Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United scored a victory for football’s minnows when they qualified for the FIFA club World Cup on Sunday.
The PNG club left New Zealand champions Waitakere United’s dream of appearing in a third club World Cup in tatters despite losing 2-1 soccer in the second leg of the Oceania League final in Auckland.
Hekari United triumphed 4-2 on aggregate after a decisive 3-0 win in Port Moresby a fortnight ago and are now guaranteed a minimum $US500,000 ($A540,000) pay day from the club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in December.
Hekari assistant coach Tommy Mana described the result as a victory for Oceania’s smaller members.
“It’s a good moment for football in the island nations,” Mana said.
“The Fifa club World Cup is another step for us. We know it’s not going to be easy. It’s our first time at a World Cup. It’s a much higher standard and there is much work to do.”
Waitakere made the perfect start when player-coach Neil Emblen headed the New Zealand champions into a 1-0 lead from a third minute Neil Sykes corner.
But when goalkeeper Danny Robinson brought down Hekari’s Solomon Islands playmaker Alick Maemae to concede a 32nd minute penalty, Waitakere were left with a four-goal mountain to climb.
Kema Jack’s conversion of the spot kick gave Hekari a vital away goal and while Brent Fisher cut into the aggregate deficit with an 84th minute penalty, it was too late to prevent the visitors sealing a spot.
Emmanuel Baro
Guest
Hekari United have done PNG soccer reach a new dimension in soccer and i believe its also the melaneasian nations like Fiji and Solomon Islands who are also part of this success. Now its the world stage and the best place to show who we are as true melaneasians to play the beautiful game with flare and skill and give the best you can. David Muta yu ori bata ya, wanbel em stap
Steve Gallagher
Guest
We are so proud of PNG's achievement. We can do it PNG! Nothing is impossible, we can do it if they can do it, only if we give our best. So Hekari, give your best to the world and the best will come back to you. We can prove ourselves to the world that we can do the same thing they do. Love PNG team, David Muta lead the boys, you trupla country man.
Kumul
Guest
Wow for an amazing result and good on the boys. Hope they can pull on more upsets on the way in Abhu Dhabi. The franchise owners come from a region where Rugby League is King, but i admire their wisdom in taking a diffferent approach and different sport to its highest level yet in PNG. That $A540,000 when converted to PNG Kina is over K1.3 Million. An impressive return on their investment. If they do win to the next levels it means more money. Most of the country lives, breathes and dies rugby league yet i dont think a PNG rugby league team has won and come away with that kind of money, even the Kumuls at the world cup. Most soccer players in the pacific excluding Australia and NZ hope to play in teams in those two countries. But the management of Hekari managed to scout Melanesia for the best and their players from Fiji and the Solomons have also impressed. Now we just have to get that former french player(new caledonian origin) to be inviolved in some capacity. (only maybe not bring his porn star wife near the team - too distracting..lol) Well i have just been converted into watching soccer now i have a team to go for at the world stage....it they can do it then i hope the Kumuls will do the same at the 4 Nations this year.
Aka
Guest
Fantastic for PNG. I expect this will be PNG's equivalent of our Uruguay 2005 game.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
It's good to see a non-Antipodean side representing Oceania.