Hekari to Meet Dwellers in Women’s Big Dance

The 2025 Women’s Conference Soccer League (WCSL) competition is ready to stage its Grand Final tomorrow (February 15th) at the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby, when the Hekari United FC go head-to-head with the Lae City Dwellers FC.

These two rival clubs last met in the 2022 grand final, where Hekari belted the Dwellers with a 4-1 victory. The Peter Gunemba-coached girls have a score to settle with the MRDC-backed defending champions. 

This decider shapes up to be a mouthwatering blockbuster as both sides fight for the ultimate bragging rights, which is the coveted trophy, and of course, set their sights on securing a spot in the Oceania Football Confederation’s Champions League slated for March. 

Hekari have remained undefeated in the Southern Conference competition, amassing over 100 goals and conceding zero goals against their opponents, while the Dwellers also had an unbeaten run in the Northern Conference competition and imposed their presence.

Reflecting on their loss against Hekari in the 2022 big dance, coach Peter Gunemba said they had learned their lesson and have worked really hard to match the high-flying Hekari in all departments tomorrow. 

Conversely, coach Erick Komeng mentioned that his girls must not be complacent, but improve on some of their weaknesses and flex their muscles on the biggest day of the women’s football calendar in PNG. 

The reigning champions (Hekari) will be led by prolific goal scorer, Marie Kaipu alongside skillful midfielder Ramona Padio, bolstered by the two new Fiji recruits, Maria Veronika and Adi Litia Bakaniceva, and backed by Michaelyn Butubu, Phylis Pala, to name a few.

On the flip side, the girls from ‘Rainy Lae’ (Dwellers) will be skippered by Meagan Gunemba, with the support of teammates Keren Kalapai, Kesai Kotome, and Honoreah Kaizam, who are upbeat to face the formidable reds.  

With both Hekari and Dwellers having winning momentum at their backs, the 2025 WCSL Grand Final showdown promises to light up the PNG Football Stadium and make the fans of the respective teams go crazy, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.