PREVIEW: South Island United vs PNG Hekari

South Island United looking for three points to end PNG adventure

South Island United want to finish their stint in Papua New Guinea on a high with a good performance against hometown heroes PNG Hekari FC in Saturday’s OFC Pro League match.

Coach Rob Sherman says the players were slightly disappointed with their 0-0 draw against Solomon Kings FC on Wednesday and hopes to secure three points in their next match to stay in the running for a top-four finish.

“We have shown in other games that we can be more consistent than we were against the Solomon Kings,” says the Welshman, who is expecting the local crowds to come out in force to support their team. “Playing on Saturday afternoon against the home team, we hope that the local fans will create a decent atmosphere that our boys can feed off as well.”

Hekari FC is currently bottom of the OFC Pro League and was agonizingly close to a first win against Vanuatu United, only to be denied after conceding a late equalizer from the penalty spot. The team suffered a major setback earlier this week when coach Marcos Gusmao quit his job for “personal reasons,” leaving assistant coach Jerry Allen to manage the team for the upcoming games.

Sherman says Hekari FC is a physically strong team with good ball players that cannot be underestimated, in spite of their recent results. “They will be keen to prove themselves in front of their home crowd, and they have players that can really hurt us in these hot conditions if we let them play,” says Sherman.

The coach says the South Island United squad is still getting used to its combinations after only playing four games together and expects considerable improvement as the OFC Pro League progresses.

“I totally believe in this squad, and we have shown how well we can play in several periods across every match so far. We just need to do that more consistently across longer periods and against every opponent,” says Sherman, who gave his team a day off from training on Thursday to visit a local special needs school and stretch their legs in a local mall.

A small team delegation also attended the Waitangi Day celebration at the New Zealand High Commission in Port Moresby on Friday.

“It was great for the players to experience a bit more of the country than just the football pitch and the hotel, and they enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with the children at the school,” says Sherman, who has been impressed with the arrangements in Port Moresby for accommodation, training, and matches.

“The hotel, the food, the stadium, and the pitches have been outstanding, and we really want to thank the people of PNG for looking after us so well,” says Sherman, who will have a nearly full squad to select his team from, with only Charlie Beale missing from the team sheet because of a niggling foot injury.

South Island United vs Hekari FCSaturday, kick-off 6.30pm NZT (3:30pm local time)

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