Komara Gulf
Full namePRK Komara Gulf Football Club
Founded2018 (2018)
ChairmanHavila Kavo
Head coachDavid Aua
LeaguePapua New Guinea National Soccer League

Komara Gulf F.C., currently known for as PRK Komara Gulf for sponsorship reasons, and formerly as Erema Gulf F.C.,[1] is a professional soccer club representing the Gulf Province in Papua New Guinea.[2]

The club was outgoing champion of now-defunct Papua New Guinea National Premier League, having won the title in 2018.[3][4]

History

Foundation and early years

In July 2014, it was reported that a side representing the Gulf Province, under the name of Erema Gulf FC, had submitted an Expression of Interest ahead of the 2015 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League.[5][6] This was further boosted in October 2014 by a K45,000 payment from Petroleum Resources Kutubu, who would later go on to sponsor the team.[7] However, their entry was not accepted.

The following season, amidst an expanded field, the side successfully entered the competition, and were drawn into the Southern Conference.[8] With Hekari United winning every single match, there was a close battle for the second qualifying spot, with Erema falling three points short of Rapatona after three wins – against FC Port Moresby, PS United and Gigira Amoana – two draws and five defeats, including 3–0 and 9–3 defeats to Hekari.[9] The side eventually finished 4th in the Southern Conference.[10]

League split

As part of the domestic league split, Erema broke away from the Papua New Guinea Football Association[11] and joined the rebel Football Federation of Papua New Guinea, and for two seasons took part in its flagship competition, the National Premier League. The side were drawn into the Southern Conference and finished 3rd in the 2017 season, behind Hekari United and Papaka FC.[12]

In the 2018 season, the side were once again drawn into the Southern Conference, alongside Hekari, Admiralty FC and Gigira Amoana.[3] With the sides only playing each other once, a 2–1 victory over Hekari United on 24 February 2018 was enough to see the side top the Southern Conference and progress to the Grand Final.[13] There, they defeated Morobe FC 4–3 to claim their first piece of domestic silverware.[4]

Return to NSL

In January 2019, it was confirmed that the side would be returning to the now reunited National Soccer League for the 2019 season, once again taking part in the Southern Conference, under a new name – Gulf Komara FC.[1] Former international goalkeeper David Aua was named head coach.[14] The club had a moderate season, remaining in contention to qualify for the playoffs until the penultimate matchday, when a 0–0 draw with FC Bougainville put them too far from their rivals.[15] The club eventually finished 6th out of eight sides.[15]

The side were one of ten teams who took part in the 2019–20 National Soccer League, and they enjoyed a much more successful season, despite a sluggish start. They lost five of their nine games in the first half of the season, sitting sixth at the halfway stage,[16] but key victories against playoff rivals FC Bougainville[17] and Vitiaz United[18] saw them in contention going into the final day, and a 5–0 victory over Star Mountain combined with results elsewhere going their way saw them rise to fourth and qualify for the playoffs at the last possible instance.[19] They were drawn against Minor Premiers Lae City in the playoff semi-final and narrowly lost 2–1,[20] while a 5–0 defeat to Hekari United in the third-place playoff saw them finish the season in fourth.[21]

League history

Gulf Komara league history
Season Div. Pos. Pld. W D L F A Pts. Playoffs OFC?
National Soccer League
2006 did not enter
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2013
2014
2015
2015–16 NSL
(South)		 4th 10 3 2 5 15 25 11 did not qualify
National Premier League
2017 NPL
(South)		 3rd 10 4 3 3 21 18 15 did not qualify
2018 NPL
(South)		 1st 3 2 1 0 5 3 7 Champions did not qualify
National Soccer League
2019 NSL
(South)		 6th 14 5 2 7 23 21 17 did not qualify
2019–20 NSL 4th 18 8 1 9 27 28 25 4th did not qualify

Honours

National Competitions

References

  1. 1 2 "Launch on, NSL clubs geared up for big show". The National. 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  2. ↑ "Erema show promise". The National. 2015-11-08. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  3. 1 2 "Papua New Guinea 2018". RSSSF. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  4. 1 2 "Erema hold off gritty Morobe". The National. 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  5. ↑ "Gulf bids for NSL spot". The National. 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  6. ↑ "Bidding time ends for franchises in NSL". The National. 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  7. ↑ "K45,000 boosts Erema National Soccer League aspirations". The National. 2014-09-30. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  8. ↑ "NSL ready to roll". The National. 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  9. ↑ "Hekari crush Erema". The National. 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  10. ↑ "Papua New Guinea 2015/16". RSSSF. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  11. ↑ "Hekari pulls out of NSL, OFC comp". The National. 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  12. ↑ "Papua New Guinea 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  13. ↑ "Erema top Southern leg". The National. 2018-02-26. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  14. ↑ "NSL board 'totally' ignorant and lenient". Post Courier. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  15. 1 2 "Papua New Guinea 2019". RSSSF. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  16. ↑ "Papua New Guinea 2019/20". RSSSF. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  17. ↑ "Vitiaz go top as Star Mountain shock Hekari and new-look Lae draw". Oceania Football Center. 2020-03-15. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  18. ↑ "Vitiaz United suffer another upset". Post Courier. 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  19. ↑ "Komara Claim Final Playoff Spot as Lae City Earn Minor Premiership". Oceania Football Center. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  20. ↑ "Vitiaz Stun Hekari on Penalties While Lae Edge Past Valiant Gulf Komara". Oceania Football Center. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  21. ↑ "Lae City Claim Sixth Title After Professional and Polished Performance against Vitiaz". Oceania Football Center. 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
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