Central United F.C. (Papua New Guinea)

Central United is a semi-professional association football club based in Central Province, Papua New Guinea. The club was established in 2018.

Central United
Full nameCentral United Football Club
Founded2018
ChairmanMorea Vavine
Kamo Kini
LeagueNational Soccer League
2019Southern Conference: 5th

The club is currently taking part in the 2019 edition of the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, having been drawn into the Southern Conference.[1]

History

The club was launched on 14 December 2018 at a fundraising dinner in Port Moresby.[2] Co-owner Kamo Kini suggested that the club would be made up of players from rural areas within the Central Province, given that several players from this region had achieved success in the past, including PNG internationals Kema Jack, David Aua and Patrick Aisa.[2] Before the start of the 2019 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League season, the club held a sevens tournament in Kaparoko Village.[1]

The club was confirmed into the Southern Conference of the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League in January 2019,[3] and won their opening match against the more experienced Gulf Komara 2–1, with goals from Sebastian Kepi and Opu Karo.[4] The team continued this good start with three wins from their opening five matches, including one against former league runners-up Eastern Stars,[5] but consecutive 2–0 defeats, to eight-time champions Hekari United and FC Bougainville, left them fifth at the half-way stage of the season.[5][6]

2–1 victories against playoff rivals Komara and Bougainville at the end of March put them in a good position to challenge for qualification to the next stage of the competition, but another defeat to Hekari followed by a 6–2 defeat at the hands of Eastern Stars – after having been 2–0 ahead – put their qualification in doubt.[5] A 6–1 defeat against Port Moresby United ended their qualification hopes, and the club eventually finished 5th in the conference.[5]

The club was expected to take part in the 2019–20 edition of the competition,[7] but were not one of the ten teams announced in December 2019.

Domestic Record

National Competitions

References
  1. "Central team up for NSL". The National. 2019-01-07. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  2. "Central side launch bid to join NSL competition". The National. 2018-12-17. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  3. "26 clubs set for NSL". The National. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  4. "Central rise to challenge". The National. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  5. "Papua New Guinea 2019". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  6. "FC Bougainville celebrate 2-0 win". Post Courier. 2019-03-04. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  7. "Eight spots left in NSL comp". Post Courier. 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
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