Hekari Smashed Dwellers to Defend Women’s Title

The flamboyant Hekari United FC produced a masterclass performance with a comprehensive 7-0 victory over the Lae City Dwellers FC in the 2024-2025 Women’s Conference Soccer League (WCSL) Grand Final to retain their title on Saturday, February 15th, 2025, at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Both teams strutted their stuff in the early proceedings of the contest with fiery exchanges and created opportunities to score goals, but each side’s resolute defense ensured that no one was able to find the back of the net, leaving the first-half score at a stalemate. 

In the second half, the MRDC-sponsored Hekari United turned the screws on and ran rings around the fatigued girls from ‘Rainy Lae’ to register 7 unanswered goals, claiming their back-to-back women’s title.

Inspirational midfielder, Ramona Padio scored a treble while Michaelyn Butubu picked up the brace, and Hortance Kimit and goal-scoring sensation, Marie Kaipu bagged a goal each to seal the deal for the undefeated champions.

Coach Erick Komeng gave credit to the Dwellers and admitted that despite a sloppy first-half performance, Hekari regrouped and flexed their muscles in the second spell, bringing the visiting Peter Gunemba-coached side into submission. 

“The Dwellers came with very good players and put in a good performance in the first half, so I give credit to the Dwellers for giving us a good game in the first half,” Komeng said.

“We struggled a bit in the first half, but picked up some of our weak areas and worked on improving those weaknesses in the second half, scoring all our goals and showing the quality of our team.”

Komeng mentioned that the girls would go for a three-week break and resume training in preparation for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Women’s Champions League slated from May 4-17 in Papeete, Tahiti.