Papua New Guinea National Soccer League’s regular season has just finished but local fans are already thinking about the semi-finals that are going to be contested next month. While Lae City, Hekari United and Vitiaz United did not have many difficulties to qualify, fourth placed side Gulf Komara had to fight a lot to book a spot in the upcoming stage.
With the help of some important players like Godfrey Haro, Ilagi Geno, Jordan Kaven and Kenneth, Komara managed to win their last two regular season matches and now they are going to have a bigger challenge against Lae City in the semi-finals. While the whole team is focused on their next clash, there is a player that still has a lot to celebrate: Roland Bala.
Bala had some game time in the final matches of the season as he started to appear at Gulf Komara’s starting eleven – and it means much more than just playing for him. The 30-year-old left back is finally recovered from a terrible injury that forced him to stop playing football two and a half years ago.
After representing Papua New Guinea in 2016 OFC Nations Cup, he had the opportunity to play abroad as he joined Coomera Colts FC from Australia. One year later he moved to New Zealand to play for Miramar Rangers.
Bala was living the best moment of his career in 2017-18 when he became a regular starter in Southern United in New Zealand Premiership – the major football league from New Zealand. However, everything changed suddenly due to a knee injury in January 2018.
He lived tough moments in the past years as he has been struggling to get back from injury. Finally recovered, Bala must feel grateful for having the opportunity to play competitive football again and now he needs to step up to help Gulf Komara in PNG National Soccer League semi-finals.
Oceania Football Center 