HEKARI FC PLAYING IN SIR JOHN GUISE STADIUM

HERE is a picture of the main arena of the Sir John Guise Stadium, following the last post. This was taken on June 01 when Hekari FC played FC Port Moresby in the grand final of the semi-professional competition, National Soccer League (NSL).

Hekari beat FC Port Moresby 3-0.

Photo: Hekari FC (in red) play FC Port Moresby (maroon) in the National Soccer League in the main arena of the stadium.

This venue is to the south of the indoor complex (which you can see in this picture at the back of the grandstand, to the right).

Now, a bit about Hekari FC. Hekari FC is the champion semi-professional club of PNG.

It is the only club in a Pacific Island nation (apart from New Zealand) that has represented the Oceania region (as the O-League champion in 2009/2010 season) to the FIFA Club World Cup championship.

New Zealand clubs have always been the O-League champions.

Hekari is made up of players from PNG, Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Hekari FC is owned by John Kapi Natto and wife Vonnie (team manageress).   

There are a lot of stories going around that the discipline and principles adhered to by the Hekari players, as urged by the club’s management, are unmatched.

That has given their players an “edge” over others.

PNG (with its population of almost seven million) has a lot of talent – but the extra edge needed may be absent in most clubs.