Soccer

With 24 days to go before the kickoff, head coach Bob Morris wants his players to get the little things right and understand their role in the game.

As days count down to the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, which is set to start on July 7^th, the PNG men’s soccer squad is hard at training.

Head Coach Bob Morris said players arrived in the camp on Sunday and are all excited.

With less preparation time left, they are betting on confidence and teamwork.

The camp began on Monday and ended yesterday, where skills and fitness were tested.

Head coach Bob Morris and his assistant Harrison Kamake used the opportunity to check players’ fitness and skill level and to see how they can play together as a team.

Coach Morris said last week they trained the Port Moresby-based players and this week they have completed their Lae, Madang and Highlands sessions.

He says after this, they will build a squad to meet the best from the Pacific with the aim of winning gold medal.

At the beginning of the proceeding, it was confirmed to the congress that all 18 PNGFA member associations were entitled to vote following an MOU signed between John Wesley Gonjuan, John Kapi Natto and FIFA.

Kapi Natto picked up 10 votes to defeat his closest rival John Wesley Gonjuan with 8 votes.

Kapi Natto brings with him a wealth of experience in corporate leadership and sports administration, given that his leadership will be the key to success in soccer going forward.

Margaret Aka, from West New Britain Province, is setting the bar for women and girls who are passionate about soccer.

The former international is the first woman in PNG to receive an OFC B Licence. She is also the first woman to coach a soccer team in the 2018 National Soccer League.

So what drove this dynamic but humble woman to greater heights?

“What drives me the most is helping kids to realise their full potential not only in football but life in general,” Aka told Loop PNG.

During the visit on Tuesday, the group discussed ways sports can help youth learn key values, leadership, teamwork and conflict resolution.

The courageous 9 high school students have been brave travellers in the cold to pay a visit to Tilden Middle School in Bethesda, Maryland, where they met with students of various abilities.

At the end of their visit, these amazing young women had made new friends and learned the importance of being gentle, patient and understanding with those who have special needs.

Hamilton Wanderers are preparing for the upcoming national league football season, drawing on coach Ricki Herbert’s past connections.

Patrick Aisa left for New Zealand last Monday, joining countryman Tommy Semmy, who are both on board with Wanderers for the 2017-18 ISPS Handa Premiership.

The 23-year-old, who has made six impressive appearances for the PNG national team, caught the eye of Herbert during his coaching stint with the PNG Under-23 team in 2015.

Justin Tkatchenko said PNGFA president David Chung and John Kapi Natto both have a heart for soccer but unfortunately, they cannot work together and are making the sport fail, affecting players and clubs.

Tkatchenko said the best solution is for FIFA to intervene and say enough is enough.

“FIFA must be concerned with what’s happening in PNG as we are now having two different, separate identities running football,” said the Minister.

“How can sponsors come on board and how can the sport keep moving forward when you got two different groups running the same thing.

Kamake said, his team began training in November 2016 in preparation for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-17 Men’s Championship.

Their objective for this tournament is to reach the final.

“Our team comprises a blend of youth with experience and we are confident of doing well in the OFC Championship,” said Kamake.

This will be PNG’s seventh OFC U-17 Championship with qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India in October this year.

UBI Hills defeated Sumbar 2 of Talidig Sports Association on Monday in Kinim Station, Karkar Island.

UBI Hills walked away with the champions cup and K1,500 cash prize money while Sumbar grab the runner-up trophy with K1,000.

The third placing went to 2MK club of Mamoke area in Karkar Island with K700 cash and fourth placin to Bisel of Biranis village in Sumgilbar Local Level Government area with K500 cash prize.

A Papua New Guinea’s professional footballer currently playing in New Zealand, Maurie Wasi shared his thoughts about the codes when asked  to compare Football with Rugby League in the country.

"I don’t think it is right to compare Football with Rugby League and we shouldn’t as both codes have their own challenges,” Mauri said.

 Adding that, every sport has its challenges but can feed off each other to better themselves and their players’ development and welfare.