F.C. Morobe Wawens

Morobe Wawens is a semi-professional association football club founded in late 2017 and based in Morobe, Papua New Guinea.

Morobe Wawens
Full nameFootball Club Morobe Wawens
Founded2017
GroundSir Ignatius Kilage Stadium
Capacity1,500
ChairmanAndrew Namuseh
ManagerJossie Kava
LeagueNational Soccer League
2019Northern Conference: 7th

The club took part in their debut Papua New Guinea National Soccer League season in 2018, finishing second in the regular season and as a result, qualifying for the 2019 OFC Champions League at the first time of asking.[1][2]

History

The club was founded shortly before the 2018 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League season, declaring interest in their participation as early as December 2017.[3] They were confirmed as participants ahead of the new season in early January.[4]

The side started relatively slowly in the campaign, losing their opening match against the previous season's runners-up Madang FC 3–1 after being a goal up, before a narrow 2–1 win over fellow debutants Buang FC allowed them to get their first points on the board.[1] On February 10, the club secured a shock 2–1 victory over NSL veterans Besta PNG United after being a goal down at half-time.[5] A 3–2 defeat to reigning champions Toti City followed, before a 10–1 win over Buang followed,[6][7] with the side becoming only the second club to ever score double-digits in National Soccer League history, following Hekari United's 10–0 victory over Besta PNG United in the 2009–10 season.[8]

As the season progressed, Wawens continued their good form and went into the latter stages of the season in second place, a position which would qualify them for the 2019 OFC Champions League. This final placing, as well as their qualification for the playoffs, was confirmed on the final matchday, 16 May 2018, after Besta PNG failed to beat Southern Strikers in their game in hand, leaving Wawens two points clear of the third-placed side.[9]

In the semi-finals, played on 20 May 2018, Wawens were narrowly beaten to the final by Besta PNG United, a side they had beaten home and away in the regular season. Wawens went down 1–0,[10][11] and went on to play Madang FC in the third-place playoff the following weekend, which they won 2–0.[12]

On 25 September 2018, chairman Peter Seske announced that he had secured a sponsorship for the upcoming OFC Champions League and National Soccer League seasons with American company Rush Soccer, a deal with he described as 'historic' for the region and for Papua New Guinea.[13] However, by early 2019, it appeared this sponsorship had evaporated, after it was reported several times in local media that the club were struggling to fund their 2019 OFC Champions League campaign due to lack of sponsorship.[14][15]

In November 2018, the draw for the 2019 OFC Champions League was announced, with Wawens being drawn into Group B alongside Lautoka of Fiji, AS Central Sport from Tahiti, and the runner-up of the Solomon Islands S-League.[16][17] However, shortly afterwards, it was reported that both Wawens and Toti City might be expelled from the competition, as neither club were currently members of an affiliate association of the Papua New Guinea Football Association – a requirement to compete.[18] These reports were disputed by chairman Peter Seske.[19] However, both clubs ended up entering the competition. Wawens performed poorly, losing all three of their matches and conceding 19 goals, scoring zero.[20]

The club had a difficult 2019 season, struggling to capture the form that they had found in the previous season, eventually finishing 7th out of eight teams in the Northern Conference.[21] On 30 March, Laiwaden FC goalkeeper Mikes Gewa was kicked in the ribs by Wawens' Jason Farrock, and the player was hospitalised.[21] The player died just under a month later in hospital.[22] It has been suggested that Wawens were unable to complete their fixtures due to risk of retaliation from fans in Madang. After securing sponsorship for the 2019–20 season, the club donated an undisclosed amount of money to Gewa's family.[23]

Current squad

Squad for the 2019 OFC Champions League Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  PNG Alois John
2 DF  PNG Kenneth Pilailo
3 DF  PNG Nathaniel Mcleod
4 FW  PNG Moses Kamakeng
5 DF  PNG Russel Kambaka
6 MF  PNG Giwi Simon
7 MF  PNG Michael Saun
8 MF  PNG Francis Isom
9 FW  PNG Joshua Panget
10 MF  PNG Elliot Foni
11 FW  PNG Bernard Purari
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF  PNG Donatus Bandi
13 MF  PNG Alu Awi
14 FW  PNG Jason Farrock
15 DF  PNG Livai Robin
17 DF  PNG Ferdallas Namuesh
18 DF  PNG Clarence Yorris
19 FW  PNG Abel Nema
20 GK  PNG Jason Bendi
21 GK  PNG William Napo
26 FW  PNG Ali Gawibo

Domestic record

National competitions

Continental record

References
  1. "Papua New Guinea 2018". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  2. "FIFA President congratulates PNG Football Club Toti City". Papua New Guinea Today. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  3. "NSL season to start next month - The National". The National. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  4. "Revamped NSL comp launched - The National". The National. 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  5. "FC Morobe edge Besta | Loop PNG". Loop PNG. 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  6. "Simon's hat-trick drives Wawen thrash Buang 10-1 - The National". The National. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  7. "Toti City continue winning run - Post Courier". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  8. "Double Digits Domestical". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  9. "NSL top 4 sealed - The National". The National. 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  10. "Besta FC makes NSL final - Post Courier". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  11. "United pip Wawens to book first NSL final - The National". The National. 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  12. "City hammer United to claim 3rd title - The National". The National. 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  13. "FC Morobe Wawens sign historical partnership deal - Post Courier". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  14. "Morobe franchise club gets help". Post Courier. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  15. "Wawens get timely commitment from governor". The National. 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  16. "OFC Champions League Group stage drawn". Football in Oceania. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  17. "Draw reveals 2019 OFC Champions League journey | Oceania Football Confederation". Oceania Football Confederation. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  18. "Queries arise over Morobe clubs eligibility to OFC champions league meet - Post Courier". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  19. "OFC claims 'nonsense': Seske - Post Courier". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  20. "Competition". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  21. "Papua New Guinea 2019". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  22. "Player's death sends shockwaves through soccer circles". Post Courier. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  23. "Wawens help late Laiwaden goalkeeper Gewa's family". The National. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
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