F.C. Morobe Wawens

Morobe Wawens

Full name	Football Club Morobe Wawens
Founded	2017;6 years ago (2017)
Ground	Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium
Capacity	1,500
Chairman	Andrew Namuesh
Head coach	Jossie Kava
League	Papua New Guinea National Soccer League

Morobe Wawens are a professional soccer club founded in late 2017 and based in Morobe, Papua New Guinea.

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 which 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]

The club's 2019–20 season was relatively disappointing. Despite picking up their first win of the season on the second matchday against previous season's semi-finalists Morobe United, ^[24] they struggled both on and off the pitch – having a game awarded 0–3 against them in February 2020 after a dispute with the PNGFA regarding travel funds and outstanding payments from the previous season. ^[25] They eventually finished ninth out of ten teams in the division. ^[26]

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   IRN Farid Rouhi 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

• Papua New Guinea National Soccer League
  • 2018: 3rd
  • 2019: Northern Conference: 7th
  • 2019–20: 9th

Continental record

• OFC Champions League
  • 2019: 4th in Group B

References

1. "Papua New Guinea 2018". RSSSF . 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". RSSSF . 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". RSSSF . 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.
24. "Wawens claim win in Morobe derby – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
25. "Morobe Wawens threatens to take legal action against PNGFA". Oceania Football Center. 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
26. "Papua New Guinea 2019/20". RSSSF . Retrieved 2021-07-03.