is scheduled for 3pm.

Meanwhile, the current standings after game seven of round two: 

Lae City Dwellers (16), Madang FC (13), Huawei PS United FC (10), Besta PNG United FC (10), Buang FC (7), Vitis Yamaros FC (1).

The Dwellers opened their campaign with a 5-2 win over Vanuatu’s Malampa Revivors last Saturday.

The second match on Wednesday this week against defending champions Auckland City was a toughly fought encounter, with the Dwellers eventually succumbing 2-0.

Their last pool C match today saw them go down 5-3 to Western United from the Solomon Islands.

The final standings:

Auckland City (9), Western United (6), Lae City Dwellers (3), Malampa Revivors (0).

Goals to Western United in the 17^th, 21^st and 37^th minute of the first half had the Solomon Islands champions looking comfortable with a 3-0 lead.

The Dwellers managed to narrow the deficit just before the half-time break in the 44^th minute when Raymond Gunemba cut past Anthony Talo and fired the ball into the goal. 

Ken Kepe put the Dwellers right back in the contest in the 60^th minute scoring to trail by just one goal with the score at 3-2.

Auckland City dominated possession in the first half throwing everything they had at the Dwellers.

But the Lae boys were up to the task with some solid backline defence and brilliant saves from goalkeeper Ronald Warisan.

The match looked certain to go into the break at nil all, until the 44^th minute when Auckland City’s Clayton Lewis broke the deadlock firing a shot into the nets from a free kick.

In the two friendlies played, the Dwellers beat Suva FC 3-2 followed by a 4-3 win over the Fiji national team.

Gunemba believes the two hard fought wins have formed a vital part of his team’s preparations for the Champions League.

“It’s important to have games against high-level players and teams leading up to any tournament.

“To play against competitive teams such as the Fiji national team and Suva FC can only help boost our preparations,” said Gunemba.

Gunemba added he feels confident his charges are capable of causing upsets in the OFC campaign.

After a class performance in the OFC Nations Cup, which doubled as the Oceania Stage 2 Qualifiers, Gunemba caught the attention of clubs from Columbia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands and Vietnam, but after careful consideration decided to make the move to New Zealand and take up an offer from Eastern Suburbs AFC based in Auckland.

The high profile Lae City Dwellers FC striker was excited to get a taste of the level of overseas football, but is now looking forward to returning to PNG and representing his country again.