I know very little about Hekari United, even far less about the PNG league but certainly Solomon Islands can draw some inspiration from how the Hekari United management is working overtime to ensure that PNG competes in the O-League. Under the leadership of John Kapi-Natto, Hekari has taken a decisive step in bringing PNG football to compete in the O-League.

There have certainly been other clubs representing PNG at Oceania's elite club championships but none has taken the approach Hekari United has embarked on. Hekari has recruited wisely through its strong relationship with Marist FC of the Solomon Islands and through its Australian contacts sent its players to play in the Queensland state leagues. Now they are in Honiara, seeking warm-up matches for their debut in the O-League. This certainly brings to question what our own O-League rep will be doing to build up towards the competition proper? Have we really tested ourselves to see areas in which we can improve to compete well in the championships? I think in a big way, Hekari United is showing some forward thinking in its approach. Simply because in testing its strength against Solomon Islands teams in the shape of our Solympics side and Marist, Hekari United will certainly go home with a better idea of what it would need to do to really compete in the O-League. Under the leadership of an insightful, enthusiastic leader like John Kapi-Natto, look for Hekari United to turn some heads in O-League 2009. It wouldn't be because of its large Solomon Islands import but simply because it has leadership with vision and a will to succeed.