CONFIDENCE could not revive hopes of the national club champions, Marist FC, as they exited this Oceania League season last weekend.
The Patrick Miniti coached side were confident going into the crucial O-League match at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, last Saturday.But their optimism to stay in contention to qualify for the next stage ended with yet another 1-2 defeat to the PNG club champions Hekari Souths United FC.
According to fixtures, Marist FC has three remaining O-League matches after the break early next year. But it would not make any difference because they have a slim mathematical chance of progressing. It will take a miracle if Miniti’s side are to progress.
The National newspaper of PNG quoted Miniti yesterday saying it was very disappointing for his team.
“My boys played their best but found form too late which did not help their cause.
“We did not perform in the first half which cost us the game. It is a very big disappointment for us,” he said.
Captain Abraham Iniga said it was disappointing for Marist despite the late surge in the dying minutes.
He said the surface of the field (Lloyd Robson Oval) did not help his boys because a lot of them are not used to hard surfaces.
However, they would put this one aside and work from there in the remaining three matches.
Hekari assistant coach and Solomon Islander Tommy Mana said he was happy with the win.
He said the victory puts them back on O-League track, and means they must win their remaining matches to qualify for the finals.
Hekari’s franchise owner John Kapi-Natto was pleased with the result saying his team must pull up their sock if they are serious about contesting the O-League final.
With the victory, Hekari now sit third in Group B on four points behind Lautoka and Tafea FC on six and seven points respectively.
Marists are at the bottom of the table having not secured a single point in their three O-League matches and their hopes of qualifying for the next stage might well and truly over.
Marist plays two away matches to Lautoka and Tafea and one home match against Hekari next year but it will take a miracle for them to repeat the faith of Koloale and KOSSA in reaching the grand final of the O-League.
Marist qualified to represent the country in the O-League after winning the National Club Championship earlier this year in the tournament where six teams represented Honiara instead of the usual four.
In the previous years, the top four teams in the Honiara Football Association (HFA) Top eight Championship qualified to participant in the National Club Championship, which in this year’s case were KOSSA, Uncles, Makuru and defending champions Koloale.
Sunbeam and Marist were the two extra teams added into the championship.
By PHILIP LILOMO
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