Wawa FC proudly dons its new PSL-standard jerseys for the first time, fueled to build momentum in the National Premier Soccer League.

Wawa FC’s rise continued on Saturday, June 6th as the young side from the newly established Wau Waria District in Morobe Province secured its first-ever victory in the National Premier Soccer League (PSL), defeating Milne Bay’s Kula FC 4-1 at the PNG Football Association Soccer Academy outside Lae.

The victory marks a significant milestone for the team, whose players come from some of the most remotest parts of the district, and are just experiencing national-level football for the first time.

After just two days of intensive training, Coaches Troy Gunemba and Bernard Tobem worked tirelessly to prepare the squad for the crucial encounter. Tobem focused specifically on strengthening the team’s defensive structure and goalkeeping performance, efforts that paid off during the match.

Michael Joseph led the charge for Wawa FC with a brilliant hat-trick scoring three (3) goals, and Alu Awi added another goal to seal the historic 4-1 win.

Wau Waria Sports Coordinator, Aron Bimbo described the victory as an encouraging step forward for a team still learning the demands of elite competition.

“These are raw talents from the remotest parts of the district, and they are now beginning to feel the momentum and intensity of football at the national level,” Bimbo said.

“There is still a long way to go in improving accurate passing, ball control, confidence in possession, creating space and building the stamina required to compete consistently at this level. But the progress they have shown is remarkable.”

Bimbo highlighted the unique challenges facing the squad, noting that many of the players had not played competitive football for years before being assembled for the PSL campaign.

“They’re coming straight out of their remote villages into this competition with little preparation compared to other teams. In their opening match they faced the defending champions and still managed to score. Unlike many PSL clubs, these are raw talent players and they are not coming from regular training programs or competitions.”

He also praised the discipline and determination shown by the players.

“The boys remained focused and committed. They now better understand what the PSL demands and are determined to approach every game with full strength and a stronger understanding of the competition. The goalkeeping performance was outstanding, and we believe the team will continue improving with every match.”

The arrival of their new PSL-standard jerseys also provided an added boost to team morale, helping the players take the field with confidence and pride especially for the first time in those jerseys.

Wawa FC’s goalkeeper rises to the occasion, denying every threat and keeping the scoreline intact

Coach Troy Gunemba join in to add that he too was immensely proud of how quickly the squad was adapting to the standards of national football.

“I was so proud of the players. They are completely new to this competition, made up of raw talents who came into the PSL without extensive training or previous high-level competition experience. Yesterday’s performance proved they are rapidly gaining momentum and developing to meet the standards required in this national league,” he said.

Gunemba said the improvement from previous matches was clear, with the team displaying greater pace, intensity, discipline and consistency throughout the full 90 minutes.

“The game was played at a much higher tempo than before and our goalkeeper was exceptional. What pleased me most wasn’t just the scoreline, but the fact that the players maintained their consistency right until the final whistle.”

“As their coach, I give full credit to the players for taking their training seriously and applying what they learned on the field.”

While celebrating the win, Gunemba acknowledged there is still work to be done.

“We have already identified the mistakes that led to Kula FC’s goal, and those areas will be addressed in our upcoming training sessions. This victory is only the beginning.”

An initiative by Destiny Party Leader and first-time Wau Waria MP, Hon Marsh Narewec, the club was established to promote peace, unity and identity for Morobe’s youngest district.