Toti City FC

Toti City reigns supreme

The boys from Lae beat Hekari United 5-4 in a very close encounter at the Sir John Guise Stadium on Saturday.

The atmosphere was one of high with anticipation and excitement as Hekari United supporters, donned in red, occupied one area of the stands while Toti City fans, in yellow and waving Morobean flags, could be seen at every corner of the Sir John Guise Stadium.

The 2019 grand final match between the two top semiprofessional football teams had supporters on their toes as the tug of war started on the pitch a few minutes after 3pm.

Toti City leaves for OFC Champions League

They will kick off their much anticipated opening match against AS Tefana of Tahiti on Saturday.

Coach Peter Gunemba said the team has been in camp for the past three weeks and preparation had been going well.

“We played one match in the Kumul Petroleum Holdings National Soccer League and we are working to iron out our mistakes from this game but with the help of the high performance centre, the boys’ spirits are high and looking forward to their games in New Caledonia,” he said.

Toti City sent packing

The home side raced away to a 6-0 lead at half-time thanks to a hat-trick from Nathanael Hailemariam.

The hiding continued into the second half with Team Wellington finding the back of the net five more times.

Forward Angus Kilkolly was the standout for his side, finishing with four goals to his name.

Photo credit: Team Wellington 

Gunemba trusts Toti will deliver

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.”

Coach notes improvement in PNG football

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.”

NSL standings after round five

The current NSL champions have made it four from four, putting them on top with 12 competition points. Following closely behind is Madang FC on 10 points.

FC Morobe Wawens are making their presence felt, registering their second win last weekend to put them in third spot.

Besta PNG United FC and Southern Strikers FC are in fourth and fifth place respectively and have both racked up three points each.

Bringing up the rear are FC Momase and Buang FC.

Matches in round six will be played in Port Moresby and Lae this weekend.

The current standings:

Toti City are ready

Coach, Peter Gunemba said the team will rely on home-grown senior players in skipper Raymond Gunemba, Nigel Dabinyaba, Emmanuel Simon, Jacob Sabua and Ronald Warisan for their campaign.

“With the injection of the two Solomon Islanders- Andrew Rarangia and Tutizama Tanito, I am sure we can win some pool matches to decide our next phase of play.

 “Carrying the flag of the country and Morobe province is not an easy task for us, but we will give our best shot at the competition to make our country, province and our sponsor Lae Biscuit Company proud.

Toti City depart for OFC League

The lads from Lae are in the same pool alongside Tupapa Maraerenga FC from Cook Islands, Vanuatu’s Nalkutan FC and Ba FC from Fiji.

Toti City will kick off their campaign against Tupapa Maraerenga FC at Korman Stadium on February 10.

PNG’s other team that will take part in the Champions League, Madang FC, have been slotted into Pool C.

Pool C matches will be played at The Trusts Arena, New Zealand, in March.

The winners of the 2018 OFC Champions League will qualify as the OFC representative at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Wins to Strikers, Toti City and Madang

In Port Moresby, Southern Strikers FC def. FC Morobe Wawens 4-3 at the Bisini Grounds, while in Lae, Toti City FC def. FC Momase 2-1 at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.

Up at Laiwaden Oval in Madang, hosts Madang FC def. Buang FC 6-1.

Besta PNG United FC had the bye this weekend.

Wins to Besta, Toti and Madang

At the Bisini Grounds in Port Moresby, Besta PNG United FC def. FC Momase 3-1.

Up at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae, Toti City FC def. Buang FC 8-1.

Across to Laiwaden Oval in Madang, hosts Madang FC def. Southern Strikers FC 5-0.