By CHARLIE DUMAVI
HAVING footballers with a high intelligence quotient (IQ) has been a building block for Kalibobo United FC (KUFC), with the club now vying for a spot in the 2023-2024 PNG National Soccer League season.
The club was formed in 2016 by Ezekiel Huambai, who was a student then at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).
The team participated in the B league division of the National Capital District Soccer Association (NCDSA) 2016 season and finished on top the table.
The following year, KUFC made the A League division and finished the season in top eight, maintaining that performance for consecutive seasons until its maiden A league victory against Hekari United Academy in 2022.
Huambai said his club focuses its recruitment drive around footballers that are attending tertiary institutions in Port Moresby.
He said this forms the secret ingredient of his club’s successes and is looking to build on that in the NSL space.
Huambai said he has been observing teams in the local competitions and also champion teams overseas and he believes that for PNG to be a competitive football nation, not only do skills matter but having the knowledge to comprehend things and investment in football are necessary.
“Most of the players in Kalibobo FC are tertiary students. I I know my players have potential and determination to be somebody in football,” he said.
“They can go beyond David Browne or Tommy Semmy to represent the country.”
“I am leading a group of young talented players, aged between 19-25 years, who want to expose their God-given football skills.
“When we give opportunities to such players who love football, we may be setting them on a career path that if given the opportunity to play overseas, will enable them to grow our economy.”
He said skills and knowledge must go hand-in-hand for the players if they are to pursue not just playing in NSL but representing PNG on the world stage.
“When players with the ability to think on the field are combined with skillful players, then we will have a resourceful football team for our country,” Huambai said.
He said football is becoming quite technical and he has a team of male and female players who are both skillful and knowledgeable and can make decisions under stress.
Huambai, a former midfielder, said his team is well into its training preparations and he is working with experts to prepare their mental capacity and strength on the field.
With the club starting its preparations since last year to secure a spot in the NSL’s 2023 season, Kalibobo proved its mettle against one of Port Moresby Soccer Association’s (PMSA) top A league teams, Leilam FC, in a friendly match with a 5-2 victory.
It also beat Bosco Gray Wolves 4-0 in a separate friendly match.
The club has secured only five experienced NSL players to lead the pack of newbies if their bid for season 2023 succeeds. The names of these signings are expected to be announced once the club’s bid is approved.
Meanwhile, Huambai said a number of business houses have already come forward to support the club as it plans to take part in NSL.
He said he is keeping the conversation between the business houses going while waiting for the PNG Football Association’s response to their submission.
Kalibobo FC is also preparing its women’s team for possible inclusion in the women’s NSL competition.
