New entry into the National Soccer League (NSL) – Kagua Erave Football Club – is serious about its participation in the semi-professional competition.
Coach Steven Mune is determined to field a very strong team.
Mune made his intention known after the football club’s player selection trials in Kagua Station over the weekend and the caliber of NSL experienced players recruited under Kagua Erave FC.
“Just on the first day of the trials and I have seen a number of good players and I am impressed, they’ve got the skills and knowledge of playing football. I have seen good midfielders, good strikers, basically good offensive players, skillful players who can play other positions and defense. Many of them are utility players.”
He said the players’ names will be kept under wraps until the final list will be confirmed as they go into training at the National Sports Institute in Goroka mid this week.
The veteran coach was also mindful of the NSL level of competition.
“We’ve got two weeks remaining and we are more focused on getting the team to really understand what NSL level of football is all about. NSL level is high. That’s semi professional football and it’s going to be very competitive but we are determined to meet the standard,” Mune said.
Mune is a 14-time PNG international representative striker and FIFA and OFC certified coach. He has gold medals under his belt at numerous South Pacific games as PNG coach.
Meantime, the selection trials held in Kagua from the 4-5th January 2018 drew four football associations covering the cross-section of the Kagua-Erave electorate. The associations include Kagua, Batri, Erave and Yokoro football associations who fielded at total of six teams; Kagua 1 & 2, Batri 1, Yokoro and Erave Station.
Selected players from the trials will be joined by a number of players from various parts of the country with NSL experience.
“We view this mix to assist the home selected players gain NSL experience.
“The next two weeks will be one of hard training and preparation so I am confident that we will have a very strong team participating in the NSL competition,” added Mune.
(Coach Steven Mune presenting the ball to KSA President, Albert Aldo)