Nation behind PNG part-timers

Papua New Guinean minnows Hekari United will be carrying the hopes of a nation when they line up in the FIFA Club World Cup this week.

Semi-professional Hekari made history in May when they defeated New Zealand’s Waitakere United 4-2 on aggregate in the final of the Oceania Champions League to secure their place in the big-money event in Abu Dhabi.

They will face home side Al-Wahda Sports club in their opening match on Wednesday, and club chairman John Kapi Natto said the whole country was behind them.

“It’s a great excitement for all of the nation not only us but I think we carried weight of Oceania region, the small Island nations as well as New Zealand,” Kapi Natto told Reuters.

“I think the crowd is just anticipating, trying to get themselves on TV tomorrow to watch live when the boys play tomorrow.”

“It’s going to be an exciting feeling and the crowd they just can’t wait to watch this match live and the whole country is behind us.”

“These island players they will give the best they have never given before.”

“I have told them to believe in themselves and to go out there and enjoy and play the island way of football and I think they will win tomorrow.”

If they overcome the first hurdle, the players could find themselves playing against some of the world’s best clubs, such as Inter Milan and Brazil’s Internacional.

Just scoring a goal would a good result for Hekari, considering most of their players juggle playing football with working full time jobs. Defender Gideon Omokirio is a bank officer in the Solomon Islands and Brian Tuhiana works for national airline carrier PNG.

But Kapi Natto said the team was as prepared as they could be for the big match.

“The team is very emotional, I think for them, they think this is an opportunity that might not come again in the next five or ten years,” Kapi Natto said.

“I think the coaches they have been going through with the team through different types of training and all that in preparing themselves.”