Madang town is set to come alive tomorrow when hundreds of soccer fans will furnish the perimeters of the town’s Laiwaden oval as Madang United Football Club takes on the Hekari United on home ground.

The last time Madang team took on Hekari on their home soil was on 16 May 2015 in what was described as ‘the biggest upset in the history of the National Soccer League’ was when Madang secured a shocking 3–2 victory to end Hekari’s eight-year dominance of the domestic league at that time during the playoff semi-finals.

Madang people travelled from far and wide, those from Manam Island paddled by canoes to Bogia and got on PMVs to town, fans from remote places like Simbai walked for long hours before catching a PMV to town just to watch the match that stopped the nation at that time.

Some of those boys who were in their early teens and were cheering that time for the Madang team have grown, groomed and now prepared to take the field under Madang United FC against one of the country’s best teams, the Hekari United.

One of them is Nick Bonje, a local Mimlon soccer breed at age 15 who had cheered for his local Madang team is now a new member of the MUFC at age 24 and is well prepared to take on the Hekari on his very own Laiwaden Oval.

MUFC was given an additional advertisement fee funding boost of K300, 000 by its major sponsor Ramu NiCo yesterday. The Ramu NiCo Vice President Meng Deyong presented the sponsorship showing the mining company’s solid support to the home team and practiced the company’s slogan ‘One Ramu Ramu NiCo One Community.’

Soccer Maniac, Terence Sisu who was the team Manager for Madang FC in 2015 is now back on stage as team Manager again for MUFC to face Hekari for the second time on the Madang home ground. According to Sisu, Madang is well prepared to face the challenge.

“Our boys poses the quality and have demonstrated the ability to win the game,” Sisu said.

Coach Nigel Malangian said the Madang team is aware that Hekeri is going to Madang to settle the 2015 match debt and Madang is set to defend their goal mark with extra efforts.

Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa will be on his toes to cheer for the home team and thanked Ramu NiCo for the sponsorship on behalf of the team and the people of Madang.

Madang United FC or the boys from Panu have the advantage of wild soccer fans and will give a good challenge to the Hekaris on match day tomorrow on the field that knows their boots better than others.